Concrete crisis: Camberley Theatre facing temporary closure

Camberley Theatre in Surrey could close for three months this summer due to potentially dangerous concrete in its infrastructure. 

Surrey Heath Borough Council has said the cost to repair the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete could be up to £640,000. 

RAAC is a lightweight, "bubbly" form of concrete that was commonly used in public sector construction between the 1950s and mid-1990s as a cheaper alternative to standard concrete. 

The RAAC was found in several locations in Camberley Theatre last September, including the stage, the bar and the dance studio, as part of an inspection of more than 170 buildings due to growing concerns about the danger RAAC posed to public-sector venues.

A specialist company deemed at the time that the RAAC "did not present an immediate risk", however council chief executive Damian Roberts said last week that it was important "in the longer term" that the potential risk be dealt with in order to safeguard the venue.

Announcing the venue’s proposed closure, Surrey Heath Borough Council said: "To better understand the extent of the works required, it is being recommended that the theatre should close for three weeks to allow removal of suspended ceilings in several areas."  

Councillor John Skipper said at a meeting on April 16 that further detailed investigations carried out during this temporary closure "could result in the threat of having to close for a longer period", adding: "We have to be realistic about a worst-case scenario." 

According to council papers released ahead of the meeting: "It is envisaged that remedial work will take approximately three months to complete, preceded by design and procurement work which is estimated to take three to four months from approval." 

"The theatre is expected to be closed for the whole three-month duration as a minimum," the papers continued. 

Each month the theatre is closed has been estimated to cost approximately £88,000 in lost income and staffing overheads. 

Remedial work is planned for summer 2024 "when the impact on theatre programme and regular hires would be the lowest".

The council added that all existing hires and performances impacted by the proposed closures are being rescheduled for dates when the theatre is expected to reopen. 

Many venues were forced to shut due to the discovery of RAAC, including the Royal and Derngate in Northampton and the Orchard Theatre in Dartford.

It comes as as Manchester Evening News reported that the Forum Theatre in Stockport may require an extra £2 million to complete the work needed to reopen the venue, which has been closed since last September due to RAAC. 

Stockport council provided £300,000 for the first phase of work which was due to begin this week, however a full removal of the RAAC panels is expected to cost between £1.5 million and £2 million.