Arts Takeover will be back for its fourth year on Saturday 5 September to celebrate art and culture in and around Redhill. The week-long festival provides a feel-good, cultural boost to the town through a vibrant programme of free and low-cost performances; as well as inspiring people to get creative themselves. This year, Arts Takeover will be taking place a month earlier than usual and will launch on Saturday 5 September. Events already confirmed include a special performance of the original song, Redhill Rising (see below), and a return of the hotly contested Battle of the Bands.

Calling all artists for Write Out Loud!

In collaboration with local partners, we're calling for writers and performers from across East Surrey to take part in a brand new initiative to share original stories from fresh local voices. Write Out Loud will give budding writers a platform on which to showcase a 15-minute extract of their work on the opening day of Arts Takeover 2026. The work could be at any stage of development but must have a connection to the local area. If you're interested in taking part you can find out more online and email kay.hymas@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

This Is My Theatre return to the borough with a production of Charlotte Bronte's timeless classic, 'Jane Eyre'. Passion, mystery, and resilience collide in this sweeping story of self-discovery and courage, brought to life in a bold new adaptation - with traditional folk music woven throughout. Performances are at 5pm and 7.30pm in the Town Hall, Reigate, on Friday 6 March and Wednesday 8 April. Tickets are selling fast.

From the award-winning Farnham Maltings, All For Your Delight is a sparkling new theatre experience that celebrates variety and the world of live entertainers. The production on Wednesday 4 March will be taking over The Belfry shopping centre in Redhill. You'll meet the Brightcoats, who are on a mission to give you and your family the best darn night out you've had in years - with comedy, music, magic and games. Expect glitter, gags and a good time! Tickets cost £18 (£9 for 10 to 16 year olds) and can be booked through our website.

Star for a Night is a successful and well-established performing arts project for young people aged 10 to 15 (school years 6 to 10). This year we are working in collaboration with Reigate School of Ballet to provide all participants with 30 hours of free weekly tuition in dance, singing and drama over 10 weeks, leading up to a variety show performance. To take part, young people must live or go to school in the borough. Any 10-year-olds must be in school year 6 and young people up to the age of 18 with learning difficulties may take part. 

Our school holiday programme aims to help kids get off their screens and discover something new. Low cost activities are on offer for children and young people throughout the school holidays and there are plenty of creative options to choose from. It's easy to book online so take a look and see if anything inspires you. If you are in receipt of benefits or have a looked after child you may be eligible for a 50% discount.

REECH is a programme of creative activities taking place in the north of the borough around Banstead and Tadworth that aims to help local people REECH an improvement in their health and wellbeing through creativity. 'REECH' stands for Relax, Engage, Experience, Create, and Hydrate emotionally. Our Arts Development Officer works with local organisations and venues, and is establishing a REECH Creative Network, for artists and creative practitioners to help develop and deliver workshops and events. Activities to date include strorytelling, carnival and crafts as part of Black History Month, and art coffee mornings with the Banstead Art Society. A new monthly sketching programme for adults is due to start 14 March. If you want to be involved in the Creative Network, email debora.alleyne-degazon@reigate-banstead.gov.uk 

Redhill Rising is an exciting youth arts project led by the Franklin Music CIC, in partnership with R&Be Creative and the Include Choir and funded through Surrey County Council's Your Councillor Community Fund. It celebrates Redhill's evolving identity through music, drama and community collaboration. Throughout the spring term, young people in years 5 to 9 are taking part in dynamic workshops where they are learning an original song, Redhill Rising. These sessions bring together schools from across the area, culminating in a mass community performance at The Belfry shopping centre, Redhill, on Thursday 16 April at 11am. A key legacy of the project will be the Franklin Music Youth Choir, which is already booked to open Arts Takeover 26.

A £4.5 million project to bring the Harlequin Theatre back to life at its previous 494-seat capacity continues to progress. We have appointed experienced specialists, Bailey Partnership, to plan, design and project manage the removal of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from the building and carry out essential improvements needed to safely reopen the venue. We are in the process of appointing a contractor to carry out the works.

In parallel, we have tendered for an experienced third-party operator to run both the Harlequin and Unit 5 (the new arts and cultural venue in The Rise), whilst ensuring that future programming will continue to serve the community through professional and amateur productions for years to come. We hope to announce both the new operator and contractor soon.

The award-winning Comedy Cottage returns to Reigate on 27 March for a special show in aid of local charity, I Choose Freedom, which helps survivors of domestic violence. Organised in collaboration with The Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, the show will be held at the Town Hall in Reigate - offering a bar and raffle alongside Comedy Cottage’s usual smorgasbord of comedy. Headlining will be the unstoppable and hilariously inspiring, Shazia Mirza, an award-winning British standup comedian and writer, and will also feature Stephanie Laing, Christian Jegard and L J Da Funk. 

Local artist, Maiuri Chandaria, will be running workshops in March with Year 3 children from Westvale Park. They will be creating artwork based around where they live, which will be exhibited as part of the first Horley Community Arts Festival, which is taking place between 17 and 24 April.