ACTOR Corin Redgrave has volunteered the next five years of his life to ensuring that the Redgrave Theatre is reopened. The son of the late Sir Michael Redgrave, after whom the theatre was named, said he is prepared to be contracted as the theatre's artistic director for the first five years. And, if asked, he would set about raising the finances himself to see the theatre reopened. The London-born actor, who has recently starred in Waking the Dead and King Lear, has been encouraged by the revival of other regional theatres. The Liverpool Repertory and The Bristol Old Vic, which, though once languishing, have undergone transformations and are now attracting new audiences. One-time artistic director of the Farnham theatre, Patrick Sandford, has described the Redgrave as being "unique to the country". He said: "There is no other theatre with an auditorium of such real intimacy that has such a large stage." Corin Redgrave said that the Redgrave Theatre was symbolic to the Redgrave family that an actor's art had a place in society. In a statement made for a seminar in Farnham last year, he said: "It's a paradox. Our country is permanently good at this most impermanent art." However, he is not only interested in the restoration of the theatre for sentimental reasons. "I am mainly interested in what its revival could accomplish," he said. The actor envisages the semi-ruined building reopening as a theatre in autumn 2006 and believes it could be accompanied by an inaugural season with some of the greatest artists from England and abroad. "I want the Redgrave to to be a professional theatre of the highest standards. And ultimately, in the not so distant future, it could have attached to it a school of acting done in conjunction with a nearby university." Corin said an acting school attached to the theatre, not necessarily on the same premises, could be a a base for nurturing future talent. "Since the theatre bears a distinguished name in the history of acting, I would seek to make the new theatre a show place for the finest acting in the English language." Nevertheless, the theatre remains seemingly doomed to demolition as part of the East Street developmen. Waverley Council holds the view that the Maltings is providing enough live performances and is still developing. In addition, a multi-screen cinema is planned within the new development, which is sure to influence Farnham people. Waverley's portfolio holder for the East Street development, Chris Mansell, has said: "I personally don't find it surprising that no one is prepared to support financially a stand- alone theatre in Farnham. "You may know that the financial pressures on all stand-alone theatres are very heavy. The Yvonne Arnaud at Guildford is certainly feeling the strain, while Waverley lost huge sums of money on the Redgrave. "Our policy on the Maltings is bearing fruit. There is a lot going on there and there is a real buzz about the place. There are plans to expand and improve the live theatre space. "We have been encouraging the New Farnham Repertory Company to start working with the Maltings. We are also trying to persuade them to think more laterally, dealing with the Performing Arts Centre at Frensham Heights School, for example, which is doing excellent work." He added: "I can understand the frustration about the Redgrave. For the years after it first opened, my wife and I were very regular attenders and thoroughly enjoyed the performances. "We also donated to keep it going after things started going downhill. It is disappointing for all of us, but the fact is, that new opportunities for live theatre in Farnham are opening up. I hope that the New Farnham Repertory Company will recognise this and join in." Corin Redgrave disagrees with Waverley, however. He recently opened a new theatre in Lichfield, Staffordshire, where the city council built a brand new theatre for a population of 30,000. He said that, although there were disputes over how much money the council was spending, it stuck to its guns by pointing to Lichfield's extraordinary artistic and cultural heritage. Mr. Redgrave told The Herald: "Farnham, no less than Lichfield, has a great cultural heritage. It had a repertory theatre. "Farnham has allowed it to close down and to deteriorate. To let it it become more derelict or to demolish it without replacing it would be an act of cultural short-sightedness and it will have a damaging significance to Farnham and the whole region. The choice is yours."