ACTORS taking part in the production of A Tale Of Two Cities, will have changing facilities, after all, now that Waverley Borough Council has offered the use of Brightwell Cottage, a building adjacent to Brightwell Gardens.

Waverley has given permission to use the building as "gesture of support" after refusing the New Farnham Repertory Company's initial request to use Brightwell House.

The company's Marketing Officer Hannah Williams is relieved a compromise has been reached, fearing the quality of the performances would suffer if the actors could not use proper facilities and had to change in tents without toilets and running water.

Mrs Williams said: "The cottage will be much better for the actors than using tents and they can wash there. At the moment the house is like the one in Great Expectations, all boarded up which is quite appropriate really, considering the production. We will share the costs of electricity with the council."

Brightwell House will still form an impressive backdrop to the play, although the windows will remain boarded up.

The house was last occupied by the homeless charity Winterwatch, who vacated the premises in spring.

The NFRC were denied use of the house after Waverley stated that the building could only be used by groups which were fully supervised by another organisation because of public liability. In the case of Winterwatch, the group was supervised by the Churches Housing Association.

Mrs Williams remains disappointed that the actors are denied access to Brightwell House, but is grateful an alternative has been reached.

"It's a huge shame because Brightwell House is just behind the stage and the door would back on to it. However the offer of Brightwell cottage is a gesture of support and the planning officers are being helpful."

The £33,000 open air production will run for 13 dates in the third and fourth week of June.

n See also Pages 3 and 11.