THE New Farnham Repertory Company has vowed to wrap the Redgrave Theatre in yellow ribbons in protest against Waverley council's refusal to re-open it.

The demonstration is to take place on Saturday, July 7, as part of the NFRC's 'Day of Action'.

Supporters stationed at five tables placed throughout the town centre will be giving out badges, car stickers, leaflets, ribbons and balloons - all of which will be the colour yellow, because of its association with freedom.

Chairman of the NFRC, Ian Mullins, is optimistic that the day will prove successful in putting pressure on the council.

He said: "Anything like this achieves a great deal. It makes people aware that we still exist.

"We are trying to get through to Waverley to pull themselves together and give it back to us.

"Our sights remain firmly fixed on getting back to the Redgrave.

"So long as it remains in the state it's in at the moment, it is a public scandal and disgrace."

Although Mr Mullins says his sympathies go out to the Maltings after its recent failure to secure a £2 million lottery bid, he believes that the venue's misfortune has threatened arts provision in Farnham, making it essential that Waverley reconsiders its view on the Redgrave.

"The council should get everyone around the negotiating table, all the arts bodies, anyone who's interested.

"They won't, of course, because they are determined not to respond to public opinion where the Redgrave is concerned."

The chairman, who plans to trail ribbons all the way from the Hart car park to the Redgrave, added: "Anything that draws the public's attention to this and generates more and more support is enormously worthwhile.

"The outcome of the whole thing will be that the Redgrave will re-open."

Waverley's leisure manager, Steve Tilbury, told The Herald that the day will do nothing to alter the council's view on the Redgrave, which has remained constant for some time now.

He argued that the proposals put forward by the NFRC were not financially viable, that Waverley's handling of arts funding in the area was "about hard-edged decision making", and that the council "couldn't make decisions on the basis of publicity stunts".

While the manager agreed that "the picture has changed" in relation to the Maltings failed lottery bid, he emphasised that the council's view of the Redgrave Theatre had not been altered.

"The two are not connected in that sense. Just because the Maltings wasn't successful, doesn't make any difference vis-a-vis the Redgrave.

"Waverley hasn't done anything yet. No decisions have been made yet in respect to the support we will or won't be giving to the Maltings."

Commenting on whether the NFRC's 'Day of Action' was condoned by the council, he said: "We respect people's right to make their views known.

"But in the end, it's not about responding to publicity stunts. It's about responding to decisions that ask: is the facility viable, is it the right thing to do?"