SQUATTERS are occupying Brightwell House and the Redgrave Theatre, just two weeks before the summer production of A Tale of Two Cities in Brightwell Gardens.
It is thought that the group, which police believes comprises between three and five members, have been squatting in the properties for the past week.
Their presence could pose a problem for the New Farnham Repertory's Company's production which uses Brightwell House has a backdrop to the play.
A Waverley spokesperson confirmed that after discovering the squatters the council boarded up the windows. However, the group were thought to have broken in again on Monday night.
Evicting the group could prove problematic . Police can intervene if a crime is committed, but a spokesperson explained that proving breaking and entry has been committed is difficult because the squatters could argue that the premises were already open.
The responsibility falls to Waverley, as owner of the properties, to apply for an eviction order and the council is currently assessing the situation, before deciding on what course of action to take.
The latest incident is another setback for the production which has been marred by an on-going row with Waverley, after the council denied NFRC the use of Brightwell House to use for changing facilities.
Director Ian Mullins expressed his frustration at the latest development, but did not feel it would jeopardise the production.
"If Waverley Borough Council had let us in there in the first place then none of this would have happened.
"I don't think the squatters can be in there when the production is on, but if they are still around it will cost us far more in security and could get very complicated. However at the moment I'm to busy to worry about it."
Marketing officer Hannah William's sympathises with the squatters and their predicament, but is confident that their presence will not mar the production.
She is pleased with Brightwell cottage offered by Waverley as an alternative changing facility.
"It's so much better than we expected. It's warm, dry and carpeted overall, so we are very pleased. The tree which was in the way has also been removed. During the production we plan to make the whole area look as nice as possible."
When the Herald visited to the scene on Wednesday afternoon, the buildings were empty, although the squatters were expected back.
An NFRC volunteer, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was subjected to verbal abuse from the squatters the night before.
"They swore at me. What was said was totally unrepeatable. They then said that they knew their rights and there was nothing anyone could do about it."
Another volunteer said that the reaction of Waverley and the police had been disappointing.
"Waverley don't care less about the building because they're going to knock it down soon anyway. As usual the police's hands are tied. They need to actually see them breaking in to arrest them but of course they don't have resources to do this."
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