Fareham Borough Council have decided that The ARDEN theatre has been built by TFT without planning permission. This is not the case The Arden Theatre has been built within an area that has been used for ' Theatre Use' for over 10 demonstrable years. Our legal advice is therefore that we have 'deemed use' for the theatre.

However the costs incurred in defending this action are huge. Not only could the shutting of the ARDEN threaten the existence of TFT but the costs incurred could cripple our various other programmes. The Fareham Mens Shed who have their home in the Arden, our various outreach programmes in local schools and care homes, The South Coast Sinfonia who are based at TFT and most of all our Youth theatres, where we host 450 children per week are at risk. All of these fantastic community programmes will suffer. Finally the quality of shows we produce will be severely impacted without this new facility.

Can you help? By asking all our 7000 plus patrons to donate just £10 could be a theatre saver. We know times are gloomy but for many they will be even gloomier without TFT.