WATCH: Actor-turned-artistic director Iwan Lewis lays out his vision for The Barn

Buy tickets for The Secret Garden

Continuing our series on Cirencester’s new Barn Theatre and its inaugural production of The Secret Garden, which starts previews tonight (16 March 2018) ahead of an officially opening on Monday, we’ve had tingles down the spine watching this speech that actor-turned-artistic director Iwan Lewis gave to local business leaders last year, laying out his vision for the venue as a creative hub in the Cotswolds and the transformational power of theatre for a community. Scroll down for more interviews with Iwan – find out why he swapped the boards himself for the opportunity and how the Park Theatre’s Jez Bond inspired him…

Local community and youth theatre have thrived at the Barn Theatre’s address in historic Cirencester in the heart of the Cotswolds for over 30 years. But the site has now been taken to a new level as a professional, producing house, aiming to bring West End quality and talent to Gloucestershire.

Via our sister site www.stagefaves.com

A labour of love, the Barn Theatre was started by Ian Carling and his wife Chrissie, who, without any public subsidy, have invested £4.5 million as part of a three-year renovation of the building, a former 1940s Nissen hut.

The result is a state-of-the-art complex with a 200-seat air-conditioned auditorium and orchestra pit, studio rehearsal suite, dressing rooms and green room as well as the adjacent Teatro piano bar and 60-seat restaurant, with its mouth-watering menu that has already attracted a legion of food-loving fans.

Its inaugural production is a fresh new, folk-influenced take on Tony Award-winning family musical The Secret Garden, based on the classic 1911 children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It’s directed by Dominic Shaw and features a 12-strong ensemble of actor-musicians.

The Secret Garden runs from 16 March to 15 April 2018 at The Barn, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. Performances are Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Thursday matinees at 2.30pm, and Sunday matinees at 12.30pm and 5.30pm. Tickets are priced £14-£22. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!

Videos

Press on the Iwan Lewis & the Barn

The Stage interviews Iwan Lewis

Simon Fearn: Former actor Iwan Lewis enjoyed a string of leading roles before he moved to rural Cirencester to build a new venue – the Barn Theatre.

“I realised my passion wasn’t really being on stage and performing – and I think I can do more for this industry by doing something different. I was inspired by Jez Bond at the Park Theatre in London.”

thestage.co.uk

SoGlos interviews Iwan Lewis

From stage to screen and now behind-the-scenes. SoGlos speaks with actor Iwan Lewis as he takes on his latest role – artistic director of Gloucestershire’s most exciting new theatre.

“We have a fundamental belief that everything has to be born out of a creative place. So, this isn’t just a place that’s here to be rented for other people who are being incredibly creative.”

soglos.com