Yesterday we told you about Dominic Shaw’s fresh new, actor-musician production of The Secret Garden, which officially inaugurates The Barn Theatre in Cirencester when it opens to the press next Monday (19 March 2018). But how much do you know about the brand-new, 200-seat, state-of-the-art theatre in the Cotswolds itself? Watch these fun-filled and inspiring videos with artistic director, and former West End star, Iwan Lewis about this small, country gem with very big ambitions – and start planning your trip to Cirencester!
Local community and youth theatre have thrived at this 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.
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.
Former actor and musical star Iwan Lewis, whose credits include Legally Blonde in the West End and the blockbuster film version of Les Miserables, now leads the Barn Theatre, with a vision for creating “a world-renowned theatre destination, inspiring, challenging and entertaining our audiences”.
Videos
Visit Cirencester and the Barn Theatre virtually with this epic video – featuring a very active Iwan Lewis horseriding, hiking, kayaking, roaming the streets of the city – and explaining why he won’t be cancelling his Netflix subscription but that it can never compete with the storytelling thrill of live theatre. (Psst… It’s JudI Dench!)
The Barn Theatre complex also houses the new Teatro piano bar and restaurant. Guaranteed: you’ll feel ravenous watching this. Yum!
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