After the success of the inaugural season at the new state-of-the-art Barn Theatre, which has quickly made a name for itself since officially opening its doors to the public in March, artistic director Iwan Lewis has announced two major new revivals for the Cirencester hotspot. Time to start making your travel plans!
Following this month’s transfer of Edinburgh Fringe hits and touring production Not About Heroes, the Barn Theatre in Cirencester will present two new in-house productions in its new autumn/winter season: a comedy and a family-friendly musical for Christmas.
“The most popular of the Sherlock Holmes stories becomes pure comic bliss” – The Stage
First up, The Hound of the Baskervilles runs from 24 October to 24 November 2018, with a press night on 29 October and a special “Hallow-tweed” meet-the-cast evening on 31 October, sponsored by Barrington Ayre.
When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on his estate, with a look of terror still etched on his face, and the paw prints of a gigantic hound beside his body, the great detective Sherlock Holmes is summoned from Baker Street, with Dr Watson in tow, to unravel the mysteries surrounding his death, and investigate the ancient curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles.
This comic staging of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s classic 1902 crime novel was originally written by John Nicholson and Steven Canny for comedy troupe Peepolykus. It premiered at West Yorkshire Playhouse (now Leeds Playhouse), where it broke box office records, before touring the UK and transferring to the West End. The Barn’s new production is directed by Joseph O’Malley, who assisted artistic director Iwan Lewis on One Minute earlier this year. Set and costumes are by Elin Steele.
The Secret Garden opened at the Barn in March 2018
After the enormous success of inaugural production The Secret Garden, the Barn presents another much-loved, family musical in an exciting new actor-musician production for its Christmas special. Stiles and Drewe’s Just So, inspired by Rudyard Kipling, runs from 5 December 2018 to 13 January 2019, with a press night on 10 December.
In Just So, five of Kipling’s short stories are woven together into a wondrous tale of personal courage, individuality and friendship. The Eldest Magician is creating all the animals. Everything is Just So until Pau Amma the Crab starts playing with the ocean, which causes the land to flood, putting the other animals in danger. While the rest of the animals accept their sad fate, Elephant’s Child embarks on a journey to challenge and overcome the disobedient crab. Along the way, he meets other creatures and discovers how they came to be the way they are.
A colourful and uplifting show, described as a designer’s dream come true, Just So has a key underlying message: that one determined individual can make a real difference in this world.
Just So is one of the earlier collaborations of the UK’s most successful, living musical theatre writing team: George Stiles (music) and Anthony Drewe (book and lyrics). Their other shows include West End hits Half a Sixpence, Mary Poppins, Betty Blue Eyes, Honk! and The Wind in the Willows.
Just So premiered, care of West End and Broadway impresario Cameron Mackintosh, in 1984 at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury before transferring to London. The Barn Theatre production is directed by Kirk Jameson with orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke. John Clancy is associate orchestrator.
