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Barn Theatre

3053

A seventeenth century aisled barn (possibly originally two barns) was moved to its present site at Handside Farm in 1832. The Horn Family ran the Dairy Farm until 1926, after which is was used as a bottling plant for a decade during which time the adjoining concrete silo was added. It was converted to a little theatre seating 150 on tip-up seats in 1932. After use during the Second World War for Army Cadets, it was refurbished in 1946. By 1948 the land had become part of the new Welwyn Garden City and fell under control of the local authority, who eventually leased it to the local Little Theatre Group.

The barn remains substantially in its 1832 state, the auditorium now with raked seating to accommodate 140 under the original exposed roof timbers. Additional facilities such as green room, wardrobe, stores, refreshment facilities and two rehearsal rooms, one of which doubles as a studio accommodating 25, are housed in adjacent buildings. The Barn Theatre Club is a member of the Little Theatre Guild.

Built / Converted
-
Dates of use
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre
Address
Barn Close, Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6ST, England
Further details
Other names
-
Events
  • Owner/Management: Barn Theatre Club, lessee
  • 1600 Design/Construction: as a barn
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1932 Alteration: conversion
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1948 Owner/Management: Welwyn Garden City Development Corporation, owner
  • 1984 Owner/Management: Barn Theatre Trust Limited, owner
  • 2014 Alteration: Studio extension
    Weal Architects
    - Architect
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1932: 150
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    140
Listings
  • Listing
    II
Stage type
-
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: -
Proscenium width: -
Height to grid: -
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: -