Theatrebarn & Theatreroom

The theatre complex is based around a group of converted agricultural barns set in between a medieval grange (Bretforton Grange) and a market garden, formerly a farm, of which the barns were part. The barns are all linked together forming a continuous building. The largest, at the western end of the complex, is described within the English Heritage list description as ‘one of the finest surviving barns built for Evesham Abbey.’ It dates from the 15th Century and is of a close-studded timber-frame construction of hall and isle arrangement, with two C15 gabled porches added to the north front. It also features a raised coursed Blue Lias plinth (of limestone and shale layers) and is faced with weatherboarding. The barns all have red tiled catslide roofs. The largest barn has been converted into a proscenium arch theatre seating 180. The intimate space has a warm character with red fabric seating at one end on a single rake. The wooden polished stage is raised with tab curtains forming wings. Linking to this barn from the stage area to the south is a one storey building housing the 5 dressing rooms, showers and Green Room. The brick constructed eastern barns form the front-of-house, bars, kitchens and a restaurant area which has 180 covers. To the south, the area between the barns and the boundary fence of the Grange, is a grassed courtyard/lawn which is used as break-out and foyer area before performances and during the intervals. To the north and west of the barns is a hardstanding which is available for parking for patrons and artists.