Cirencester's Barn Theatre is opening its doors to visiting companies in 2026

Marking 'a new chapter', the Barn Theatre in Cirencester is opening its doors – and its stage – to visiting companies in 2026.

By Chloe Gorman  |  Published
Exterior of The Barn Theatre in Cirencester
The Barn Theatre in Cirencester is offering its stage to visiting companies 'whose work aligns with the theatre's creative values' from 2026.

From 2026, the Barn Theatre in Cirencester is welcoming visiting productions to its stage.

The Barn Theatre has developed a strong reputation for its in-house productions, many of which have transferred to the West End or toured nationally – including I'm Sorry, Prime Minister starring Griff Rhys Jones and Friends: The Musical Parody.

Barn Visiting Productions is a new initiative to bring companies whose work 'aligns with the theatre's creative values and commitment to high-quality, accessible storytelling' to the well-respected Cotswold venue. 

And in addition to visiting productions, it is also introducing a new scheme for producers, theatre-makers and companies called Barn Supported Partnerships, where they can benefit from its producing infrastructure to incubate new work or launch touring productions at a high-quality venue, allowing shows to take their first steps towards growth. 

Barn Supported Partnerships will run alongside the existing Built by Barn productions, led by CEO and artistic director Iwan Lewis, which focuses on developing transferable and tour-ready work.

The Barn says this 'marks a new chapter for the theatre' by diversifying its annual programme, extending its reach and providing a platform for collaboration with visiting companies, while maintaining the high production values it is known for.

Creative producer, Anthony Houghton, said: 'We’ve had the privilege of working with so many talented artists and companies over the years. Opening our doors in this new way allows us to build on those relationships and support even more exciting work. 

'We’re keen to hear from companies who share our aim of making entertaining work with popular appeal. So, if that sounds like you, we’d love to chat.'

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