Northcott Theatre takes over Barnfield

Victorian Barnfield new creative direction

Exeter's Northcott Theatre is taking over another performance venue in the city.

The Barnfield Theatre, in Exeter city centre, is the home of one an amateur theatre group and takes in professional shows on short runs and has a main 286-seater auditorium.

Although centrally located, the Victorian building is less well-known than the Northcott, which is on Exeter University's campus.

The Northcott says it has a three-step plan for its future, including enhancing  the range of creative activities and broadening the range of people engaging in activities there.

It also hope to work on a major transformation of the Barnfield into a creative hub.

The takeover follows an increase in the Northcott’s activities at The Barnfield over the past year. These include Northcott Young Company moving all its events to the venue, and talks, events and workshops for the artists development programme under the banner Northcott Futures using the Barnfield as a development space for new work created by Northcott’s Kickstart Company of young performers, and using the venue as a base for work presented outdoors in the city centre.

In addition, the Barnfield is now a rehearsal space for work presented at the Northcott. The Northcott also uses the Barnfield for community projects.

They now want to double the number of people using the theatre over the next five years from the existing 33,000 a year and create work that suits a smaller space, contrasting and complimenting the work presented on the main stage of the Northcott itself.

Daniel Buckroyd, artistic director and chief executive of Exeter Northcott said: "The Barnfield Theatre is one of Exeter’s hidden gems, home to so much creativity for nearly fifty years, and with the potential to reach out to even bigger, more diverse audiences in future.We’ve been working with the Barnfield team to imagine what the next fifty years might look like.

"I’m thrilled that the Northcott can help secure a brighter, busier future for the Barnfield by taking on its management at this challenging time, and I’m looking forward to working with partners including Exeter City Council and Exeter College to realise its huge potential.’

‘Different events are suited to different spaces - some require the scale of a large stage and others work best in more intimate surroundings. As we re-open after lockdown, we’re delighted to be returning with live events across two theatres, meaning that we can now offer a more diverse programme, and opportunities for artists and companies at all levels.’

‘Our audience and our local community are at the heart of everything we do, so we want the Barnfield to be a space where everyone feels welcome - to see a show, to take part in a creative activity or simply to join us for a coffee and a chat. We’re looking forward to meeting new friends, exploring new ways of doing things, and imagining the future of theatre in Exeter, together.’