Look ahead for a long, sturdy red-brick building with tall arched windows that line up in neat rows. There’s a fancy bit of stonework above the doorway and a little clock tower on the roof-almost as if the building itself is dressed up for one of the shows inside. If you spot some lively painted scenes on the lower windows and a pair of bright red letterboxes right at the corner, you’ll know you’re standing outside the Barnfield Theatre.
Welcome to the grand finale of our Exeter journey! Imagine yourself here more than 100 years ago. The year is somewhere near the end of the 19th century, and this beautiful hall was buzzing with the chatter of scholars from the Exeter Literary Society. Maybe you can still hear a faint whisper of old debates floating on the breeze.
Hop forward to 1972, and Barnfield Hall takes a dramatic turn-literally! The building became the Barnfield Theatre. Since then, laughter, applause, and the occasional over-the-top stage whisper have echoed off these brick walls. Today, you’re standing before a place that welcomes everyone from local drama clubs to professional theatre troupes.
Step inside (don’t worry, there are 280 comfy seats with a perfect view-no need to fight for the best spot). If you wander into the Clifford Room, you’ll find a magical space that can transform as quickly as a quick-change artist backstage-studio, conference, theatre-in-the-round, you name it!
Now, imagine the buzz as the foyer got its makeover in 2015, and then again in 2022 when the Northcott Theatre took over. A little fresh paint, a dash of history, and a dollop of anticipation-just the sort of place where stories come to life, and you never quite know what's going to happen next.
So take a moment to soak in the atmosphere. Who knows, maybe the echoes of Victorian voices and the cheers from a modern panto will blend together to make your own theatre magic here. And if you hear a distant round of applause, don’t worry-it’s probably just the walls, clapping for every show they've ever hosted!
Thanks for walking Exeter with me. Curtain call-until next time!
