| Barons Court Theatre (Curtain Up) | Barons
Court Pub |
| Phone:
020 8932 4747 |
Tube/Rail Stop(s): Barons Court |
| Performance Schedule: | Evening performances primarily. |
| Ticket Info: | Tickets generally cost from £4 to £15. |
What's Playing:
"The Lunch Club", by Erik Haggstrom, March 14th to April 9th. Three friends meet daily over lunch on the construction site for London's Olympic Village.
"Frank Pig Says Hello", by Patrick McCabe, April 11th to April 30th. The story of Francie who is dealing with her drunken father and mother who is hospitalized with mental illness. As he is ignored by the locals, he becomes more and more strange and threatening.
"Kissing it Better" and "The Arbor", by Liz Tait and Andrea Dunbar (respectively), May 9th to May 14th. A double bill of short plays.
"Mrs Darling's Bed 'n Board", by Karlton Parris, May 30th to June 11th. A World War II soldier who has just returned from the war finds himself in a boarding house run by eccentric landlady and a beautiful man.
"The Bridge", by Harry Denford, May 22nd to May 28th. Three people who are thrust together by their relationships with a roadway bridge.
"The Magic Cavern at Barons Court", by Richard Leigh, January 8th to April 30th (Sundays Only). Leigh performs his magic act.
Description:
Unlike many pub theatres that are located upstairs or in the back room, the Barons Court Theatre is located in the cellar/vaults below the Curtains Up Pub. It has been around for about 11 years (but looks like it has been there forever).
Click Here For More Pictures of the Barons Court/Curtain's Up Theatre
The theatre has about 60 seats that surround the stage on three sides. The playing area is a very small square surrounded by archways on the three sides where the audience sits. Sometimes the directors use the audience space as playing area (for example in their production of Antigone, the chorus sat in the front row of the audience. The theatre has a very intimate feel. You can look the actors right in the eye (in fact one winked at me during a show recently).
The artistic director at Barons Court is Ron Phillips. He produces about 70% classics and 30% new works. His focus in selecting productions is plays that will entertain (rather than focusing on a particular genre).
The Curtains Up pub is a fairly upscale place that can get quite packed on the weekends. It is also an enjoyable place to grab an ale or a meal before the show (they have a restaurant in the back).