The Barrfields Pavilion Theatre (Barrfields Theatre, Barrfields Pavilion Theatre) is a 500-seat theatre at Barrfields,

Largs Largs ( gd, An Leargaidh Ghallda) is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" (''An Leargaidh'') in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town mark ...

, North Ayrshire.

Background

Barrfields Pavilion, as it was originally known, was officially opened on 11 April 1930, as a popular variety theatre to cater for the thousands of summer tourists who visited the town of

, North Ayrshire. Originally seating 1003, it was home to the lavish Barrfields Summer Season Revues. Many international Scottish entertainers and actors have played the theatre over the years including

Rikki Fulton Robert Kerr "Rikki" Fulton, OBE (15 April 1924 – 27 January 2004) was a Scottish comedian and actor best remembered for writing and performing in the long-running BBC Scotland sketch show, ''Scotch and Wry''. He was also known for his appea ...

Jack Milroy Jack Milroy, MBE (born James Cruden; 28 December 1915 – 1 February 2001), was a Scottish comedian. Born in Govanhill, Glasgow and educated at Shawlands Academy, Milroy is noted for his partnership with comedy actor Rikki Fulton as Francie ...

Jimmy Logan James Allan Short, OBE, FRSAMD (4 April 1928 – 13 April 2001), known professionally as Jimmy Logan, was a Scottish performer, theatrical producer, impresario and director. Family Logan was born in Dennistoun, Glasgow, a member of a fami ...

, Stanley Baxter,

The Krankies The Krankies are a Scottish comedy duo who enjoyed success as a cabaret act in the 1970s and on television in the 1980s, featuring in their own television shows and making pop records. Since this period, they have also regularly appeared in pant ...

Ronnie Corbett Ronald Balfour Corbett (4 December 1930 – 31 March 2016) was a Scottish actor, broadcaster, comedian and writer. He had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the BBC television comedy sketch show ''The Two Ronnies''. He achieved promine ...

Johnny Beattie John Gerard Beattie MBE (9 November 1926 – 9 July 2020) was a Scottish actor and stand-up comedian whose career spanned over six decades. He appeared on shows including the sketch show '' Scotch & Wry'' and the sitcom '' Rab C. Nesbitt'', a ...

Billy Connolly Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish actor, retired comedian, artist, writer, musician, and presenter. He is sometimes known, especially in his homeland, by the Scots nickname the Big Yin ("the Big One"). Known for his ...

and from south of the border,

Frankie Vaughan Frankie Vaughan (born Frank Fruim Abelson; 3 February 1928 – 17 September 1999) was an English singer and actor who recorded more than 80 easy listening and traditional pop singles in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after his ...

and Pat Kirkwood. Over the past 80 years, it has also been home to local companies who present pantomimimes, musicals, operettas, variety and plays in the theatre throughout the year. It is now a busy touring venue thanks to the efforts of its associated Barrfields Theatre User Group.

Refurbishment

The theatre was refurbished in 1995, reconstructed alongside a new centre at Barrfields Theatre and Pool called Vikingar. Seating was reduced to 500, and new spacious foyers were created along with dressing room block, Winter Garden Cafe Bar, and new stage facilities. The theatre is now owned by North Ayrshire Council and under the management of North Ayrshire Leisure Entertainments. The Barrfields Theatre has a programme which has a strong tradition of amateur dramatic productions, popular children's entertainments, variety, Scottish plays, ballet and touring productions and more staged throughout the year.

Revival

In March 2012, a new voluntary group, Barrfields User Group, was set up to develop and promote the Barrfields Theatre facility.

Location

The theatre is situated as part of the

Vikingar Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and s ...

leisure Centre, Barrfields, Greenock Road, Largs. This is part of the municipal policies of Barrfields along with the sports ground and putting green.

References

Theatres in Scotland Buildings and structures in North Ayrshire Largs Tourist attractions in North Ayrshire 1930 establishments in Scotland Theatres completed in 1930 {{Scotland-struct-stub