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

Barrfields Barrfields is a public recreation space on the site of Mansefield House in Largs, North Ayrshire, Scotland, originally given to the Largs Town Council in the 1920s, now owned by North Ayrshire Council and a leisure trust. The council subsequen ...

Largs Largs () 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 markets itself on its histor ...

North Ayrshire North Ayrshire (, ) is one of 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas in Scotland. The council area borders Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire to the northeast, and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the east and s ...

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 (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 appearances ...

, Jack Milroy,

Jimmy Logan James Allan Short, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, OBE, RSAMD, FRSAMD (4 April 1928 – 13 April 2001), known professionally as Jimmy Logan, was a Scotland, Scottish performer, theatrical producer, impresario and Theatre director, ...

Stanley Baxter Stanley Livingstone Baxter (born 24 May 1926) is a retired Scottish actor, comedian, impressionist and author. Baxter began his career as a child actor on BBC Scotland and later became known for his British television comedy shows '' The Stanley ...

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 pan ...

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,

Billy Connolly Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish actor, musician, television presenter, artist and retired stand-up comedian. He is sometimes known by the Scots nickname the Big Yin ("the Big One"). Known for his idiosyncratic and of ...

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 leisure Centre, Barrfields, Greenock Road, Largs. This is part of the municipal policies of

along with the sports ground and putting green.

References

{{Authority control Theatres in Scotland Buildings and structures in North Ayrshire Largs Tourist attractions in North Ayrshire 1930 establishments in Scotland Theatres completed in 1930