Returning from 10-29 August, The Barn Theatre are bringing their Barnfest Summer Theatre Festival back to life and this year’s programme will inspire and entertain audiences of all ages! The festival will be returning to The Pavillion, which is located next to the theatre within the grounds of the newly opened hotel Ingleside House, as well as a two-day residency from 21-22 August at the Manor House at Notgrove Estate. 

At the Pavillion, the festival will open with improvisational comedy troupe Spontaneous Players with their entirely improvised comedy shows Spontaneous Potter Kidz: The Unofficial Improvised Parody and Spontaneous Sherlock from 10-12 August. 

Also at the Pavillion and to coincide with 50 years of Mr Benn on screen, Storystock are bringing the magic of David McKee’s beloved character to the next generation of children with their productions of Mr Benn’s Big Game and Mr Benn and the Dragon. West End stars Adam Bayjou and Lucy O'Byrne will perform in musical theatre cabaret, The Great Showtunes so audiences will be able to enjoy listening to some of the world’s best loved musicals.

Following his smash-hit run at last year’s festival, Giffords Circus favourite Tweedy the Clown will return with his solo show Tweedy: Al Fresco! on 17 August for 12pm and 3pm performances.

The Runaround Kids, billed as “the UK’s finest vintage band”, will perform at 8pm from 17 – 18 August with Britain’s Got Talent winner and West End star Jai McDowall performing his solo show An Evening with Jai McDowall at 8pm from 19 – 21 August.

The Future of Musical Theatre, a celebration of upcoming musical theatre talents in Gloucestershire, will be performed on 22 August at 8pm. The concert, which began life as an online fundraiser, was created by Barn Theatre volunteer and Barn Academy student Nathan Seatter-Messer as a way to support his local theatre.

Tickets for these performances at BarnFest are now on sale and can be purchased through their website here.