The Barrfields Pavilion (Barrfields Theatre, Barrfields Pavilion Theatre) is a purpose built theatre at Barrfields

Barrfields

Barrfields is a public recreation space in Largs, North Ayrshire, originally gifted to the Largs Town Council in the 1920s - on the site of Mansefield House. The council subsequently built an extensive walled rose garden, a children's playpark, a theatre, meeting rooms, tearooms, a putting green...

, Largs

Largs

Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....

, North Ayrshire

North Ayrshire

North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...

.

Background

Barrfields Pavilion was officially opened on 11 April 1930, as a variety theatre for the small town of Largs

Largs

Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....

, 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

Rikki Fulton

Robert Kerr Fulton, OBE , more commonly known as Rikki Fulton, 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 as one half of the double act, Francie and Josie, alongside...

, Jack Milroy

Jack Milroy

Jack Milroy was a Scottish comedian . Born James Cruden in Govanhill and educated at Shawlands Academy, Milroy is noted for his partnership with comedy actor Rikki Fulton, as Francie and Josie...

, Jimmy Logan

Jimmy Logan

Jimmy Logan OBE, FRSAMD , born as James Allan Short, Dennistoun, Glasgow, was a Scottish performer, producer, impresario and director.-Family:...

, Stanley Baxter

Stanley Baxter

Stanley Baxter is a Scottish comic actor and impressionist, best known for his British television shows. He worked in radio, theatre, television and film.-Early life:...

, The Krankies

The Krankies

The Krankies are a Scottish comedy duo that enjoyed success as a cabaret act in the 1970s and on television in the 1980s, featuring in their own television shows and releasing their own music single. They entered semi-retirement in 1992, but they have regularly appeared in pantomime since.The duo...

, Ronnie Corbett

Ronnie Corbett

Ronald Balfour "Ronnie" Corbett, OBE is a Scottish actor and comedian of Scottish and English parentage who had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the British television comedy series The Two Ronnies...

, Johnny Beattie

Johnny Beattie

Johnny Beattie MBE is a Scottish actor and comedian.He began his career in the music hall and variety show tradition, similar to Scottish figures such as Rikki Fulton, Jack Milroy and Stanley Baxter, all of whom knew each other and were of a similar age to each other.He has appeared in television...

, Billy Connolly

Billy Connolly

William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...

 and from south of the border, Frankie Vaughan

Frankie Vaughan

Frankie Vaughan, CBE, DL was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.-Life and career:...

 and Pat Kirkwood. It was generally regarded as one of Scotland's highest quality variety theatres.

Over the past 75 years, it has been home to local companies Largs Amateur Operatic Society, Largs Players and now Largs Youth Theatre, who present pantomimimes, musicals, operettas, variety and plays in the theatre throughout the year.

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, Longboat Theatre 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 fashionable touring productions and more staged throughout the year.

Location

The theatre is situated adjacent to Vikingar Visitor Centre, Barrfields, Greenock Road, Largs.

This is part of the municipal centre of Barrfields

Barrfields

Barrfields is a public recreation space in Largs, North Ayrshire, originally gifted to the Largs Town Council in the 1920s - on the site of Mansefield House. The council subsequently built an extensive walled rose garden, a children's playpark, a theatre, meeting rooms, tearooms, a putting green...

 along with the sports ground and putting green.

The theatre is home to the Largs Youth Theatre who have their own dedicated rehearsal space within the complex.