OVO launches new theatre The Barn in St Albans
Photo credit: Mike Dick Photography
OVO’s much anticipated new theatre, The Barn, has officially opened its doors in St Albans.
The production company, set to bring “Free Range Theatre” to the 17th-century building, welcomed 200 guests from the arts industry and local community to help celebrate its opening earlier this week.
Kicking off with Macbeth, a play that is fittingly as old as The Barn itself, the event launched an Autumn season of site-specific productions staged in a work-in-progress phase, ahead of the building’s full conversion in 2027.
OVO Patron, Ralph Fiennes, said of the milestone: “The revival of this beautiful 17th-century barn and its transformation into a theatre marks the start of something spectacular.
“I applaud OVO’s dedication to championing the rep theatre model and supporting grassroots theatre. I am deeply honoured to support as Patron.”
With the support of Fiennes and its other Patrons, including Dame Joanna Lumley, Brian Cox CBE, and Zoë Wanamaker CBE, OVO has raised nearly £1 million to fund the first phase of the project to convert the Grade II listed threshing barn into a new performance venue.
Founder and Artistic Director of OVO, Adam Nichols, commented: “It is a dream come true, to see The Barn finally open - and to such an overwhelmingly warm and positive reception. We are incredibly excited to have a space in which we will be able to nurture emerging theatre talent from all backgrounds as part of OVO’s new rep company.
“I am enormously grateful for the support of our local community here in St Albans, the wider theatre industry and the amazing generosity of over 80 investors, without whom this project would not have been possible. And to the incredible OVO team, who have backed my crazy idea, poured everything into making this new theatre happen over the past few years. I couldn’t be prouder.”
The new season captures OVO’s signature style with a line-up of bold, imaginative and surprising new versions of classic plays. Full renovation of the 100-seater theatre is set to take place next year, but the venue is already proving popular with numerous sold out shows in the uniquely intimate space.
The inaugural Autumn/Winter 2026 season features Macbeth (open now until 8 November), The Winding Stair (13 – 15 November), and A Christmas Carol (4 – 30 December).