The Open Air Theatre, Barra Hall Park in

Hayes Hayes may refer to: * Hayes (surname), including a list of people with the name ** Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th president of the United States * Hayes (given name) Businesses * Hayes Brake, an American designer and manufacturer of disc brakes * Hay ...

, west

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, England, is a purpose-built outdoor theatre with concrete-step seating for up to 180 people. Originally built in 1951, the structure fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in steel in 2005.

Type

The Open Air Theatre in

Barra Hall Park Barra Hall Park is an formal park situated near the centre of Hayes, Hillingdon, Hayes in the Hayes and Harlington (UK Parliament constituency), ward of Wood End in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The park came into existence in December 1923. ...

is a modern, steel-built structure. Four steel umbrellas simultaneously give protection to the stage and reflect sound towards the audience. The stage backdrop is made up of vertical sheets of steel. The indoor back-stage area has toilets and two small dressing rooms.

History

The original Open Air Theatre in Barra Hall Park, Hayes was built in 1951 as a community venue for music, theatre and dance. Over time, the structure fell into disrepair, and the local community raised funds for its reconstruction. The 2005 steel-rebuild was designed by architects Angela Brady (former president of the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

) and Robin Mallalieu, whose aim for a theatre which would have sculptural and visual interest even when not in use produced a theatre with an abstract, enigmatic quality. Standout productions include performances of Shakespeare's ''

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

'' (2004) and Hotbuckle Productions' 2015 adaptation of Jane Austen's ''

Persuasion Persuasion or persuasion arts is an umbrella term for influence. Persuasion can influence a person's beliefs, attitudes, intentions, motivations, or behaviours. Persuasion is studied in many disciplines. Rhetoric studies modes of persuasi ...

''.

Transport

Buses

The

195 Year 195 ( CXCV) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known in Rome as the Year of the Consulship of Scrapula and Clemens (or, less frequently, year 948 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 195 f ...

and H98 stop near Barra Hall Park on Church Road, and the U4 stops near the park at Barra Hall Circus.

town centre is approximately 1 km away, with its many other regular bus services.

Train

The closest train station is Hayes & Harlington, which is a little over 1 km walk away.

Car

On-site parking is available. Street parking (Park and Pay) may be found on the surrounding roads near to the entrances.

References

External links

1960s view of Open Air Theatre, Barra Hall Park
{{LB Hillingdon Theatres in the London Borough of Hillingdon