The Barnyard Theatres
For a less formal theatre environment that caters for family outings and corporate functions, head off to one of the province’s Barnyard Theatres – friendly performance venues that host live bands, performing artists and amateur dramatics all year round. Barnyard Theatres offer audiences vibey, entertaining shows that are accompanied by dinner and drinks and, if you like, dancing.
Barnyard Theatre, Cresta, Johanneburg. Photo courtesy Paul Jacobson
The Möller family, which is behind the Barnyard concept, is entrenched in South Africa’s performing arts industry. Louis Möller is the co-founder and producer of, among others, the investigative journalism television programme Carte Blanche and Sybel Coetzee, his wife, is a freelance actress and TV presenter.
According to Sybel Coetzee Möller, the Barnyard Theatre was born in 1996. The first theatre was a rustic, American-style wooden barn on the family farm near Plettenberg Bay, which the Möllers converted into a theatre with heavy wooden beams, a horseshoe gallery and big tables with welcoming lanterns. Here, locals took to the stage in the Barnyard’s first production, An Evening of Love Songs. The concept of a comfortable environment where friends and family could be entertained, eat, drink and talk into the early hours of the morning proved to be a winner.
As Barnyard Theatres sprang up around the country, Louis Möller joined forces with Edwin “Duck” Chowles, a South African musician who penned and produced the popular musical Roll Over Beethoven. Today, Chowles leads the Barnyard band throughout the country, travelling from theatre to theatre as he spreads his musical talent.
The Barnyard Theatres stages mostly musicals and tributes to musicians, genres and musical eras, such as rock, the ’60s or Elvis. The theatres, which seat some 300 people in tables around the stage, are superb venues for private parties and corporate events.
At present, there are eight Barnyard Theatres in South Africa, five in Gauteng. While each theatre is a product of its individual setting, they all retain the charm of that first converted farmhouse.
Regular Barnyard patrons can enjoy the benefits of the franchise’s loyalty programme.
Admission
Ticket prices vary. Tickets can be booked online at www.barnyardtheatre.co.za or through individual theatres’ ticket offices
Contact details
Barnyard Broadacres, Johannesburg
Tel: +27 (0)11 467 6983
Fax: +27 (0)11 467 9711
Physical address:
Broadacres Shopping Centre
Corner Cedar Avenue and Valley Road
Broadacres
Fourways
Email: simeon@barnyardtheatres.co.za
Barnyard Cresta, Johannesburg
Tel: +27 (0)11 280 4370
Fax: +27 (0)11 678 3764
Physical address:
Cresta Shopping Centre
Beyers Naudé Drive
Randburg
Email: iris@barnyardtheatres.co.za
Barnyard Menlyn, Pretoria
Tel: +27 (0)12 368 1555
Fax: +27 (0)12 368 1556
Physical address:
Menlyn Park Shopping Centre
Pretoria
Email: menlyn@barnyardtheatres.co.za
Barnyard Boksburg, Ekurhuleni
Tel: +27 (0)11 823 6933
Fax: +27 (0)11 823 6934
Physical address:
East Rand Galleria
Corner Rietfontein and Northrand roads
Boksburg
Email: eastrand@barnyardtheatres.co.za
Barnyard Vereeniging
Tel: +27 (0)16 454 8388
Physical address:
Corner General Hertzog and Club streets
Three Rivers
Vereeniging
Email: barnyard@elpa.co.za