The Bull Theatre Barnet

As a Trustee of The Bull Theatre in High Barnet, I have the privilege of being part of this intimate arts venue that serves as a cultural cornerstone in our community. The dedication and support of local residents have been instrumental in preserving this historic building, which was saved from potential residential development in 2006. In turn, the theatre supports its community in as many ways as possible, offering their facilities for little or no fee to organisations that enhance the quality of life in Barnet, including: Barnet Police and Neighbourhood Watch, The Barnet Society, The Barnet Residents Association, The Chipping Barnet Town Team, The Barnet Arts Council and Question Time with the leader of Barnet Council. Hosting these activities in their theatre raises awareness amongst a wider audience, including young people, people with disabilities and older members of our community. The local fayres and events that they organise are also much valued by local businesses as they increase the local footfall considerably. Click here to find out more about The Bull Theatre and Upcoming Events.

The iconic venue is also home to The Susi Earnshaw Theatre School, a full-time private school specialising in academics and performing arts in Barnet, North London. Established in 1989, this renowned school has been instrumental in launching the careers of prominent artists, including Amy Winehouse and Jess Glynne, with a significant number of its graduates pursuing successful careers in musical theatre and various other disciplines within the arts.

The site where the Bull Theatre now stands has had a rich and colourful history, we believe there used to be a pub and then a magistrates’ court! The history of the building goes back hundreds of years to the 1530s and is a place of special historical interest. Due to the age and condition of the building, it will need ongoing work so that it may continue to remain an iconic feature of the local community. Furthermore, with so many local arts theatres in London being forced to close, we need to continually raise money so that we can continue to provide a wide range of theatre productions and classes which benefit the community such as:

• The Bull players’ and Blue Door theatre companies, our resident community theatre companies

• Acting classes for adults with Autism

• Live shows and peformances

• Comedy and live music nights.

All money raised through donations, grants and sponsorships will be ploughed directly back into The Bull Theatre Charity.

Our Next Project

Our next project is very dear to us as we have been working with a wonderful organisation, Little Voices Together. This is an inclusive music and drama class for children who may have severe disabilities, learning difficulties and some who are under Hospice Care with the wonderful Noah’s Ark children’s Hospice in Barnet. We will work together to run a series of interactive workshops for these children at The Bull.

As you can imagine, this project will require all the care, attention and specialist talents of the team at Little Voices, as they seek to create a magical experience for these children, who have a range of medical diagnoses:

Mitochondrial Disease (Under Hospice Care)

Rhett Syndrome

Chromasomal Disorders

Various Genetic Disorders

Epilipsy (many of the children)

ADHD

Whilst the families of these children will pay a small fee to attend these classes, this will only cover minimal costs. If you would like to make a donation to the organisation, it would be very gratefully received.