Barons Court Theatre

Unlike many pub theatres that are located upstairs or in the back room, the Barons Court Theatre is located in the cellar/vaults below the Curtains Up Pub. It has been around for about 16 years (but looks like it has been there forever). The theatre has about 60 seats that surround the stage on three sides. The playing area is an intimatel square surrounded by archways on the three sides where the audience sits. Sometimes the directors use the audience space as playing area (for example in their production of Antigone, the chorus sat in the front row of the audience. The theatre has a very intimate feel. You can look the actors right in the eye (in fact one winked at me during a show recently). The artistic director at Barons Court is Ron Phillips. He produces about 70% classics and 30% new works. His focus in selecting productions is plays that will entertain (rather than focusing on a particular genre). The Curtains Up pub is a fairly upscale place that can get quite packed on the weekends. It is also an enjoyable place to grab an ale or a meal before the show (they have a restaurant in the back and you can book a table by ringing 020 7386 7543).