4 minute read
Community Theatre in a Barn
By Jennifer Shea
Since 2002, Brighton area residents and visitors have been treated to high quality community theatre in a refurbished historical barn in Proctor Park (home of the Proctor House Museum). Brighton Barn Theatre offers award-winning acting and directing in an informal setting, with all the amenities needed to make the experience comfortable and memorable.
The 1880s-era barn was moved from the farm of Rene and Jerry Simpson at the west end of the original Town of Brighton to its present site in 1999. With community fundraising and volunteer support, reconstruction began in 2000 and the building was ready for use in July, 2001. Further additions and modifications were completed in 2003.
The theatre has a maximum seating of 125 and all patrons enjoy a close, unobstructed view of the stage. The post-and-beam construction, soaring ceiling and warm wooden interior provide a cozy setting to enjoy the productions. The barn is heated, air-conditioned, and it is wheelchair accessible.
Anna Rittwage is President of the Proctor House Museum and Brighton Barn Theatre, and she has been involved with the Theatre project since Day 1. She recalls participating in ghost walks on the streets of Brighton as a fundraiser for the museum. “We had 30-some people come out every Tuesday night and play parts in that ghost walk. Once we saw the crowds that came out for the walks and the actors that came out, you could see that we needed live theatre in Brighton. These people had all of these talents and no outlet.”
High quality acting talent has been consistently available for the Brighton Barn Theatre productions from the get-go. The actors are among the many volunteers who also perform various support roles including set production, lighting, sound, building repairs, and more. “I’m most proud of the people who take ownership of the theatre,” says Rittwage. “They will do anything that’s within their means to keep it going and to encourage other volunteers to come out. The work they do is just astounding.”
Brighton Barn Theatre typically offers two productions per year, one in the spring and another in the late summer/ fall. Frequently, the selected play is a comedy and has been written by a Canadian playwright. “We have found out that people like to laugh; they like to leave laughing,” says Rittwage. “We do a lot of Canadian plays (Norm Foster, Pe ter Colley, etc.). Sometimes, we’ll take on an American comedy. People really enjoy the comedy.”
These productions draw large crowds from beyond the Brighton region. The first 2025 production (Norm Foster’s Jenny’s House of Joy) had 1,000 tickets available for the three weekends it ran and 967 tickets of those tickets were sold. Show proceeds go to the Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO), a charitable organization dedicated to re storing and maintaining Proctor House Museum. SOHO funds also support the continuing operation of the theatre.
The Brighton Barn Theatre community lost one of its long-time volunteer leaders in May after a lengthy illness. Art Middleton had been President of the Theatre for many years. He also produced plays and provided his expertise as technical director, lighting designer and operator, and set designer.
Despite his illness, Middleton last designed the set and lighting for Brighton Barn Theatre’s first 2025 production that ran from April to May of this year.
As a testament to the quality of productions offered by Brighton Barn Theatre, the organization occasionally participates in the Eastern Ontario Drama League One-Act Play Festival and has garnered numerous “best of” nominations. The Theatre was awarded best individual female performance for Kathy Lacasse as Mrs. Peters in Trifles.
