The Barnyard Theatre Group has been providing South Africans with a unique entertainment experience for the past 22 years. From humble beginnings on a farm in Plettenberg Bay to seven venues across South Africa, the Group presents a remarkable success story for the country’s live entertainment industry.
Electrosonic SA, a leading distributor of professional theatre lighting solutions, has been a part of the Barnyard Theatres’ journey to success since the early 2000s, and continues to support the Group’s vision to provide audiences with an interactive, affordable and uniquely South African live entertainment experience for many years to come.
A STAR IS BORN
The first Barnyard Theatre was opened in 1996 by Louis and Sybel Möller, on a dairy farm just outside of Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape. The Möllers built a beautiful, rustic American-style wooden barn on their farm, which they converted into a theatre with an old-world atmosphere, including heavy wooden beams, a horseshoe gallery and big tables with welcoming lanterns and wood chips on the floor.
In 2003, Möller joined forces with well-known South African musician Duck Chowles, and together they formed The Barnyard Theatre Production Company. Remaining loyal to the original vision of a rustic, highly accessible and entertaining dinner theatre experience, the Barnyard Theatre Group soon established similar venues throughout the country.
We WILL ROCK YOU
The Barnyard Theatre specialises in staging variety shows featuring a collage of local talent, often with a sing-along vibe, coupled with warm hospitality, a laid-back atmosphere and an emphasis on fun for all. A first of its kind in South Africa, the original Barnyard Theatre soon set the tone for a whole new take on dinner theatre in South Africa.
Managing partner at the Barnyard Theatre, Seona Cochran, explains: “Musical mastermind, Duck Chowles, has directed and produced all Barnyard Theatre Productions since he and Louis joined forces in 2003. Together with a dynamic and passionate team working behind the scenes on stage productions, musical direction, choreography and costumes, as well as our highly talented local musicians and performers, the Barnyard experience is one of a kind.”
The Barnyard Theatre Group currently operates across six venues, including Gold Reef City Barnyard, Emperors Palace Barnyard, Rivonia Barnyard, Cresta Barnyard, Silverstar Barnyard and Cape Town Barnyard. The Group is launching another venue in KwaZulu-Natal, with the Durban Barnyard set to open its doors at the Suncoast Casino this festive season.
SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS
When the Barnyard Theatre Group opened its first city-based venue in 2003, they turned to one of South Africa’s most established distributors of professional entertainment lighting equipment, Electrosonic SA, for advice. “We have been working with Electrosonic since we opened our first big-city venue, and we have continued to work with the team ever since,” Cochran explains.
“We strive for a world-class experience, and we find that Martin lighting helps us to achieve that. Martin lighting is also of very high build quality, and some of our lights have been going for over 15 years,” “We strive for a world-class experience, and we find that Martin lighting helps us to achieve that. Martin lighting is also of very high build quality, and some of our lights have been going for over 15 years.”
Live events manager and theatre installation expert at Electrosonic, Robbi Nassi, states that his team specified Martin Professional Lighting by HARMAN for the first Barnyard Theatre, as these fixtures would support the Barnyard’s vision for outstanding production quality while also ensuring that the company’s investment would stand the test of time. “Once we had deployed the lighting rig at the first Barnyard theatre in 2003, the Barnyard management team have never looked back, and have standardised on Martin by HARMAN.”
“It is extremely important for us that our clients feel that they can come to watch shows at any of our theatres and get the same experience and vibe. This goes for everything from the shows and performers, the service from our staff, the quality of our food and – of course – our sound and lighting,” says Cochran. “We strive for a world-class experience, and we find that Martin lighting helps us to achieve that. Martin lighting is also of very high build quality, and some of our lights have been going for over 15 years,” she says.
In addition to ensuring that all Barnyard Theatres deliver the same high-standard production quality across all of their venues, working on a standardised rig ensures that the group is able to move both assets and technical staff across venues.
Nassi states: “Electrosonic prides itself on supporting our clients over the long haul, which has been of huge benefit to the Barnyard Theatre during its expansion. We regularly offer Martin training, both on-site and at our offices for Barnyard Theatre technical crews, and always keep a ready inventory of spares and loan units to ensure that Barnyard Theatres are always ready for the next show.”
Cochran echoes these sentiments, saying: “One of the biggest reasons for our long-standing relationship with Electrosonic is their outstanding after-sales service and support. We have become very dependent on Robbi Nassi and his team, as they always go out of their way to assist us.”
ROCKING INTO THE FUTURE
Establishing a successful business in the highly competitive and notoriously fickle entertainment industry is no small feat, and the Barnyard Theatre Group sets an outstanding example to others in the industry. For the past 22 years, the Barnyard Theatre Group has been providing highly entertaining original productions that continue to attract new audiences and provide opportunities for performers to showcase the incredible talent that this country has to offer.
Central to the Group’s recipe for success is investing in world-class lighting and sound technology that is backed by distributors and installers that share in their commitment to delivering world-class entertainment to South African audiences.
“The Barnyard Theatres have an incredible show line-up, from Barnyard Productions featuring the greatest hits of our time to well-known local bands and performers. Barnyard’s in-house catering division prepares pizzas, snack baskets, platters, buffet options and more for sale to patrons attending shows. This unique theatre experience provides the perfect night out, with live entertainment for couples, families and friends. Also, the venues are well-known for birthday parties, fundraising events, corporate functions, client entertainment, day conferencing, year-end parties and more,” Cochran concludes.
For more information on Barnyard Theatres offerings over this festive season, visit www.barnyardtheatre.co.za.
