History of the Theatre

Originally the barn of Clare House owned by Philip Sewell, a local benefactor, from 1864 to 1906.

Anna Sewell, author of the children’s story "Black Beauty", was Philip’s sister and lived in the White House, Spixworth Road. Philip owned a mare called Black Bess which used to draw his carriage along Spixworth Road and it might be supposed that Bess was the original inspiration for Black Beauty, and the barn a prototype for Black Beauty’s stable. The book was published by Jarrold’s in 1877.

Philip Sewell died in 1906 and left his house and estate to the city of Norwich. Clare House became an Open Air School for city children suffering from respiratory complaints and the barn became their washroom, restroom and handicraft centre.

Since then the old hay barn has seen many uses. During the 1st World War it was used as a theatre when Catton residents put on a concert for troops billeted in the area. It eventually became a bicycle shed for girls of the Blyth School which was constructed in 1929 in the grounds of Clare House. Clare House was demolished in 1970 and out of the rubble rose the foundations of part of the new Blyth Jex school.

When local government was reorganised in 1974 the Norwich schools became the property of the "new" Norfolk. During a visit to their newly acquired school it was suggested by Norfolk County Councillors that the barn might make an admirable small theatre. It required much imagination to envisage the dirty, leaky building stacked with broken furniture and accumulated rubbish as a theatre, but the then Headmistress, Mrs. Valerie Glauert, embraced the idea with enthusiasm and set about the task of persuading others that this was a project worthy of support.

History of the Company

The Sewell Barn Company is the "in-house" drama company of the Society. Its "house style" was established in a series of workshops aimed at bringing together a number of enthusiastic young people and some of the most experienced amateur actors, directors and theatre technicians in the city. It soon developed a reputation for its energetic and physical approach to theatre with an extremely truthful acting style developed in the very intimate setting of the Sewell Barn. This was, in part, the result of the close collaboration between its experienced first Artistic Director Henry Burke and his associate John Dane, drama teacher at neighbouring Blyth Jex school and one of Norwich’s outstanding actors. Since then the Company has established a considerable reputation for its presentation of a varied, challenging and ambitious programme of plays.

1980-1981
The Norfolk Furies by Henry Burke, directed by Henry Burke.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
Sergeant Musgrave's Dance by John Arden, directed by John Dane.
1981-1982
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard, directed by John Stokes.
Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Henry Burke.
King Lear by William Shakespeare, directed by John Dane.
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
1982-1983
An Italian Straw Hat by Eugene Labiche, directed by Henry Burke.
Little Malcolm & his Struggle Against the Eunuchs by David Halliwell, directed by John Dane.
The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer, directed by John Stokes.
Bingo by Edward Bond, directed by Dave Harris.
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
1983-1984
Othello by William Shakespeare, directed by John Dane.
Antigone by Jean Anouilh, directed by David Perfect.
Plunder by Ben Travers, directed by Henry Burke.
Henry V by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
Boesman and Lena by Athol Fugard, directed by Dave Harris.
Candida by George Bernard Shaw, directed by David Perfect.
The Alchemist by Ben Jonson, directed by Henry Burke.
1984-1985
As You Like It by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
Upstarts by Maxim Gorki, directed by Stephanie Hepburn.
Loot by Joe Orton, directed by Bob Young.
The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster, directed by Dave Harris.
Jumpers by Tom Stoppard, directed by Henry Burke.
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond de Rostand, directed by Henry Burke.
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, directed by Stephanie Hepburn.
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, directed by Jeffrey Davies.
1985-1986
Oh, What a Lovely War by Theatre Workshop, directed by Bob Young.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee, directed by Jeffrey Davies.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
The Caretaker by Harold Pinter, directed by Peter Gage.
The Father by August Strindberg, directed by John Dane.
The Lover by Harold Pinter, directed by Graham Tyrer
Gum and Goo by Howard Brenton, directed by David Cottis
Façade by William Walton, directed by Clive Anderson.
Amadeus by Peter Shaffer, directed by Henry Burke and Ian Emmerson.
On the Razzle by Tom Stoppard, directed by Henry Burke.
Time Remembered by Jean Anouilh, directed by David Perfect.
1986-1987
Women Beware Women by Thomas Middleton, directed by David Cottis.
The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare, directed by Dave Harris.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller, directed by Graham Tyrer.
Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Bob Young.
Richard III by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Checkov, directed by Henry Burke.
Farndale Avenue Murder Mystery by David McGillroy, directed by John Dane.
1987-1988
Female Transport by Steve Gooch, directed by Robert Little.
The Mazda Man by Stephen Graham, directed by Stephen Graham.
Nicholas Nickleby Parts 1 and 2 by Charles Dickens, directed by Henry Burke and Bob Young.
Dr Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, directed by Dave Harris.
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
Woyzeck by Georg Buchner, directed by John Dane.
Children's Hour by Lilian Hellman, directed by Graham Tyrer.
Living Together by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Bob Young.
1988-1989
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, directed by Stephen Graham.
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Graham Tyrer.
The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard, directed by Jeffrey Davies.
Born Yesterday by Gason Kanin, directed by Robert Little.
Habeus Corpus by Alan Bennett, directed by Bob Young.
Good Soldier Schwiek, The by Jaroslav Hasek, directed by Henry Burke.
Ragnarok by Clive Anderson & Graham Tyrer, directed by Graham Tyrer.
1989-1990
Dirty Linen by Tom Stoppard, directed by Bob Young.
Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen, directed by John Stokes.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by Stephen Sondheim, directed by Jeff Davies.
Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss, directed by Henry Burke.
King Ubu by Alfred Jarry, directed by Ralph Yarrow.
Hay Fever by Noel Coward, directed by Henry Burke.
The Road to Mecca by Athol Fugard, directed by Mike Dunne.
Yerma by Federico Garcia Lorca, directed by Jane Burke.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare, directed by Graham Tyrer.
The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter, directed by Robert Little.
1990-1991
Mother Courage by Bertolt Brecht, directed by John Stokes.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Jay Preston-Allen, directed by Mike Dunne.
Byrthrite by Sarah Daniels, directed by Ralph Yarrow.
The Memorandum by Vaclav Havel, directed by Henry Burke.
The Roses of Eyam by Don Taylor, directed by Bob Young.
Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, directed by John Stokes.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare, directed by John Stokes.
Top Girls by Caryl Churchill, directed by Graham Tyrer.
1991-1992
Conquest of the South Pole & Man to Man by Manuel Klarge, directed by Henry Burke.
Lysistrata by Aristophanes, directed by Henry Burke.
The Three Sisters by Anton Checkov, directed by John Stokes.
Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig, directed by John Stokes.
The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Ibson, directed by Mike Dunne.
Hard Times by Charles Dickens adapted by ??, directed by Robert Little.
Spring and Port Wine by Bill Naughton, directed by Bob Young.
1992-1993
The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, directed by Robert Little.
Bent by Martin Sherman, directed by Chris Bealey.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, directed by Bob Young.
Thriller of the Year by Glyn Jones, directed by Gill Emanuel & Anne Giles
No Way Out by J P Sartre, directed by Elva Pryal & John Holden
Zoo Story by Edward Albee, directed by Mike Dunne
The Front Page by Ben Hecht & C MacArthur, directed by Henry Burke.
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, directed by Bob Young.
The Secret Rapture by David Hare, directed by Mike Dunne.
1993-1994
Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Jeff Davies & Gill Emanuel.
Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill, directed by David Spurling.
A Resounding Tinkle by N F Simpson & Chairs by Eugene Ionesco, directed by Carole Lovett.
Piaf by Pam Gems, directed by John Holden.
Children of a Lesser God by Mark Meddoff, directed by Bob Young.
The Country Wife by William Wycherley, directed by Henry Burke.
The Trap by Tadius Rozewicz, directed by Ralph Yarrow.
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, directed by Mike Dunne.
The Silver Curlew by Eleanor Farjeon, directed by Elva Pryal & Anne Giles.
1994-1995
Kafka's Dick by Alan Bennett, directed by John Holden.
Roots by Arnold Wesker, directed by Bob Young.
Our Mutual Friend by Trevor Walker/Charles Dickens, directed by Ralph Yarrow.
Betrayal by Harold Pinter, directed by Robert Little.
Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Anne Giles.
Can't Pay, Won't Pay by Dario Fo, directed by David Spurling.
They Came from Mars by David McGilvray, directed by Bob Young.
Le Bourgeois Gentillhomme by Moliere, directed by Ralph Yarrow & Dave Dixon.
1995-1996
Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell by Keith Waterhouse, directed by Rhett Davies.
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, directed by David Spurling.
Jacques and his Master by Milan Kundera, directed by Ralph Yarrow.
Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas, directed by John Woodrow & Anne Giles.
Stevie by Hugh Whitemore, directed by Jenny Hobson.
Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, directed by Dave Dixon.
Round and Round the Garden by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Ian Moore.
1996-1997
Loves Labours Lost by William Shakespeare, directed by Noel Jones & Jan Beavis.
What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton, directed by Mike Dunne.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy adapted by Helen Edmundson, directed by Bob Young.
Balmoral by Michael Frayn, directed by Trevor Walker.
Old Times by Harold Pinter, directed by David Spurling.
The Tinderbox by Peter Whelan, directed by Anne Giles.
Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott, directed by Rhett Davies.
1997-1998
Alberts Bridge by Tom Stoppard directed by Terry Dabbs
The American Dream by Edward Albee directed by Jenny Hobson.
The Beaux Strategem by George Farquhar, directed by Dave Dixon.
The Fire Raisers by Max Frisch, directed by Robert Little.
The Lady's not for Burning by Christopher Fry, directed by Rhett Davies.
A Chaste Maid of Cheapside by Thomas Middleton, directed by David Spurling.
Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde adapted by Roger Parsley, directed by Robert Little.
1998-1999
Happy Family by Giles Cooper, directed by Rhett Davies.
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, directed by Roger Parsley.
Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens adapted by Matthew Frances, directed by Robert Little.
Metamorphosis by Steven Berkoff, directed by Michelle Montague.
Blood Wedding by Lorca, directed by Mike Dunne.
Private Lives by Noel Coward, directed by Jeff Davies.
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Clare Howard.
1999-2000
Coriolanus by William Shakespeare, directed by Henry Burke.
Howards End by E M Forster adapted by Roger Parsley, directed by Roger Parsley.
Someone Who'll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuiness, directed by Rhett Davies.
More Light by Briony Lavery, directed by Michelle Montague.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, directed by Jeff Davies.
Pack of Lies by Hugh Whitemore, directed by Jenny Hobson.
2000-2001
Stags and Hens by Willie Russell, directed by Frankie Sheppeck.
The Government Inspector by Nicolai Gogol adapted and directed by Henry Burke
The Pocket Dream by Ellie Brewer & Sandi Toksvig, directed by Robert Little.
Shadowlands by Ronald Harwood, directed by Clare Howard.
Sense and Sensibility by Roger Parsley from Jane Austin, directed by Roger Parsley.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller, directed by Jenny Hobson.
The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh, directed by Michelle Montague.
2001-2002
The Dresser by Ronald Harwood, directed by Clare Howard.
Animal Farm by Roger Parsley adapted from George Orwell, directed by Roger Parsley.
Racing Demon by David Hare, directed by Jenny Hobson.
Glengarry, Glenross by David Mamet, directed by Michelle Montague.
Playhouse Creatures by April de Angelis, directed by Robert Little.
How the Other Half Loves by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Jeffrey Davies.
2002-2003
Entertaining Mr Sloane by Joe Orton, directed by Frankie Sheppeck.
Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, directed by Clare Howard.
A Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni ad by Lee Hall, directed by Peter James.
An Evening with Alan Bennett by Alan Bennet, directed by Jenny Hobson.
Look Back in Anger by John Osborne, directed by Michelle Montague.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen adapted and directed by Roger Parsley
And a Nightingale Sang by C P Taylor, directed by Trudi McGilvray.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens ad by John Clifford, directed by Robert Little.
2003-2004
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, directed by Roger Parsley.
The Life and Times of Fanny Hill by John Cleland ad by April de Angelis, directed by Robert Little.
Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel, directed by Clare Howard.
Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens ad by Lynn Brittney, directed by Robert Little.
The Rainmaker by N Richard Nash, directed by Trudy McGilvray.
Abigail's Party by Mike Leigh, directed by Rob Morris.
Outside Edge by Richard Harris, directed by Peter James.
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon, directed by Jenny Hobson.
2004-2005
Equus by Peter Shaffer, directed by Michelle Montague.
No Man's Land by Harold Pinter, directed by Roger Parsley.
She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, directed by Clare Howard.
Vanity Fair by Thackeray, adapted by Declan Donellan, directed by Peter James.
Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas, directed by Robert Little.
Alfie by Bill Naughton, directed by Frankie Sheppeck.
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward, directed by Jeff Davies.
Don't Dress for Dinner by Marc Camoletti, ad by Robin Hawdon, directed by Rob Morris.
2005-2006
Relatively Speaking by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Jeff Davies.
Boy Gets Girl by Rebecca Gilman, directed by John Holden.
Zack by Harold Hobson, directed by Mike Dunne.
Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer, directed by Rob Morris.
A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee, directed by Jenny Hobson.
After Mrs Rochester by Polly Teale, directed by Clare Howard.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare, directed by Roger Parsley.
Tartuffe by Moliere, adapted by Christopher Hampton, directed by Robert Little.
2006-2007
Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones, directed by Carole Lovett
Godspell by John Michael-Tebelak directed by Michelle Montague
Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon directed by Mal Lucas
Last of the Red Hot Lovers by Neil Simon directed by Mike Dunne
An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen directed by Peter James
Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee adapted by James Roose-Evans, directed by Trudy McGilvray
Shakers Re-Stirred by John Godber and Jane Thornton directed by Martyn Richards
Mary Stuart by Friedrich Schiller translated by Peter Oswald, directed by Clare Howard
2007-2008
Strangers on a Train by Craig Warner from the novel by Patricia Highsmith directed by Ayshea Christian.
Fallen Angels by Noel Coward directed by David Hare
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy adapted by Matthew White directed by Robert Little.
The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare directed by Clare Howard
Educating Rita by Willy Russell directed by Mike Dunne
Kindertransport by Dianne Samuela directed by Carol Lovett
Game Plan by Alan Ayckbourn directed by Martyn Richards
Scapino adapted by Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale from Molière directed by Trudy McGilvray
2008-2009