Memories of Glaswegians' favourite seaside theatre which hosted Billy Connolly and Kylie Minogue

The list of stars who have performed there over the decades is impressive – Stanley Baxter, Jimmy Logan, Una McLean, Billy Connolly, Kylie Minogue…

Kylie Minogue?

Technically, the Australian popstar did not grace the Barrfields stage but she did visit, to appear on the McCoist and MacAulay radio show, which was being recorded there.

Footballer Ally and comedian Fred interviewed Kylie and Fred, who had broken his leg, even persuaded her to sign his plaster cast.

Fantastic local stars, such as violinist Nicola Benedetti and singing duo Gallagher and Lyle, as well Largs Amateur Operatic Society, Largs Players, and Largs Youth Theatre, have also appeared there.

Barrfields opened in 1930, and at its peak, entertained more than 1000 people, twice a night, during the busy summer season.

Its first few shows included a “traditional opening ceremony”, performed by Mrs Barr, the wife of the landowner who donated his fields for the theatre, and a free variety spectacular with stars from radio, theatre and gramophone. The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Players put on Bunty Pulls the Strings and Largs Choral Society’s staged Rob Roy the following weekend.

During the war years, Barrfields was adapted as a base for Catalina RAF seaplanes, with Opportunity Knocks presenter Hughie Green stationed there.

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The theatre’s “unofficial” historian Ryan Moir, who helped form a theatre users group around a decade ago in a bid to revive the venue, says it was a favourite destination for Glasgow’s theatre-lovers.

“Some of the big city theatres would close in the summer – it was basically panto until April, then nothing,” he smiles.

“So many audiences - and stars - would head to the seaside, to the likes of Largs, Dunoon and Ayr.

“Barrfields was built as one of those seaside pavilion theatres, which would all compete with one another to get the best stars. A few years ago I interviewed many local people who still remembered the heyday of Barrfields and they all said it was an exciting time – there was a real buzz in the town.”

Ryan adds: “The stars would move in to the town – Ross Bowie, father of DJ George, ran a lot of the shows and he owned the Royal Hotel, so many of the stars would stay there.

“There would be after-show parties, of course, and some stars took houses in the town and really got involved in the community.”

He smiles: “So you might turn up at the bar and see Jimmy Logan doing a turn, or bump into Andy Stewart opening a church fete.

“There was a putting green outside the theatre and Johnny Beattie and Hector McNicol used to play together, competing with each other to see who could be the best.

“Under the stage was a caretaker’s house, and one year Anne Fields – one of Scottish variety’s unsung heroes, who was a feed for people like Johnny Beattie – actually stayed there. She lived beneath the stage for the whole run...”

For many Glasgow folk planning a trip “doon the watter”, choosing a destination was as much about the quality of the summer show as it was about the accommodation or things to see and do.

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“These shows were a huge draw for people, and they were rooted in tourism – even the twice-nightly timings were organised around mealtimes at the town’s guest houses,” says Ryan. ““That’s why the timings were often quite odd - 6.20, 8.40, for example.

“Lots of local people would go too, of course, not just tourists – and some even had their own ‘permanent’ seats.”

The advent of television and the demise of variety changed Barrfields Theatre’s fortunes forever.

“It was an exciting, magical era, but by the 1970s, it had all but disappeared,” says Ryan.

“There was even talk of pulling Barrfields down at one point.”

For the next few years, the theatre relied on amateur groups and occasional touring shows to bring in audiences, but in 1993, a major refurbishment added a swimming pool and a visitor attraction called Vikingar!, all about Viking history in the area.

The theatre is now run by KA Leisure, the local authority’s arms-length cultural service, supported by Barrfields User Group (BUG), which comprises members of local amateur theatre groups who help out front of house and fundraise.

Ryan, who was chairperson for the first few years, is still involved despite a busy schedule touring and performing with his own singalong children’s theatre show, The McDougalls, and he is very proud of what the group of volunteers has achieved.

“They’re a fantastic bunch of people, a really active group – Barrfields is in safe hands,” he smiles.

Barrfields is opening up its doors again following a tough few years courtesy of Covid and lockdowns.

The first act to appear is Just Beatles, a Fab Four tribute band, on August 20.

For more information, follow Barrfields Theatre on Facebook or visit the website at barrfieldstheatre.com

*Did you go to the Largs Summer Show at Barrfields? Which seaside shows do you remember?

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