09 Jun 2025
Brian Cox, Dame Joanna Lumley, Ralph Fiennes and Zoë Wanamaker have pledged their support for plans to transform a 17th century barn into a new theatre for St Albans.
OVO theatre company is aiming to create a vibrant, year-round performance venue housing a new repertory company, employing a core group of actors and production staff for a season at a time.
Their objective is to provide vital opportunities for early career performers, creatives, and crew who might otherwise find it difficult to establish themselves in the industry.
First mentioned in 1649 and located in Verulamium Park, St Germain’s Barn has deep theatrical roots, having been bought by Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Killigrew, whose father and uncle were both playwrights and theatre producers in the time of Charles II.
It has long been in disrepair and is listed on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ Register., but renovation work will begin later this year ahead of its opening in summer 2026.
A £300,000 grant from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund will pay for the new fully-equipped performance area.
Backing the scheme is a quartet of talent best described as acting royalty.
Succession star Brian Cox is particularly keen to see young people from working class backgrounds accessing the industry. He said:
“When I was 14 years old an opportunity opened up for me at Dundee Rep. I left school, earned £4 a week and started to learn my trade. This was my first experience of live theatre – until then it was seen as a middle-class pursuit. It was the greatest apprenticeship I could have wished for and laid the foundations for the career I have had. The decline of the repertory system has denied many young people from working class backgrounds the opportunity of a career in theatre. I’m delighted to support OVO’s new initiative to widen the talent pool and increase the diversity of our industry.”
Brian co-founded the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh and is celebrated for roles with the RSC, National Theatre and in films such as Braveheart and Troy.
National treasure Dame Joanna Lumley, famous for the likes of Absolutely Fabulous, Sapphire and Steel and The New Avengers, says she is pleased to be able to support aspiring actors who may wish to enter the industry through less conventional routes:
“I am thrilled to be involved in this exciting project which will bring encouragement to so many young actors. As someone who had no formal acting training, I wholly encourage positive projects like this that identify young, up-and-coming talent from all kinds of backgrounds.”
Her film career includes roles in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Trail of the Pink Panther, Shirley Valentine, James and the Giant Peach, Ella Enchanted, and The Wolf of Wall Street, and on stage she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in the Broadway revival of La Bête.
Zoë Wanamaker is delighted to be involved as she continues her father’s legacy at the Globe Theatre in supporting the arts through a connection with historic buildings:
“I passionately believe in opportunity for all. Not only do new actors and creatives benefit from schemes like OVO’s barn theatre, but the impact on society is huge too.”
Her career spans five decades in theatre, television and film including Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and My Week with Marilyn.
In his early career, Ralph Fiennes’ agent encouraged him to hone his craft in regional theatres rather than pursuing immediate television roles, which he believes gave him a long-term perspective on artistic development.
He went on to enjoy iconic roles in Schindler’s List, The English Patient, Harry Potter, and Conclave.
Ralph said: “I know the importance of an exceptional grassroots training experience. There is a sense of wonder and anticipation that comes with mixing the old and the new. The preservation of the 17th-century barn together with the eager energy of budding new actors will be the beginning of something fabulous. I am extremely proud to be a part of it.”
OVO artistic director Adam Nichols welcomed the support of four such prestigious names: “We’re delighted to have assembled an amazing group of patrons, and for their confidence in and support for our ambitious new plans. Their profile, experience and wisdom is going to be invaluable in helping us to develop a new generation of performers and creatives, and to inspire people from backgrounds where theatre is not a natural career choice to enter our industry. I can’t wait to start working with them!”
Artist’s impressions and barn photos: Simon Knight Architects
Drone image: ThirteenStructures
