CIRENCESTER’s Barn Theatre is small – but it has big ambitions, and these have been fully justified by the quality and success of its productions, home-grown or shared. Autumn brings a premiere of a written-for-the-Barn thriller, Room 13, opening on 28th September, and the appointment of a new executive director, Liam McMullan.

Running to 9th November, Room 13 is a new play by Duncan Abel and Rachel Wagstaff, inspired by the ghost stories of MR James, the late 19th century medievalist, Provost of King’s College, Cambridge, and author of famously scary ghost stories.

In a lonely hotel, four strangers are forced to spend the night in Room 13. Bearing the weight of their own grief, shame and darkness, they come to realise that Room 13 has secrets of its own. As the four solitary souls develop unexpected bonds, they each share something from their past that still haunts them – stories of a painting that conceals a horrific secret; a macabre song that whispers in the depths of night, and children’s voices that echo from a forgotten well.

As the veil between the present and the past, the living and the dead, becomes frayed, the new companions will have to face their darkest fears if they are ever to escape Room 13… The authors describe the Barn as unique, “the most perfect and evocative space for this original ghost story!”

Liam McMullan (pictured), who joins artistic director Ian Lewis to lead the Barn, has been an independent commercial producer and general manager, who has previously worked at National Theatre Productions, Riverdance, Festival Republic, and GBL Productions. He has been working with the team at the Barn as commercial producer, including on the recent and critically acclaimed Some Mothers Do ‘Ave Em and Stones in His Pockets.

He says: “Every theatre today is facing immense challenges, and the Barn is no different. It’s a battle we fight daily to keep the doors open, the lights on and continue bringing powerful, inspiring programming to our audiences. Yet, I believe the Barn is uniquely positioned to thrive, with its rich potential for commercial development and its commitment to innovation.

“With my background in developing commercial opportunities, I’m eager to help the Barn not only become an exceptional producing theatre but also a vibrant creative hub for producers and makers looking to create and develop new work. We have the opportunity to shape the future of theatre and to make the Barn a shining example of what a modern, forward-thinking theatre can be. I look forward to working with the talented team here, as well as with artists and producers from near and far, to create something truly extraordinary.!”