{"id":10737,"date":"2025-05-02T17:36:37","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T17:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/?p=10737"},"modified":"2025-05-02T19:37:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T19:37:50","slug":"barter-theatre-shakespeare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/stories\/barter-theatre-shakespeare\/","title":{"rendered":"Shakespeare for All in Rural Appalachia, Rooted in Soil and Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After almost a hundred years running, Barter Theatre<\/a> is still a hub of creative exchange in Appalachia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded during the Great Depression, they got their name from their policy of allowing theatregoers to \u201cbuy\u201d admission with fresh produce, livestock, or dairy\u2014in its early days, 4 out of 5 patrons traded their way to a ticket, valued then at 35 cents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though times have changed, the theatre hasn\u2019t\u2014everything Barter does continues to be rooted in community, and their philosophy that theatre is for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It remains the beating heart of Abingdon, a rural town in Southwest Virginia. It\u2019s one of the country\u2019s oldest professional resident repertory theaters\u2014meaning their plays throughout the season are performed by has their own full-time, paid theatre troupe based out of Abingdon itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"A\n
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\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Courtesy of Barter Theatre<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n In 1946, Barter was named the State Theatre of Virginia, making it the first in the country to receive the distinction.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \"A\n
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\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Courtesy of Barter Theatre<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n When pandemic restrictions halted theatre across the country in 2020, Barter worked with the local Moonlite Drive-In to stage socially-distanced plays streamed live-to-screen so people could still enjoy performances.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \"Three\n
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\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Courtesy of Barter Theatre<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n Touring has long been a big part of the Barter experience\u2014the Barter Players travel across multiple states in the Appalachian region, taking their shows on the road.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n
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\n \n\n\n\n<\/g>\n\n\n\n<\/clipPath>\n<\/defs>\n<\/svg> Photo Credit: Courtesy of Barter Theatre<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n In the theatre’s early days, many community members traded their way to a ticket with fresh produce, dairy, and more\u2014which, in turn, helped Barter keep its performers and staff fed.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n\n
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