The first time someone walks through the doors of Barter Theatre, they may be expecting a nice evening out—a show, dinner, maybe a stroll down Main Street before heading home. What they often discover is a place that gives them a reason to start planning the next visit before the first one is over.
Located in the heart of downtown Abingdon, Virginia, Barter has been welcoming audiences since 1933 and remains one of the country’s longest-running professional theatres. But history is only part of its appeal. What makes a trip to Barter memorable is the way theatre becomes part of a larger experience: an afternoon with friends, a weekend away with your spouse, a day with the grandchildren or simply an excuse to spend a little more time in one of Southwest Virginia’s most charming towns.
A Theatre Built on Audience Connection
Barter’s repertory model means there’s rarely just one reason to visit—and this fall is a perfect example of how many different kinds of nights can begin in the same place. Gather your girlfriends for the uplifting Come From Away, make Dracula the centerpiece of an October date night, bring history-loving friends to Kings Mountain, or introduce the grandchildren to live theatre for the first time with The Barter Players’ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
That range isn’t accidental, it’s the point. Barter is built for return visits, not one-time experiences. The repertory structure makes it easy to come back again and again without ever feeling like you’re repeating yourself. Over time, those visits start to stack into something more meaningful than individual shows. You begin to associate the theatre with people and moments: the friend who always laughs the loudest, the partner who reaches for your hand in the dark, the grandchild who can’t stop talking about the characters on the drive home. Instead of simply choosing a performance, you’re choosing a memory in the making, and deciding who you want to share it with.
The Power of 20 Productions Per Year
The advantage of a repertory theatre becomes clear after you've visited a few times: every show can create a different kind of outing.
With roughly 20 productions throughout the year, Barter gives audiences plenty of opportunities to find something that fits their tastes. Musicals, comedies, dramas, classics, new works and family productions mean you don't have to be a particular "type" of theatregoer to find your place here.
That variety also makes subscribing appealing. You can build a season around what you love—or use it as an excuse to try something you normally wouldn't choose. Bring one friend to a musical, your spouse to a classic and the whole family to another production later in the season.
New Play Development Brings Fresh Voices
Barter's commitment to storytelling extends beyond familiar titles. Through new play development, including the Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights, the theatre helps bring new voices and stories connected to the region to the stage.
For audiences who love books and storytelling, there's something exciting about seeing a work while it's still finding its way into the world. You aren't only revisiting characters and stories you already know; you may be among the first audiences to encounter something entirely new.
That combination of beloved classics and emerging voices gives regular theatregoers another reason to keep checking the season.
Educational Programs That Extend Beyond the Stage
Some of the best introductions to theatre happen early. The Barter Players create professional productions with young audiences in mind, giving parents and grandparents an easy way to share live theatre with children.
And the performance can be just one part of the adventure. Have lunch downtown, stop for ice cream, explore Abingdon's shops or spend some time outside. For active families, the Virginia Creeper Trail offers another way to enjoy the area, particularly when Southwest Virginia's fall color arrives.
It's less about filling an afternoon and more about creating the kind of day grandchildren may still talk about on the ride home.
Making Live Theatre Part of Your Life
The best way to experience Barter may be to stop thinking of it as somewhere you visit only for a special occasion. Make it the reason for the girls' weekend you've been meaning to plan. Turn a Saturday night into an actual date night. Invite your book club or history-loving friends. Bring the grandchildren and let them experience the excitement of seeing a story unfold onstage.
Then build around it. Have dinner downtown. Browse the shops. Walk the Virginia Creeper Trail. Explore Abingdon's history. Stay overnight and give yourself another morning to enjoy town. Because a trip to Barter isn't only about what happens after the curtain rises. It's about who you bring with you, the time you spend together and the story that gives you a reason to come back.
For tickets, current productions, subscriptions and group information, call Barter Theatre's Box Office at 276.628.3991 or visit bartertheatre.com.
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