New play at The Bull Theatre to feature wartime Barnet stories
The Blue Door Theatre Company will premiere a production based on local memories from the 1940s this October.
Trust 42Craft 55Hype 35How this was reported ▾
Only one named source (Barnet Society) with no independent verification.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
No affected parties or council response quoted; vague claims.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Headline overstates 'celebrate' while story lacks depth.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
The Blue Door Theatre Company will premiere a new play titled 'A Nightingale Sang in Barnet' at The Bull Theatre in October 2026. The production focuses on the lives of townspeople in the London Borough of Barnet during the Second World War.
Wartime settings and local history
Barnet Resident Colin Purkey Publishes Memoir of Apartheid Imprisonment
Retired physics teacher recounts his arrest, activism and personal struggles in 'Time Served'
The play uses historical settings to frame its narrative. These include the Barnet Odeon, which is now the Everyman, and a makeshift air raid shelter. The Odeon opened in 1935 and was awarded Grade II listing in 1989 for its Art Deco architecture. During the 1940s, the borough hosted four local cinemas: the Odeon, the Cinema Palace, the New Barnet Kinema, and the Dominion.
“A magic lantern bringing light to break the shadows, respite for all the strangers brought together as a family in a dusty, makeshift shelter.”
Siobhan Dunne, Director
Production details
Barnet Gays to host third anniversary social meetup on 12 August
Monthly gatherings for gay men in the borough continue with free event at local venue
Director Siobhan Dunne said the production aims to reflect the town's history through a combination of verbatim stories and imagined events. The creative team includes Sarah Munford, Hannah Gerolemou, Rafaela Golding, Claire Fisher, Dominique Carruthers-Reeve, Francesco Giacon, and Brigid Hekster. Nick Godwin has arranged the music for the show.
The production features four performances. These will take place on Thursday 15 October at 7.30pm, Friday 16 October at 7.30pm, and Saturday 17 October with shows at 2pm and 7.30pm.
Residents can book tickets via the official website for The Bull Theatre.
Questions this report answers
+When can I see the new play?
The production will run for four performances between 15 October and 17 October 2026. These shows will take place at The Bull Theatre, with evening performances on Thursday and Friday, and both afternoon and evening shows on Saturday.
+How much do the tickets cost?
Tickets for the production are priced at £19 each. This price does not include the booking fee. Interested residents can purchase their tickets through the official website for The Bull Theatre.
+What is the play about?
The play is based on wartime memories and tales from Barnet during the Second World War. It uses historical settings, such as the Grade II listed Barnet Odeon, to tell stories of life in the borough during the 1940s.
Barnet Press News Desk
This article was written at the Barnet Press news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
How stories are produced and scoredWho runs Barnet PressCorrections
Barnet conditions
Loading live conditions…
More Coverage in Culture & Arts
Barnet Resident Colin Purkey Publishes Memoir of Apartheid Imprisonment
Barnet Gays to host third anniversary social meetup on 12 August
Fly-tipping in Barnet: £500 for a first offence, £350 if you pay quickly
