Hello from The Playhouse

Hello from The Playhouse Barraba,

 It’s hard to believe that we purchased The Playhouse on 15 February, and already around eight months have passed.

What an eight months it has been!

Moving to Barraba and taking on The Playhouse has been exciting, exhilarating, challenging and, at times, completely overwhelming. We have met so many wonderful people, made new connections and become part of networks within Barraba and the wider region that we are incredibly grateful for.

We have also experienced some bumps along the way. There have been illnesses, unexpected challenges, changes of plans and the enormous task of relocating our lives while still trying to sell our previous home, move our belongings, establish new businesses and keep The Playhouse running.

And behind it all, there are really just two of us – Tim and Rachel.

So, to everyone who has helped us, supported an event, stayed with us, shared an idea, offered advice, popped in for a chat or simply encouraged us along the way – thank you. It has meant more than you probably realise.

Now we're ready for the next chapter.

We are finally reaching the point where we can start looking ahead, and planning for 2027 has begun. We want The Playhouse to become much more than accommodation or simply a place to hold an event. We see it becoming a destination where people can gather, create, celebrate, perform, relax and try something different.

We are exploring live theatre, movies, music, entertainment, arts and crafts, workshops, community events and special experiences – and there is much more to come.

Watch this space.

But we don't want all the ideas to come from us.

Have an idea? Come and talk to us.

If you have ever thought about holding a:

• Wedding or reception
• Retreat or group getaway
• Birthday or anniversary
• Christening or family celebration
• Funeral or celebration of life
• Conference, workshop or meeting
• Arts or craft event
• Theatre production or performance
• Music event
• Community gathering
• Pop-up restaurant or dining experience
• Class, demonstration or something completely different

Please don't be shy – talk to us.

We are incredibly open to ideas.

 If you're a chef, cook, entertainer, artist, craftsperson, teacher, performer, entrepreneur or someone who has always wanted to try running a little venture of your own, we'd love to hear from you.

Perhaps you have an idea for a restaurant or dining night. Perhaps you'd like to run workshops. Maybe you have a show you'd love to bring to Barraba. Or perhaps you can see an opportunity at The Playhouse that we haven't even thought of yet.

Come and have a conversation with us.

We are happy to work with people to develop ideas, discuss venue options and find ways of making events financially achievable rather than simply saying, "This is what it costs."

Why Barraba?

Barraba is beautifully positioned within the New England and Northwest region, with Tamworth, Armidale, Gunnedah and Moree all within the broader surrounding area, along with the many wonderful smaller communities in between.

We would love to see The Playhouse become another reason for people to visit Barraba – and another reason for people travelling through the region to stop, stay and discover our town.

Our aim is simple: a welcoming, clean and comfortable place where people feel safe, enjoy genuine country hospitality and can sit down to a good home-cooked meal.

We are also looking at the future of our accommodation. Currently our guest accommodation is upstairs, which unfortunately means it isn't suitable for everyone. This is something that matters to us, and we are exploring the possibility of creating additional accessible, disability-friendly accommodation so that more people can enjoy what The Playhouse has to offer.

 There are so many things we would still love to achieve.

We want more arts and crafts.

We want entertainment.

We want theatre and movies.

We want visitors.

We want celebrations.

We want people to bring their own ideas through our doors.

Most importantly, we want The Playhouse to contribute something positive to Barraba and the wider region. We certainly haven't got everything right in our first eight months. We're still unpacking, still learning, still changing things and still finding our feet.

But we're here, we're excited about what comes next, and we're ready to really get started. So, if you've been watching The Playhouse from afar, wondering what's happening behind those doors…

Watch this space.

And if you have an idea, don't just watch – come and be part of it.

We would genuinely love to hear from you.

Warm regards,

Rachel & Tim

The Playhouse Barraba