When Robert Porterfield founded Barter Theatre in 1933, he had a revolutionary idea: with vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh. During the Great Depression, he welcomed audiences who paid for their tickets with produce, livestock, and whatever they could spare. That founding principle—making professional theatre accessible to everyone—still defines America's longest-running professional theatre nearly a century later.
Today, Barter Theatre doesn't accept produce at the box office, but that commitment to accessibility remains central to everything the company does. With roughly 20 productions annually, the Abingdon, Virginia based theatre has built a model that serves everyone from children experiencing their first show to seasoned theatre enthusiasts seeking world-class performances.
A Season That Serves Every Audience
Thanks to its repertory model, Barter Theatre is able to run multiple productions simultaneously, building seasons designed to welcome the full range of its community. Families can bring young children to specially designed productions that introduce theatre at a pace suited to younger audiences. Students discover classics that bring their literature classes to life. Theatre enthusiasts find challenging contemporary works alongside beloved musicals. Tourists planning a trip to the area can catch a matinee and still have time for dinner downtown. This variety isn't accidental. By producing almost 20 titles each year, Barter Theatre ensures that anyone who wants to experience live theatre can find something that speaks to them.
Professional Quality, Regional Accessibility
World-class theatre typically requires a trip to major cities. Barter Theatre brings that caliber of performance to Southwest Virginia, eliminating the barriers of distance, expense, and urban complexity that keep many people from experiencing professional productions.
The company maintains the standards of top-tier professional theatre while remaining rooted in a community where neighbors still recognize each other at intermission. This combination creates something rare: theatre that matches the technical excellence and artistic ambition of big-city venues while maintaining the warmth and accessibility of a community gathering place.
For visitors, this means experiencing performances that rival anything in larger markets without navigating traffic, paying premium parking fees, or feeling lost in a crowd of strangers. For locals, it means access to cultural experiences that most communities their size simply don't have.
Theatre That Grows With Your Family
Barter Theatre's programming for young audiences, The Barter Players, does more than keep children entertained—it builds the next generation of theatre lovers. These productions introduce children to live performance in age-appropriate ways, creating positive associations that often last a lifetime.
Parents don't have to worry whether their child will sit through a three-hour drama. The Players offerings recognize developmental stages and attention spans while still delivering genuine theatrical experiences. Many families return year after year, graduating from children's shows to full productions as their kids grow.
This multi-generational approach creates a unique community dynamic. Grandparents who attended performances decades ago now bring grandchildren. Teachers organize field trips that complement classroom learning. Group visitors discover that theatre can be a shared experience that brings people together across age and background.
Making Theatre Part of Your Life
The subscription model and group ticket options reflect Barter Theatre's understanding that accessibility means more than affordable individual tickets. Subscriptions allow patrons to plan their theatre-going throughout the season, making it a regular part of life rather than a special occasion. Group tickets make it easy for organizations, families, and friend groups to experience shows together.
This approach transforms theatre from an occasional luxury into an accessible art form that enriches daily life. Whether someone attends every show or visits once a year, Barter Theatre structures its offerings to welcome them.
Experience the Difference
Barter Theatre's legacy of accessibility continues because the mission still matters. In an entertainment landscape dominated by screens and streaming, live theatre offers something irreplaceable: the shared experience of watching skilled performers bring stories to life in real time, in the same room where you're sitting.
To explore the current season, learn about subscription packages, or book group tickets, visit bartertheatre.com or call 276-628-3991. Connect with Barter Theatre on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to stay updated on upcoming productions and special performances.
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