Plymouth Marjon University joins forces with Barbican Theatre in major new partnership

In an exciting collaboration, Plymouth Marjon University has partnered with the Barbican Theatre in a five-year deal to bring an array of new shows and performances to the University’s Quad Theatre. This partnership aims to enhance the cultural landscape of Plymouth’s northern quarter, offering greater access to live performances while supporting emerging talent and community engagement.

The Barbican Theatre, which has been at the heart of Plymouth’s cultural scene since 1980, is known for its commitment to nurturing young and emerging artists. With this new collaboration, the Barbican Theatre will extend its reach to the northern part of the city, bringing fresh and diverse performances to the Quad Theatre at Plymouth Marjon University. The venue, which has a seating capacity of more than 400, will allow the Theatre to expand its programming, offering a wider variety of live performances including music, comedy, and theatre.

The Quad Theatre, well known for its comedy offerings, has hosted big names such as Sindhu Vee, Simon Brodkin, and Mark Simmons. It has also been a hub for community events, including the With Flying Colours children’s festival.

For the Barbican Theatre, this partnership is about more than just performances; it provides a platform for early-career artists to perform in front of larger audiences without having to leave the city. By expanding its operations to the Quad Theatre, the Barbican Theatre ensures that Plymouth continues to foster a thriving local creative community.

Chair of Barbican Theatre, Robin Tatam, expressed the significance of this collaboration, stating:

"We are thrilled to be working with Plymouth Marjon University. This partnership allows us to extend our reach to the north of the city and provide exceptional live experiences for audiences from Plymouth and beyond. The Quad Theatre offers a unique opportunity for Barbican Theatre to take a more commercial approach, which in turn will subsidise our essential core work with young people and communities."

The Quad Theatre will play a critical role in the Barbican Theatre’s ongoing mission to challenge traditional notions of theatre and liberate the imagination of young people. The Barbican Theatre has long provided a platform for voices that are often unheard.

Professor Claire Taylor, Vice-Chancellor at Plymouth Marjon University, highlighted the community aspect of the partnership, stating:

“Marjon is a place for everyone, from our students to the wider Plymouth community. Our new University strategy, Marjon 2030, makes a clear commitment to Place and Social Purpose and we’re excited about what this new partnership will bring to our campus, keeping cultural and artistic opportunities in the north of the city accessible for all.”

This initiative aligns with the University’s broader mission to increase its community offering, working in partnership wherever possible. The Marjon campus, already a vibrant space with facilities such as health clinics, sports facilities, shop and a café, is committed to being an open, accessible space to the public, with the Quad Theatre being reinstated as a cornerstone of cultural engagement for the local community.

This collaboration represents a bold step towards sustainability in the arts, at a time when many cultural institutions are grappling with economic pressures. By expanding its artistic footprint and taking a commercial approach to its Quad Theatre operations, the Barbican Theatre will continue funding community-based projects, ensuring that creativity, emerging talent, and enriching live experiences remain at the forefront of Plymouth’s cultural scene.

The partnership will bring an exciting lineup of performances to the Quad Theatre, catering to a wide range of tastes. Whether you're interested in comedy, music, theatre, or dance, there’s something for everyone. Stay up to date with the latest events by following the Barbican Theatre and Plymouth Marjon University on social media or sign up for their newsletters for exclusive announcements.

This new chapter promises to bring the best of live entertainment to the north of Plymouth, ensuring that arts and culture remain accessible to all.