Most theatres ask you to wait months between shows. Barter Theatre asks a different question: why choose just one?
As the nation's longest running professional Equity theatre, Barter produces roughly 20 titles a year in true repertory style. That means multiple productions run in rotation across its stages, giving visitors to historic Abingdon, Virginia options that most regional theatres simply can't match.
What Repertory Actually Means for You
Repertory theatre isn't just an industry term. It's a practical advantage for anyone planning a visit. This fall is a perfect example: audiences can experience the heart and humanity of the Broadway hit Come From Away, Kate Hamill’s fresh take on the classic Dracula, and Kings Mountain, part of Virginia’s VA250 commemoration.
That kind of variety is possible because of Barter’s resident company of artists and craftspeople, who move between productions throughout the season. An actor leading one show may step into an entirely different role just days later, while backstage teams transform the same spaces from one world into another. Working in repertory requires an extraordinary level of versatility and collaboration, and audiences get to see the result: a company capable of telling remarkably different stories, sometimes within the span of a single visit.
Built for Every Kind of Audience
Barter's programming also includes performances specifically for young audiences, making it a natural stop for school groups and families introducing children to live theatre for the first time. This fall, The Barter Players bring a beloved American classic to the stage with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, offering young audiences the chance to experience the story through live performance. Barter also serves theatre enthusiasts who follow the craft closely and want to see classic and new works performed at a high level.
Group visitors get a similar benefit to solo travelers: flexibility. A club, church group, or tour bus stopping in Abingdon isn't locked into a single production's schedule. With multiple shows running throughout the season, groups can often build an itinerary around what's actually playing during their visit rather than rearranging plans around one performance date.
As the State Theatre of Virginia, Barter carries a distinction that reflects its role in the Commonwealth's cultural life. That designation isn't just ceremonial. It reflects decades of producing professional theatre at a scale few venues outside major cities attempt, let alone sustain in a town the size of Abingdon.
A Season, Not a Single Show
Because Barter operates as repertory theatre, the calendar looks less like a single countdown to opening night and more like a running lineup. Plays, musicals and youth performances overlap throughout the year. That gives regular visitors from the region a reason to return multiple times in a season, since the titles on stage in spring won't be the same ones running in fall.
For newcomers to live performance, this format also takes some of the pressure out of picking "the right show." With several productions typically available, there's more room to choose something that fits the moment, whether that's a lighthearted musical for a family outing or a dramatic play for a date night.
Planning Your Visit
Barter Theatre draws people well beyond Southwest Virginia, in part because the variety justifies the trip. A weekend visit can reasonably include more than one production, something rare among professional theatres of any size.
And that's part of what makes Barter worth building a trip around. The theatre isn't simply a stop on an Abingdon itinerary; it's a chance to experience a tradition that has been part of this town for more than 90 years. Come for the show that catches your eye, stay to discover Abingdon, and don't be surprised if you leave already thinking about what you'd like to see next.
Tickets, schedules and current productions are available at bartertheatre.com. The box office can also be reached directly at 276-628-3991 for questions about group rates or specific show times. Be sure to follow Barter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube for exclusive behind-the-scenes content about all the theatre has to offer.
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