Past Meets Present as Antony Barlow Returns to The Kenton

The Kenton Theatre has always been shaped by the people who believe in it.

We were delighted to welcome Antony Barlow back to The Kenton for a special conversation with our current Theatre Manager, Lottie Pheasant.

Antony played a key role in one of the most important chapters in the theatre’s history. In 1967, aged just 25, he became Theatre Manager following The Kenton’s reopening and helped bring the theatre back to life for a new generation.

His extraordinary career in the arts would go on to include work with major theatres, dance companies and artists across the UK and beyond. But his memories of Henley, and of a newly restored Kenton Theatre, remain vivid.

Reflecting on that time, Antony remembered how strongly the local community rallied around the theatre.

“Everyone got behind it,” he said.

That sense of local support remains just as important today. In conversation with Lottie, Antony spoke about the importance of strong relationships, open conversations and bringing the community with you.

“The theatre won’t run itself,” he said. “It has to be supported.”

For Lottie and the team, Antony’s visit was a powerful reminder that The Kenton’s future, like its past, depends on people feeling connected to it.

Lottie Pheasant said:

“The Kenton is such an integral part of Henley’s cultural landscape. It was incredibly special to welcome Antony back and hear his memories of the theatre at such an important moment in its history. As we look ahead, we’re thinking carefully about what the theatre can be in the future, while protecting everything that makes it so loved.”

Antony’s advice to Lottie was simple but deeply relevant: talk to people, keep relationships strong, be honest about the challenges and bring the community with you.

“Go out and talk to people,” he said. “Tell them what the difficulties are, what you’re doing and what your plans are.”

He also reflected on the importance of local partnerships, from the Trust and Board to local societies and supporters.

“You have to live and work with what you’ve got,” he said. “And what you’ve got is local interest.”

Today, The Kenton continues to be powered by that local interest: audiences, volunteers, donors, performers, trustees, staff and supporters who understand the value of having a historic independent theatre at the heart of Henley.

As The Kenton looks ahead to its 60th anniversary year since reopening, Antony’s return felt like a meeting of past and present. A reminder that the theatre’s story has never stood still, and that every generation has a part to play in what comes next.

Lottie Pheasant, Theatre Manager at The Kenton, said: “Antony’s return is a wonderful reminder of The Kenton’s place in Henley’s cultural story, but it also speaks to where we are heading next. As one of the UK’s oldest working theatres, we have an extraordinary heritage, and we are now actively looking to the future. We are currently working with architects on a comprehensive future vision plan for the theatre, looking at how we protect this historic building while making sure it can continue to serve artists, audiences and the wider community for generations to come.”

From 1967 to today, The Kenton has survived and thrived because people have got behind it. That remains as true now as it was then.