SOME 200 guests were in attendance at The Barn Theatre special pre-opening launch event on Tuesday to have a sneak preview of the theatre before it opens officially on March 19.

The exciting new theatre based at Ingleside House in Cirencester made sure that razzmatazz was on the agenda, with a smattering of stars in attendance or sending goodwill messages.

Barn Theatre Ambassador and star of Notting Hill, Absolutely Fabulous and Thin Blue Line, James Dreyfus was on hand, along with the cast and creatives behind the theatre's inaugural production of The Secret Garden.

Broadway director Jerry Mitchell, another of the theatre’s ambassadors, took time out to send a good luck video-message direct from the stage of his new Broadway musical, Pretty Woman.

Performances included those from the Barn Theatre Academy and the cast of The Secret Garden.

Ian Carling, the chairman of the theatre closed the evening by handing over the theatre’s keys to the charity which will be tasked with running the theatre moving forward.

The Secret Garden runs at The Barn Theatre from March 16 - April 15. Tickets are on sale currently via the theatre’s box office.