BARNET'S Bull Theatre is due to reopen this week after a £30,000 refurbishment.

The theatre in Barnet High Street now has new larger seats with more leg room, new carpet and a “amazing” multi-purpose stage.

Theatre marketing manager Kris Rich said: “We are more than happy with the results and are looking forward to exciting times ahead.”

The money to spruce up the council-owned building came partly for public donation but mostly from Susi Earnshaw, who runs a theatre school at the Bull.

She said: “We had to do the refurbishment, the theatre was falling apart and the seats in particular were really falling apart.

“Now it looks lovely. The best thing is the stage. The stage is amazing, it's a very exciting space which is really adaptable.

“I think the companies who perform here are going to be really excited when they see it.”

Mrs Earnshaw said the refurbishment would have cost a lot more if theatre lovers had not “mucked in” to help with the work.

The first play to be performed in the refurbished theatre will be KatAlyst’s production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), which opens on Wednesday.

Performances run until March 20 and start at 8pm and cost £10 or £8 concessions.

For box office and more information visit www.thebulltheatre.com or phone 020 8441 5010