Barn Theatre Jan 26: Men Behaving Badly to Be Launched in January

One of the most successful British comedy series ‘Men Behaving Badly’ will be launching at the Barn at the end of January as a theatre play.

The Barn have announced their second show of 2026 – Ottilie, the story of the forgotten godmother of British blues, Ottilie Patterson.

Ottilie began life in a terraced house in Northern Ireland, a little girl who felt like an outsider. When the blues music drifted across the Ards Peninsula from the American GIs stationed up the road, Ottilie became obsessed with the soulful music and lyrics: she felt she’d found her tribe.

She would find second hand sheet music of blues songs and teach herself to sing them, and as a student she gigged night after night in the post-war jazz clubs of Belfast. Tenacious in her ambition she spent all her money on a flight to London to seek out a band she’d heard on vinyl to audition for them, a move that opened up her career. She went on to play the Royal Festival Hall and tour the UK and USA with the Chris Barber Band, accompanying greats like Muddy Waters and Sonny Boy Williamson.

Dubbed “the greatest singer to emerge this side of the Atlantic”, Ottilie was an immense presence and talent in the ‘60s music scene. So why haven’t you heard of her? What happened to this iconic voice, and the woman behind it?

First performed at 2025’s Belfast International Arts Festival, the Barn are thrilled to be bringing Ottilie over the Irish Sea and sharing this remarkable story in Cirencester. Liam McMullan, Executive Director & Producer at the Barn says: “It’s a privilege to be bringing Ottilie to the Barn Theatre, all the way from my hometown of Belfast. It’s a joy to be working again with director Matthew McElhinney (Stones In His Pockets) and to be showcasing Richard Clements’ brilliant writing. We’re particularly excited that Jolene O’Hara will be reprising her role as Ottilie Patterson, her performance is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s electric, heartfelt, and utterly unforgettable.”

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