Barbara Bettine Micklethwaite Barrett (1922 - ), journalist, dramatist, teacher, musician, actress and director, was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, on 3 November 1922, the daughter of Edith Eveline (Dredge) and Irvin Micklethwaite. She married Arthur Barrett of Curling, Newfoundland, during World War II. They had two children: Helena Margaret and John Irvin.
Barrett attended Greenhead High School and the local technical college in Huddersfield. She subsequently trained under prominent drama directors at Bishop Otter College, Cirencester, England, Memorial University of Newfoundland and York University, Toronto.
During World War II, Barbara was an air raid warden volunteer and a farm labourer in England, where she met and married Arthur Barrett. In 1946 they moved to Newfoundland and subsequently lived in several locations, including Curling, Gander, Corner Brook, Stephenville and St. John's.
Barrett played a prominent role in promoting the performing arts in Newfoundland and in preparing dramatic groups for annual provincial drama festivals. She founded the Avion Players, Gander and, together with her husband Arthur, was associated with the establishment of the Gander Community Centre. She was a member of the Stephenville Players and the Corner Brook Playmakers. She became involved with local theatre in St. John's and was, for 17 years, artistic director of Basement Theatre at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre. She was also founder and director of the Phoenix Theatre Group.
Barrett was also active as a writer and journalist. She wrote columns for The Western Star newspaper (Corner Brook) called "Tots & Teens" (under the pseudonym Ivy Joyce) and "War Brides Corner." In Gander, she interviewed prominent figures whose flights took them through the international airport, continued her "Tots & Teens" column and wrote "Gander Notes." She also served as a correspondent for the International News Service in New York and the Canadian Press. In Stephenville, she was the local correspondent for The Western Star, contributed to the Officer' Wives Club magazine, Howl, and was moderator of a public affairs program on CFSN-TV "Face to Face In Newfoundland," a program continued at CBYT-TV in Corner Brook (1964-73). In 1992 she hosted a series of interviews on VOWR Radio with performers involved with music and the theatre in St. John's.
During her career, Barrett was associated with the presentation of 1014 shows, including both professional and amateur productions. Up to 1991 she had directed more than 40 plays and adjudicated at numerous high school and adult drama festivals. She wrote plays for various groups and instructional guides in playmaking. Barrett nurtured numerous performers, including Joan Morrissey, Maxim Mazumdar, Sylvia Wigh, Jim Payne, Ed Kavanagh and Michael Cook, as well as numerous theatrical groups and school drama classes. Barrett was artistic director of the annual Summer Festival for nine years and co-authored scripts for the 1980 series of shows. She directed cultural activities for the Canada Summer Games '77 and co-chaired Soiree '88, the centenary celebration of municipal government in St. John's. In the 1980s, Barbara was a member of a committee that developed a performing arts course for the province's high schools.
Barrett received many citations, including awards for best director and best production. In the early 1960s, she was a nominee for citizen of the year award in Stephenville. In 1995, she received the Order of Canada for her work in community and theatre. In April 2003, she was made honorary life member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Drama Society. Still very active in her 80s, Barrett won the award of best supporting actress at the 2003 Newfoundland and Labrador Drama Festival.