Town's theatre may shut in 'devastating' blow

A town's "lifeline" theatre could be forced to close at the end of next month.

The chair of Taunton Theatre Association, a charity that runs the town's Brewhouse Theatre, said the shock announcement came with "heartfelt regret".

Val Hammond said all planned performances and activities would continue until the end of October, while the trustees tried to raise funds and find ways to cut costs. "It will be devastating for the whole town to lose such an important cultural venue," she said.

The trustees said the theatre's financial problems came after a "prolonged period of challenging trading conditions" exacerbated by this summer's heatwaves, which saw some shows cancelled.

Wayfarers Pantomime Society has performed at the Brewhouse every year that the theatre has been open since 1977.

The amateur group is currently rehearsing Aladdin, which it is due to perform there next year.

Martin Lock, chair of Wayfarers Pantomime Society, said he was told the news in a call from the theatre's executive director.

"This is absolutely devastating news for us. We are already a month into rehearsals for our January pantomime.

"We've been there right from the start, right from when it opened."

Taunton Brewhouse is owned by Somerset Council, operated by Taunton Theatre Association Ltd, a charity, and receives funding from Taunton Town Council.

The charity has overseen the theatre since 2013, following a previous closure when the theatre went into administration.

The venue, which is due to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, was awarded £527,000 by Arts Council England in April, but that money was for an upgrade of the auditorium and studio lighting and cannot be used for day-to-day costs.

In November last year, Taunton Town Council said it would pay £105,000 a year for the next five years to the Brewhouse to secure its future and help with ongoing maintenance and repairs.

The council stepped in after Somerset Council, the building's owner, said "it was no longer financially sustainable" to continue funding the venue's repairs.

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