Council agrees to push ahead with Yeovil's Octagon Theatre expansion

South Somerset District Council announced in late-December its intention to upgrade the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil, boosting its capacity and technical equipment so that it can support larger shows.

The council’s district executive committee voted unanimously on Thursday morning (January 7) to push forward with the project, despite concerns over the projected cost and how it would be funded.

A business case for the upgrade is likely to be debated later in the year.

Here’s your guide to where things stand with Yeovil’s beloved theatre – and what happens next:

Is the Octagon Theatre in good shape at the moment?

The Octagon Theatre has been a part of the Yeovil landscape since 1974, and was called the Johnson Hall for the first ten years of its life.

The venue was substantially refurbished in 1988 with new auditorium seating, making it easier to attract bigger productions and touring shows.

Subsequent refurbishments saw a new rehearsal studio, bar and cafe built in 2003, increased stage storage in 2008 and a new bar in 2013.

The council voted in February 2019 to spend £117,000 on further repairs to the theatre, with £72,000 going towards a new cooling system and £45,000 being spent on repairs to the building’s power supply.

Theatre manager Adam Burgan said attendance figures had been healthy before the pandemic, but there had been a “general deterioration” of the building since its last major refurbishment.

He added the backstage space was increasingly “inadequate” for performers and the improvements would mean “bigger and better shows” could come to the local area.

What is being proposed?

The council wishes to spend £23.01M (excluding VAT) on increasing the current theatre’s capacity from 622 to 900 – a rise of nearly 50 per cent.

It also seeks to add a “fly tower” to the stage – a pulley and rigging system to allow stage crew and performers to fly across the space.

The council believes changes will allow the theatre to complete with the likes of the Bristol Hippodrome and the Theatre Royal in Bath, attracting larger shows and more prominent touring performers.

A spokesman stated in December: “This would mean big advances in productions that could attend the venue including touring plays and musicals.

“Work would also see the venue become fully accessible throughout, and add two additional boutique spaces which could potentially be a cinema/ studio and an additional cinema.

“The venue would also see purpose-built studios created with an improved community café hub and separate restaurants areas.”

How will this help Yeovil and the surrounding area?

Supporters of the expansion believe the theatre will attract bigger and better shows to the town, building up Yeovil’s cultural reputation and boosting the local economy.

Liz Pike, chair of the Yeovil Community Arts Association and director of the annual Yeovil Literary Festival, said the council’s project was the realisation of a long-held ambition among the district’s artistic community.

She said: “This necessary enhancement of our much-envied theatre, with the prospect of offering additional, excellent, versatile facilities is admirable, and has been much requested in the past.

“Our theatre creates an atmosphere of belonging, and it will be the place for like-minded people to come together.”

“I applaud the council for recognising what a powerful force creativity in all its forms is for our well-being. We have missed our venues and activities, which only illustrates the benefits we normally take for granted.”

Helen Laxton, founder of the Helen Laxton School of Dance, said an improved and expanded venue would give a much-needed platform for young talent.

She said: “A bigger and better theatre in Yeovil would be a massive boost to the local economy.

“Already many of the big shows, comedians etc. that perform at the Octagon sell out very quickly. More capacity means more audiences, which means bigger income.

“The area has incredibly talented youngsters with nowhere to showcase their skills. There is no cinema in Yeovil now, so a cinema within the theatre would be well-used.

“This would be incredible for Yeovil and the surrounding area.”

What are the risks?

Andrew Pope from the Somerset Independents group raised concerns about the funding of the project.

He compared it to the ill-fated Studio 144 project in Southampton, which opened in 2018 after long delays and the city council spending more than  £16M more than it intended.

He said: “This report asks you to underwrite £23M – that money will have to be raided from other budgets if you do not raise the funds.

“That’s exactly what happened with the arts complex in Southampton. It was a project that was going nowhere, the council stepped in, underwrote the project, and then the taxpayer ended up footing the bill.

“I’m asking you to seriously consider very carefully whether you want to do this.”

Councillor Peter Seib, portfolio holder for finance, legal and democratic services, responded that the project would have a positive impact on the council’s finances.

He said: “The capital will have an impact on revenues, and the preliminary work on the business case to date indicates it’s a very positive impact – it will allow us to continue delivering the services to which the people of south Somerset are entitled.

“Financially, ‘do nothing’ is absolutely not an option.”

What did the council decide?

Clare Pestell, the council’s director of commercial services and income generation, said the project tied into the council’s Yeovil Refresh project to regenerate the town centre and would help to attract grant funding for other projects.

She said: “This is ambitious for us, but evidence has told us this sort of project does help with regeneration.”

Councillor John Clark, portfolio holder for economic development, said the increase in attendances would mean the council would not have to subsidise the venue as much in the decades ahead.

He said: “This is a terrific idea, and from an investment point of view this should lead to the Octagon breaking even, which would be an astonishing result.

“Most public theatres have some level of subsidy – the management of the Octagon has been extremely good in having one of the lowest subsidies in the country.

“This further investment will take that to an even further reduction in subsidies, so I fully endorse this proposal.”

Councillor Tony Lock, portfolio holder for protecting core services, added: “Keeping this theatre and enhancing it would be a benefit to all.

“This is a region-wide facility due to successive management. As a user of the theatre, I would be fully supportive of moving this on to the next stage and ultimately delivering on the plans in front of us.”

Councillor Henry Hobhouse, portfolio holder for area east, said that the project should include steps to power the venue by greener energy.

He said: “In 2018 we did a complete survey on the electrical uses and heating of the Octagon.

“I would like to push extremely hard for the supply of solar panels over the top of the car park and batteries to provide electricity for the theatre.”

Ms Pestell said that grant funding was being sought to improve the energy performance of all council-owned buildings, including both the Octagon and its sister venue Westlands.

What happens next?

Councillor Mike Best, portfolio holding for health and well-being,said the decision being taken was to proceed “in principle”, adding: “This will be returning with a fuller report after more information.”

The council’s officers will now create a detailed business case for the project, breaking down how and where the £23M will be spent.

This will come back to the district executive committee later in the year, and will need to go through the full council for final approval.