The Octagon Theatre

04/09/2026

Proudly dropping this film highlighting all the amazing work our Arts Engagement & Outreach team deliver throughout the year!

Take a look, see and hear for yourselves of the numerous opportunities created for people to watch, take part in and benefit from high-quality arts and cultural activities where they live, and how we are strengthening communities and improving individual outcomes through creative engagement.

Thank you to everyone involved in the creation of this film, to those that shared their stories, voiced their experiences of our programme and expressed the importance of equitable access to the arts, and a special thank you to filmmaker Jordan Sheehy-Lomax who captured it all.

The production of this film has been made possible thanks to support received from Somerset Council and Arts Council England.

To discover more about our programme and ways you can take part, head to our website: https://westlandsyeovil.co.uk/take-part/

Filmmaker: Jordan Sheehy Videography

01/09/2026

The redevelopment of the Octagon Theatre will transform every aspect of the theatre, including the replacement/renewal of the plant, machinery and physical infrastructure of the building.

This means the building will operate more efficiently, save money and ultimately cost the taxpayer less. The physical infrastructure of the building will be greatly improved and expanded, meaning more space to enjoy all your favourite shows at the Octagon Theatre! 🎭

28/08/2026

📢 NEWS: Project Dance, in partnership with the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue, has secured almost £50,000 of public funding from The National Lottery through Arts Council England to take a new full-scale dance production, BUSK, on tour across England in spring 2027 💃

The funding represents a major vote of confidence in the creative talent emerging from Yeovil and the surrounding area, while providing a platform for young dancers and artists to take their work to audiences across the country. The ambitious new partnership will see BUSK presented at venues across the country between March and April 2027.

Read more online at https://bit.ly/4zHucFf

21/08/2026

Yeovil: A Place Called Home

One Community, Many Stories
The community of Yeovil have told us their stories on what it means to belong and why they call Yeovil their home.

This film was commissioned for the 2026 Yeovil Together Festival, an annual event that celebrates cultural diversity, creativity and community, as organised by Yeovil’s Ethnic Diverse Communities. The film celebrates Yeovil as a place where people from all backgrounds can come together, share experiences, feel a sense of belonging, connection, and pride in their local community.

Thank you to everyone involved in the creation of this film, to those that shared their stories, and a special thank you to filmmaker Richard Tomlinson who captured it all.

The production of this film has been made possible thanks to The Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue, Somerset Council, Thrive and Yeovil Diversity Project, with support received from Yeovil Town Council, Somerset Community Foundation, Abri, Magna, and LiveWest.

Take a listen and hear for yourself what makes Yeovil special.

20/08/2026

With recent warm weather, air cooling has been on everyone's mind. That's why we are delighted to share that the new Octagon Theatre will feature a modern air cooling system throughout the venue, helping audiences stay cool and comfortable while enjoying every performance. Our front of house area will also be air cooled so you can enjoy your refreshing drink in our relaxed and spacious areas 🔆

10/08/2026

We are a close team who are passionate about theatre, the arts and Somerset. The team works across both our venues, The Octagon Theatre & Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil.

10/08/2026

👷 We recently announced that the tender process to appoint the main construction contractor is under way – and that is still absolutely the case. This will be the team that will bring the new Octagon Theatre to life.

The tendering process takes some time – there is a period where construction companies express an interest, they then review the RIBA Stage 3 & 4 documents which are agreed, then they submit their tendering document and pricing to Somerset Council. Once this is done, a team involved with the project will review all the submitted documents and make a recommendation on the appointment to Somerset Council. In December, Somerset Council will appoint and announce the main construction contractor ⛏

07/08/2026

06/08/2026

Here’s what our Arts Engagement & Outreach team got up to last month:

July was a month to remember, packed with creativity, talent and community engagement. More than 2,210 people joined us for this year’s Yeovil Together Festival in a celebration of community, culture and foods from around the world, while 115 young performers lit up our regional stage at our annual schools platform, Centre Stage. This month we also supported 28 young people to create and perform an original murder mystery production during our summer theatre school and continued to invest in future talent through a University of Exeter internship and hands-on work experience opportunities for 15 Year 10 students at Westlands.

Read all about it and more below…
https://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk/news/july-highlights-from-the-octagons-arts-engagement-and-outreach-team/