Town theatre could remain shut until 2027

A Somerset theatre that was closed for a refurbishment may remain shut for another two years.

The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil, closed its doors in April 2023, with Somerset Council subsequently announcing it was pausing its £30m revamp scheme to reassess the business case amid soaring inflation and interest rates.

The council now wants to redevelop the theatre on a £15m budget in time for the 2026 pantomime season, but council officers have confirmed the revised business case has still not been submitted - meaning it may not open until 2027 at the earliest.

The council said the revised business case would be submitted this spring, adding the project would "likely" be completed "around 2026/27".

After the submission of the revised business case, a final case would need to be submitted, a Somerset Council spokesperson added.

"Timescales are subject to a wider timeline review with our newly appointed design team, and we expect to have more clarity in the coming weeks," they added.

Details of the Octagon Theatre project were published as part of the council's capital programme on 5 March, with plans showing that £13.75m of funding comes from external grants while £773,000 comes from external borrowing.

Of these, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said, £10m will come from a ring-fenced grant provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The remaining £3.75m is to be provided by Yeovil Town Council, which has agreed in principle to take over the running of the theatre as part of a "devolution deal" including other public spaces such as Yeovil Country Park.

Council officers revealed in April 2024 that it was costing in the region of £140,000 per year to keep the Octagon Theatre closed and in good condition ahead of the new project starting.

This sum - around half the annual subsidy the venue received when open - is being spent on bills, running the heating ventilation systems and various forms of insurance.

A Somerset Council spokesperson added the costs for maintaining the Octagon "can and will vary", and that it was developing a project plan to "secure the necessary funding and establish a timeline for onsite work".

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.