Taunton Brewhouse (previously The Brewhouse) is the largest theatre and arts centre in Taunton, the county town of Somerset, England. The building opened on 28 March 1977, on the banks of the River Tone, and offers a purpose-built 352-seat auditorium, a supporting 60-seat versatile studio space for performances, classes and conferences, and an exhibition space. It hosts a programme of live professional and amateur theatre productions; live folk, rock, and pop music; comedians; popular and independent cinema; live broadcasts from major international venues, such as London's National Theatre and The Royal Opera House; and visual arts exhibitions. Its first professional production was Alan Ayckbourn’s The Norman Conquests, starring the, then, unknown David Jason.
Building
The Brewery House
The Westward Room and administrative offices reside in the Old Brewery house, a Georgian Grade II listed building, which gives the theatre its name.
The Main Auditorium
The main house is a proscenium arch theatre with a trapezoidal apron, which can be reconfigured to include a central vomitorium, and includes a flexible orchestra pit.
The Studio Theatre
The Studio Theatre is a fully equipped performance space with black-out and conference facilities. Removable seating can host up to 60 with playing space for an end-on show, or larger groups for meetings and other events. Workshops and classes benefit from the sprung floor and mirror wall. The Studio Theatre was fully renovated in 2023 thanks to a grant from Theatres Trust.
Creative Hub This adaptable teaching space is host to many workshops, rehearsals, and classes. Located under the characteristic saw-tooth roof of the modern wing, the Creative Hub is steeped in natural light and has its own sink facilities. For large group hires of our performances spaces it can also serve as an additional backstage or breakout room.
Gallery The Gallery is a versatile white cube, with high ceilings, good natural light and black-out facility; perfect for exhibiting visual arts, film, photography and sculpture.
Westward Room Facing out towards the riverbank, the reception room of the Old Brewery House is elegant and cosy. Large, canted bay windows allow for ample natural light.
Funding In 2005, Arts Council England announced that it would cut regular funding to The Brewhouse from 2006, following a drop in artistic output. In September 2005 a new director Robert Miles was appointed to lead the artistic re-invigoration of the organisation. It was also the first theatre, apart from the Royal Court Theatre, to stage Caryl Churchill's controversial play Seven Jewish Children. In 2009, ongoing under funding, combined with the impact of recession and a subsequent threat of cuts meant the venue was once again put under threat of closure. With support from its stakeholders Taunton Brewhouse overcame these immediate funding concerns, and in March 2010 it was announced that the organisation had been awarded £487,500 from Arts Council England's Sustain fund to allow it to continue to programme arts and participatory activities during the economic downturn. However despite this local success the Conservative Government brought in the austerity programme and Somerset County Council completely cut their arts funding by 100%. The venue subsequently closed in February 2013 and went into administration. The venue reopened in April 2014 by independent arts charity Taunton Theatre Association Ltd (TTA), having been granted the lease from Taunton Deane Borough Council, who bought the 61-year lease of the site and its contents from administrator BDO. In 2020 Taunton Theatre Association were awarded a significant grant as part of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. The venue now receives regular funding from Arts Council England and Somerset West and Taunton Council.
Cinema
Fundraising In 2015, The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre initiated a crowdfunding campaign to raise £40,000. The funds were intended for the installation of advanced audio-visual and satellite equipment to facilitate the live-streaming of global performances and the screening of various films. The project aimed to introduce a cinema that would complement the theatre's existing offerings, providing a diverse selection of live theatre, opera, music, dance, and films throughout the year. The campaign, under the slogan "Play Your Part" encouraged community contributions towards the cinema project, emphasizing the direct allocation of donations to the cinema appeal. This was particularly significant given the lack of County Council or National funding, highlighting the community's role in supporting the theatre’s expansion. Despite the campaign's aspirations, by its conclusion on 1 January 2016, it had raised £12,333 from 116 contributors, falling short of its goal. Nonetheless, the amount collected demonstrated the community's commitment to enhancing Taunton's cultural landscape, and the cinema was installed and opened in February 2016. The effort to fund a cinema at The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre is a significant example of community-funded cultural projects in Somerset. It illustrates the challenges and possibilities of such initiatives in enriching local culture and community engagement, serving as a reference for similar future projects. In 2024 significant funding cuts were announced by Somerset Council, which will take effect by April 2025. The theatre issued a statement confirming that it is working closely with both Somerset Council and Taunton Town Council to develop a plan for long-term sustainability. Despite the funding cuts, Taunton Theatre Association released a statement saying that they have shows booked through 2025 and 2026 and remain committed to serving as a cultural hub for the community. The council has pledged to support the theatre's future with the help of Taunton Town Council and Taunton Theatre Association who manage the venue. The theatre's board believes that the outcome will ensure a secure future for the Brewhouse.
National Theatre Live Streaming The Brewhouse was officially authorised to operate as a live streaming venue for the National Theatre in January 2016. This development follows the National Theatre's initiative, NT Live, which aims to broadcast premier British theatre from London to audiences globally, reaching over 3.5 million viewers to date. The first live stream to The Brewhouse was on March 3, 2016, streaming HANGMEN.
History of The Site
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