Arts Engagement & Outreach: August 2025 News

Arts Engagement & Outreach: August

Here’s a taste of what our Arts Engagement & Outreach team at The Octagon & Westlands have been busy working on this month…

Our Arts Engagement & Outreach team develop and deliver programmes and activities that benefit health and wellbeing, enrich learning and education in and outside school, inspire and celebrate talent. Creating work that will support local artists and tell “local stories”. In everything we do and programme we will seek to improve inclusion and remove barriers, whatever they may be, so that everyone is able to enjoy and benefit from the creative arts.

Our Arts Engagement & Outreach team look to provide more opportunities for our communities to watch, take part and benefit from arts and cultural activities where they live.

This August, we’ve been bursting with creativity across South Somerset. Our Creative Play Days brought joy and imagination to Yeovil, Wincanton, Langport and Chard, where over 4,500 people joined us for a vibrant mix of circus skills, music-making workshops, creative crafts, face painting and live theatre performances. Plus, our venue was alive with energy as 144 young people took part in two Performance Summer Schools, Create an Escape Room in a Day, Play in a Day and Experience the Spotlight, developing new skills, building confidence and creating unforgettable memories, read more below...

Productions & Events

Bringing the Creative Arts into the Heart of the Community

This August, for the second consecutive summer, the Arts Engagement and Outreach Team successfully delivered four vibrant PlayDays across South Somerset, visiting Yeovil, Wincanton, Langport and Chard. These free, family-friendly events welcomed over 4,500 young people and their families, offering hands-on creative experiences and live theatre during the school holidays. Each location featured a unique performance: Sonia Sabri Company’s Mughal Miniatures: The Awakening in Yeovil, Tit for Tat Circus Theatre’s BOOKS! in Wincanton, Jellyfish Theatre’s The Dragon Wagon in Langport, and Scratchworks Theatre Company’s The Mushroom Show in Chard, bringing puppetry, music, circus skills, dance and storytelling to life for many children experiencing live theatre for the first time.

Working in collaboration with talented local creative practitioners, participants explored a wide range of artistic activities including air-dry clay modelling, willow weaving, 3D mask making, circus skills, and musical workshops. We were also delighted to be joined by a range of community partners including Somerset Rivers Authority, Somerset Libraries, Young Somerset, Freedom Leisure, Avon & Somerset Police, Abri Housing Association, and Somerset Film, all of whom contributed additional engaging activities. This programme was made possible thanks to the generous support of Happy Healthy Holidays, Yeovil Town Council, Yeovil Without Parish Council, Brympton Parish Council, Langport Town Council, and Wincanton Town Council.

“It is important that there are FREE activities to do over the Summer Holidays.”  Event attendee

Participation

Empowering Young People through Expanded Summer Opportunities

Our summer programme continues to grow, with a vibrant series of events hosted at Westlands Entertainment Venue. This year, we welcomed 144 young participants aged 6–16, including 53 from lower economic backgrounds who were supported through the Happy Healthy Holiday Fund. The programme offered a diverse range of creative and performing arts activities, including Castaways Musical Theatre Summer School, Summer Play in a Day, Create an Escape Room in a Day, and The Octagon Youth Dance Summer School and Experience the Spotlight – both delivered by Project Dance.

Together, these activities generated 3,000 participation hours, with young people dancing, singing, crafting, performing and creating lasting memories. Participants highlighted the value of making new friendships across different social settings, while parents appreciated the high-quality engagement that allowed them to continue working during the holidays. One unforgettable moment came on the final day, when participants learned a dance in just three hours and returned that evening to perform to a packed auditorium ahead of Project Dance’s production of Busk. For many, it was their first time on stage — and their reactions were priceless. “I learnt to be brave.”  Summer School participant.

These summer schools continue to grow as a vital part of our creative offer, giving young people the space to explore, build confidence and make memories that last long after the holidays end.

Arts for Health & Wellbeing

Enhancing Wellbeing and Connection for People Living with Dementia

We are thrilled to share that our Arts for Health & Wellbeing programme has secured funding to launch a new specialist choir in Somerset, specifically designed to support individuals living with dementia or memory challenges, along with their carers. The Octagon Memory Choir will be delivered in partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Alzheimer’s Society, and led by trained music specialists. Weekly sessions will begin in January 2026, offering a joyful and inclusive space for musical engagement, emotional expression, and social connection. This initiative responds to a growing need for meaningful, accessible activities that support cognitive, emotional, and social wellbeing for people affected by dementia. The choir will help reduce isolation, foster community, and provide a sense of purpose and enjoyment for both participants and carers. We are extremely excited to add this much-needed specialist activity to our growing Arts for Health & Wellbeing programme, and we look forward to keeping you updated as plans for the Octagon Memory Choir progress.

“To be able to offer tangible practical support in the form of a dementia choir will be so positive & impactful for people in Somerset.”  Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Access & Inclusion Schemes

Funding Support for our Accessible Pricing Scheme

We’re delighted to share that Abri Housing Association is continuing to support our Accessible Ticket Scheme. Thanks to their funding, Abri residents can enjoy shows and events at our venues at a subsidised cost, helping ensure more people can experience the magic of live theatre and cultural events. Since November 2024, over 540 tickets have already been shared with our community across the South West. That’s more than 540 opportunities for people to try something new, connect with others, and experience the joy of live performance. We’re already seeing the powerful impact of the Accessible Ticket Scheme in supporting wellbeing, tackling isolation, and helping residents feel proud of what’s happening in their local area. Whether it’s enjoying a musical for the first time, laughing along at a pantomime, finding joy in a comedy show, or soaking up the atmosphere of live music, these experiences are helping to build stronger, more connected communities. 

Find out more about the scheme here: Accessible Ticket Scheme

“We are extremely grateful for the funding received from Abri. It is so important to us that everyone has access to high quality productions, shows and events where they live. This scheme allows us to improve access where barriers such as cost may previously have restricted access.” Katherine Hoskins, Arts Engagement & Outreach Manager at Octagon Theatre & Westlands Entertainment Venue

To keep up to date with all the activities coming up head over to the What’s On section on our website or check out our Participate page which will link you to all our projects and upcoming opportunities.