FREE Creative Summer 2025 Play Days in South Somerset

The Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil are working with local, and national arts practitioners and local organisations to bring FREE creative activities and live theatre to residents this Summer, as part of the PlayDay initiative. 

PlayDays are a national initiative that celebrates children’s right to play, this year’s theme is: ‘Spaces for Play’ highlighting the vital importance of accessible inclusive spaces where children and young people have opportunities to play freely, spending time, and connecting with friends – and feel valued as part of their community.  For 2025, our second year, we have planned a series of four PlayDays taking place in, and bringing creativity direct to communities across South Somerset.

This summer we will be in Yeovil, Langport, Wincanton and Chard. The PlayDay events will be free for all to attend, taking place in local parks and recreation grounds, with the opportunity to play and get creative with other families, children and young people during the long summer holidays. Each of our PlayDays will run from 11am – 3pm with a variety of different creative workshops for families, children and young people to take part in.

There will be a range of activities on offer at each event from music-making to circus skills to air-drying pottery to face painting, alongside other activities all of which will be free for families to take part in. At each PlayDay we will be joined by various local and national touring theatre companies, with a free live outdoor theatrical production, to entertain, inspire and educate audiences.

Wednesday 6 August 2025, 11am-3pm, Mudford Rec, YEOVIL, BA21 4AW
Company:  Sonia Sabri Company
Show Title: The Awakening
Running Time: 15mins
Show Times: 11.30am, 1pm, & 2.15pm

Mughal Miniatures: The Awakening is a vibrant outdoor performance for all the family, which celebrates and takes inspiration from the exquisite traditional art of Indian and Persian miniature painting. Performers in sumptuous costumes create a captivating living-picture, transporting you back in time to the richness of the Mughal Empire with a surprising contemporary twist.

Tuesday 12 August 2025, 11am-3pm, Cale Park, WINCANTON, BA9 9ED

Company:  Tit for Tat Circus Theatre
Show Title: BOOKS!
Running Time: 35mins
Show Times: 12noon and 2pm

Tit for Tat is an unusual juggling company that believes in celebrating the ordinary, in their show BOOKS! Where four bedraggled book enthusiasts are travelling from town to town – forced between the margins – on a mission to protect literature.  Without new members, the book club and the books it has sworn to protect, will surely perish! An adventure where audiences can expect juggling, fire, comedic routines, and plenty of books!

Wednesday 20 August 2025, 11am-3pm, Cocklemoor, LANGPORT, TA10 9PD

Company:  Jellyfish Theatre
Show Title: The Dragon Wagon
Running Time: 45mins
Show Times: 12noon and 2pm

Come and meet the Dragon Whisperer and his magical dragons”. A joyfully interactive family show set on a colourful retro caravan, packed with puppetry, music and laughter. All performances are relaxed. Integrated Sign Supported English.

“The imagination behind it .. so visual. They absolutely loved it!” Audience feedback.

“Amazing actors! Brilliant music! Inspiring!” Audience feedback

Thursday 28 August 2025, 11am-3pm, Holyrood, CHARD, TA20 1JL 

Company:  Scratchworks Theatre Company
Show Title: The Mushroom Show
Running Time: 45mins
Show Times: 11.15am and 1.45pm

Workshop Times: 12.15pm and 2.45pm

Can fungi teach us how to make friends?

Welcome to….THE MUSHROOM SHOW! Augustine Fogwoode might be the world’s MOST enthusiastic mushroom enthusiast! She is on a quest to make sure everyone knows about the brilliance of fungi: their scientific superpowers and amazing abilities. But it’s just her and her puppet friend Goldie. She might just need a few more fun-guys to make it happen. There’s a secret kingdom full of mysteries…A whole world of strange, smelly and surprising life and they’re all around us!

Join the party and discover how fungi grow, connect and help the natural world, including us humans. Packed full of interactive games, playful music and lots of laughs for all the family, The Mushroom Show is one person's mission to build a community… and maybe it’ll become your mission too?

Scratchworks Theatre fuses their signature style of physical comedy, audience interaction and family theatre, with the world of fungi.

To each Play Day we have invited local organisations and services to attend, offering the opportunity to promote their service and provide additional activities, this includes Freedom Leisure, Young Somerset, Somerset Libraries, Somerset Film, the Fire Service, the Police Service, Somerset Rivers Authority, Somerset Skills and Learning and Children’s Autism Outreach team.

This project has been made possible thanks to The Octagon Theatre becoming an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) and being awarded an investment of £760,000 to support arts and cultural activities in Somerset from 2023-2026. Each Play Day will be FREE to attend thanks to support received from Somerset Community Foundation, Yeovil Town Council, Wincanton Town Council and Langport Town Council.  The Arts Engagement and Outreach Team are striving to provide affordable, accessible arts activities and experiences in the heart of local communities and delivering four free Play Days during the summer holidays is just part of their work.