July Highlights from The Octagon’s Arts Engagement & Outreach Team

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.    

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… 

Productions & Events 

A record-breaking 2,216 people came together to celebrate diversity, culture and community spirit 

On 5 July, we welcomed an incredible 2,216 visitors to Westlands Entertainment Venue for Yeovil Together, a vibrant celebration of culture, diversity and community spirit. This free, family-friendly event brought people of all ages together to enjoy live music, dance and singing performances, creative workshops, interactive activities, community stalls and delicious food from around the world.   

Yeovil Together showcased the rich diversity of our town while creating opportunities for people to connect, learn and celebrate together. The event provided a welcoming and inclusive space where cultural heritage could be shared and appreciated, helping to build understanding, strengthen community relationships and foster a sense of belonging. The fantastic turnout reflected the importance of bringing communities together and celebrating the unique cultures that make Yeovil such a vibrant place to live. We are already looking forward to next year's event. 

'It was amazing to see so many cultures represented and celebrated in one place. The atmosphere was full of joy, and it was a wonderful opportunity to experience different traditions and bring everyone together!' Visitor

Connecting with Communities Across Somerset 

This month, we were delighted to attend the Polden Bower Fun Day, organised by the Somerset Parent Carer Forum (SPCF) for families of children and young people with SEND. 

We joined around 200 attendees for a fun-filled day featuring a wide range of activities, entertainment and games. At our stand, visitors enjoyed theatre-themed crafts and activities, with many taking the opportunity to try on costumes and props before stepping onto our pop-up stage for a memorable photo opportunity. 

The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with families and share information about the workshops we offer for children and young people with SEND. Many parents and carers were pleased to learn that we offer sessions where they can stay and participate alongside their child, helping to create a more accessible, supportive and enjoyable experience for families. 

For many attendees, these opportunities were a new discovery, making it especially rewarding to raise awareness of our SEND provision and demonstrate how we support children and young people to access, explore and enjoy the arts. 

Events like these are a fantastic way to strengthen connections with local communities, promote the opportunities available through The Octagon & Westlands, and inspire future participation in our programmes. 

"It's great to see that there are so many things our children can get involved in and for free!" Parent 

Creative Learning & Education 

115 young performers take Centre Stage 

This month 115 young people from 7 schools across Somerset perform as part of Centre Stage 2026. Centre Stage aims to give schools a platform to showcase performance work created by their students, and this year's event featured a wide range of performances, including musical theatre, dance, singing, monologues, duologues and devised drama. 

Throughout the day, students experienced the working world of theatre, participating in technical and dress rehearsals before performing live to an audience in the afternoon. The experience helped young people build confidence, develop performance skills and gain first-hand insight into professional theatre environments. For many participants, it was a unique opportunity to perform on a professional stage and share their work with peers, teachers, family and friends. 

'Our children get so much out of events likes these and it's wonderful to see them rise to the occasion, full of pride and excitement and a true love of singing and music' Primary School Teacher 

Showcasing creative careers 

July saw us representing the Creative Industries at two careers events, helping young people explore the wide range of opportunities available within the performing arts sector. 

As part of Richard Huish College's CareerFest, we met with more than 150 students aged 16-18 to discuss pathways into the industry and highlight roles ranging from theatre administration to freelance arts teaching. It was inspiring to meet so many young people who are passionate about pursuing careers in the sector and eager to learn more about the skills and experience needed to succeed. 

Our creative careers work continued at Dream Big Somerset, where we delivered practical sessions to 100 Year 6 pupils from local primary schools. Students explored both on-stage and backstage roles, taking on the responsibilities of performers and stage managers while learning how different skills and careers contribute to bringing a production to life. These hands-on activities encouraged teamwork, creativity and problem-solving, whilst helping young people gain a greater understanding of the opportunities available within the creative industries. 

'I think out of all of the jobs here today I now want to work in the theatre' Student 

Talent Development 

Inspiring the next generation of young creatives 

We welcomed 15 Year 10 students to join the team at Westlands as part of our work experience programme. During the week, participants gained hands-on experience and detailed introductions to the wide variety of roles required to keep our venues running. Every day was different, with students working alongside teams including Front of House, Events, Marketing, Programming, Arts Engagement & Outreach and Technical. 

Throughout the placement, students completed creative briefs set by each department and took part in practical activities covering stage management and special effects make-up and design. Alongside developing their knowledge, participants strengthened their teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills, whilst building confidence and discovering new creative career pathways. 

‘This week as has been such a valuable experience.  Before this placement, I was nowhere near as confident as I am today all thanks to everyone at Westlands Entertainment Venue and the time they have taken to instruct and help me learn more about the industry and what's happening at the venue.  I hope future work experience students enjoy this opportunity as much as I did!’ Participant 

 Career development for university graduates 

This month, we were delighted to welcome our University of Exeter intern, Carrie, an aspiring Media & Entertainment Lawyer, who joined the Arts Engagement & Outreach team for a week-long placement. Throughout the week, Carrie gained insight into a wide range of projects, discovering how our team uses the arts to support wellbeing, inclusion and community engagement across Somerset. From supporting our Movement Through Cancer sessions and Centre Stage showcase to helping prepare for and deliver Yeovil Together, Carrie was involved in both the planning and delivery of community arts projects. She also supported the creation of creative resources, contributed to impact reporting and evaluation, and saw first-hand how participant feedback helps shape and strengthen our programmes. 

Providing opportunities like this enables students to gain valuable practical experience while developing a deeper understanding of the positive impact arts engagement can have on individuals and communities. We are proud to support emerging professionals as they explore future career pathways and look forward to welcoming more interns to the team in the future. 

‘It has been an inspiring and rewarding week, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Westlands Entertainment Venue and the Octagon Theatre for making me feel so welcome.’ Carrie 

 

Arts for Health & Wellbeing 

Creating opportunities for achievement and self-expression 

Last month, 14 members of the Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra performed to family and friends at a special end-of-term sharing event, celebrating ten weeks of inclusive music-making and personal growth. Delivered in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, WATCH CIO and ARK at Egwood, the project provides weekly supported sessions for people experiencing mental health challenges. Throughout the term, participants developed skills across singing, percussion, guitar, keyboards and xylophone in a welcoming and supportive environment. 

The sharing event provided participants with an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and showcase how far they had progressed, both individually and as a group. For many, performing in front of an audience represented a significant personal milestone, demonstrating increased confidence, self-belief and resilience. The event highlighted the power of music to improve wellbeing, foster meaningful connections and create a strong sense of belonging. We look forward to welcoming participants back for another term in September.’ 

This has made me feel so connected to other people, and to music. It has pulled me out of my shell and I'm full of energy when I leave here. I don't know why, I just enjoy it so much’  Participant 

Participation 

Providing ways to engage during the long summer holidays 

The summer holidays got off to a vibrant and creative start as 28 young people aged 7-16 took part in a five-day Theatre and Acting Summer School at Westlands. Led by experienced theatre practitioners Jenny Lowe and Pip Jolliffe, the programme immersed participants in an exciting murder mystery-themed project, providing a dynamic environment to develop acting and performance skills, build confidence, stay physically active and work collaboratively as part of a creative team.  

Throughout the week, participants devised, rehearsed and performed an original 20-minute production, Who Done It?, Taking ownership of the creative process from initial ideas through to the final performance. The showcase, attended by more than 60 friends and family members, gave young people the opportunity to perform to a live audience and celebrate their achievements.  

Thanks to funding from the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) and the Happy Healthy Holidays Programme, 22 fully funded places were provided for children and young people eligible for free school meals, helping to remove financial barriers to participation. Additional SEND support was available throughout the week, ensuring all participants could engage fully in a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment. The programme provided valuable opportunities for young people to develop new skills, make friends and express themselves creatively. 

'Thank you so much for a wonderful experience, and for looking after her so well.  She's had an amazing week'. Parent  

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 Take Part page which will link you to all our projects and upcoming opportunities.