The Octagon Theatre

• Improved confidence and communication skills
• Commitment and self-discipline
• Resilience and positive mental health
• Fitness and a healthy lifestyle
• Patience and respect toward others
• Problem solving and critical thinking
• Team building and co-operation among peers
• A sense of ownership and community
• Responsibility and self-organisation

Dance, Act, Sing, Take Part Weekly Classes 

If you love to sing, were born to dance, have a flair for acting or simply want to get fit we have a class for you. Our Take Part classes take place at Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil, with many classes to choose from for all ages and abilities. 

Each year we see hundreds of participants taking part in our  classes, and with over 25 weekly classes on offer for participants aged 0 – 90 years there’s plenty of opportunity to join in. From our Octagon Choirs to Bollywood Dance to Youth Theatre and Dance. Discover more about our weekly classes on offer here: Dance, Act, Sing, Take Part Weekly Classes  . 

Summer Play Days

Our PlayDays are free local events running in the school holidays for children, young people and their families. You can expect professional workshops, world-class performances, creative crafts and fabulous face painting. Take part in a range of free creative activities, from arts and crafts to music-making, to practicing circus skills, along with face painting and a free public performance by an exciting theatre company. 

 Summer 2026 dates: 

 Wednesday 5th August 2026, 11am - 3pm – Mudford Rec, YEOVIL 

Friday 7th August 2026, 11am - 3pm – CHARD 

Tuesday 11th August 2026, 11am - 3pm – Cale Park, WINCANTON 

Thursday 13th August 2026, 11am - 3pm – Cocklemoor, LANGPORT 

Winter Play Days

Our PlayDays are free local events running in the school holidays for children, young people and their families. 

Expect a day of… Creative Crafts, Magical Music Making, Diva Dancing, Fabulous Face Painting, Artistic Creations, & more – all for free at a venue near you! 

 Winter PlayDays 2026 dates:  

 Winter Play Day: Yeovil at Westlands Entertainment Venue on Monday 16th February, 10am – 2pm  

Winter Play Day: Wincanton at Memorial Hall on Tuesday 17th February, 10am – 2pm   

Winter Play Day: Langport at Ridgway Hall on Wednesday 18th February, 10am – 2pm  

Winter Playday: Chard at Chard Guildhall on Thursday 19th February, 10am – 2pm  

Summer Schools

Every Summer, we run a series of week-long summer schools in Musical Theatre, Dance, Theatre & Acting, covering numerous performance techniques. The Octagon Theatre Summer School project has been running since 1992. Our Summer Schools give local young people the opportunity to develop confidence, whilst encouraging their understanding of the arts in a friendly and professional environment. The week-long experiences offer participants a chance to get creative, perform on our regional stage and form friendships with other likeminded individuals from the local area.  We work with Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) which enables us to offer children and young people in receipt of free school meals fully funded places to our activities.  Please keep an eye out on their website https://www.sasp.co.uk/somerset-moves-activity-finder for more information.

Play-in-a-Day 

Our Play-in-a-Day activities offer children and young people the opportunity to take part and work alongside creative practitioners during the school holidays. Our team of practitioners lead participants to create a short performance with all the classic elements; full of singing, dancing, acting and humour!  Participants work together as a theatre company to stage the play, learning performance techniques as they go, to perform to family and friends at the end of the day. Working with a musical director, choreographer and director participants learn songs and routines all pieced together with a short script.  We work with the young participants and incorporate their ideas and experiences into the piece, therefore giving them the opportunity to explore their own creative ideas.