Uncertainty over ticket refunds at closed theatre

A ticketholder for a theatre performance cancelled when a venue announced its closure says she is disappointed not to have been offered a refund yet.

Susan Fone said despite calling and emailing the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton, Somerset, she has been unable to get in touch with anyone regarding her tickets for a festive performance of Treasure Island.

Fone told BBC Your Voice that she was not informed of the theatre's closure over financial issues by the venue but instead found out in an online news article.

Taunton Theatre Association (TTA) has advised ticketholders to keep hold of their tickets for when the refunds process opens.

Chair of the TTA Val Hammond told the BBC that she was "very, very sorry to hear about the experience of ticket holders".

Hammond said the association was trying to upload all necessary guidance to its website and advised ticketholders to retain their proof of purchase as well as their tickets.

Taunton Brewhouse issued a statement on its website on 5 October announcing it would be closing at the end of this month due to financial pressures.

Hammond said that it was an "incredibly difficult moment for everyone connected to TTA".

"The theatre remains in the ownership of Somerset Council and we hope that, in due course, a new team of enthusiasts will bring the vision and the energy needed to reopen it," she added.

At a meeting of Somerset Council's executive, Federica Smith-Roberts, the councillor in charge of communities, said the authority was working to explore options for the building.

"It would be premature at the moment to speculate on what any future solution may look like, but I can assure you that we recognise the importance of the Brewhouse, and we'll continue to work constructively with partners to understand what opportunities may be available."

Smith-Roberts' comments come after a question from Equity, the actors' union, urging the council to work with them to "come up with a long-term solution to secure the future of the Brewhouse".

Fone added: "I'm very sad and extremely disappointed. I understand that funding for the arts is being withdrawn, but had these issues been publicised earlier, the community may have been able to raise the funds to keep it open.

"The theatre is extremely important to Taunton and we should do our utmost to retain what arts facilities we have in Somerset - they're limited anyway".

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