Theatre to permanently close as 23 jobs axed

A theatre will close at the end of the month due to serious financial difficulties, as 23 jobs have been axed.

Taunton Brewhouse, which has hosted major names in music, comedy and performance, will shut on 31 October, after needing to raise about £150,000 to bridge a funding gap.

All 23 staff working for the Taunton Theatre Association, which ran the venue, will be made redundant.

Val Hammond, association chair, said the team "did hope that it would be possible to find a way for the Brewhouse to survive in its current operation - but that hasn't proved possible".

Chiefs initially hoped the closure would be temporary, but have now confirmed the venue will be permanently shut.

The theatre used to be supported by Somerset Council. However funding of £132,000 a year stopped in 2025, leaving a year without financial help.

"If we hadn't had a year without any funding... that would have made a difference," Hammond said.

She added Taunton Town Council funding of £100,000 a year began earlier in 2026, but was not enough to cover its maintenance and insurance costs.

"It's obviously the end of a very, very challenging period, and I also want to focus and remember on the good things that we've been able to achieve," Hammond added.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, lead for communities at Somerset Council, said it was "disappointing" to hear the news, but added the authority had to make "difficult decisions" with its cash.

"It was hard to make that decision when it came to the funding, but it's been really well documented about the challenges that local government face when it comes to finances," she added.

A spokesperson for Taunton Town Council said it was "deeply saddened" by the closure, adding it was "committed to listening and to understanding what can be done to help secure the future of the Brewhouse".

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