Funding for Somerset's theatres under threat in council cuts

"I'm really concerned about the future of the Arts in Somerset."

These are the words of Liberal Democrat councillor Federica Smith-Roberts who oversees culture at Somerset Council.

The local authority has proposed cuts to the county's theatres of £420,000 over the next two years to prevent it from going bust.

The council said it had to protect and prioritise services like adult social care instead.

Under the proposals, the £420,000 could be cut from the county's three biggest theatre and entertainment venues.

For the Brewhouse in Taunton, it could mean losing £132,00 over the next two years. After that, funding could stop altogether

Westlands Entertainment Centre faces a loss of nearly £120,000, which the council believes could be achieved from changing the way it is run, without impacting on the service.

By continuing the temporary closure of the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil a saving of £174,000 could be made.

The venue was in line for a £30m rebuild, with the help of a £10m government grant.

Councillors put the project on hold due to interest rate rises, claiming it was no longer affordable.

Alternative plans and funding sources are now being drawn up.

Mark Rudd, the Chair of Yeovil Amateur Operatics Society, said the cuts would be dire for groups like his.

He is worried theatres bosses will have no choice but to ask companies to pay more to rent out their auditoriums.

"If we have to pay more to hire the Octagon or Westlands, we will obviously have to put our ticket prices up to cover that, and that will make people stay away. It's a Catch 22", he said.

In a statement, Yeovil-based Beatnik Theatre Company said the savings "would have a huge impact".

"It would be not only on the theatres themselves and those who work there, but the many small theatre companies who rely on them," it added.

Val Hammond, the Chair of the Brewhouse Theatre, said she is confident it will be able to continue.

"It will mean that we look for other sources of funding, but generally speaking we are looking at keeping the programme, so that it looks the same; but we will make sure that some of our more commercially successful events support things that are less commercially viable."

Liberal Democrat councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, who oversees culture at Somerset Council, said identifying potential savings had been "tough".

"I didn't get into local politics to cut services," she said.

"[But} there needs to be a different funding model nationally, as to how we value local government."

Somerset Council says a rise in care home costs is contributing to next year's projected overspend.

Last year the government announced a national 6.5% rise in funding for UK councils, but several local authorities around the country have said it is still not enough to help them balance the books.

Somerset Council has said it hopes town and parish councils will take on more responsibility so residents won't lose services.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]