Your Reaction: Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton to close (From Somerset County Gazette)

8:57am

THIS live article has now finished.

For the latest updates on the Brewhouse closure, click here .

9:58pm

There was a huge turnout at the candlelit vigil outside the Brewhouse this evening (Thursday) where people shared their memories of the much loved theatre.

Jacky Lacy who worked on the bar at the Brewhouse said: “We lost our jobs today. It was a shock, we didn’t know anything about it, it was very sudden I feel lost. Everybody knew everybody else. It wasn’t so big that you were anonymous but it has got to grow. It is just a shame that the powers that be feel we are not worth keeping on.”

Trustee Stephen Martin-Scott said: “I think it is a hugely sad day for Taunton and it is really regrettable that no one seems to have stood up to the plate to address the clear issues that have been demonstrated to the local authorities and the Arts Council for the last five years. Everybody just thought the problems would go away.”

Viv Phillips said: “Our daughter was the box office and front of house manager. We are devastated, not only for her but everybody. We hope it will reopen. It is being outshone by Yeovil.”

5:15pm

5:14pm

4:09pm

LYNDA Bellingham, actress and presenter on ITV show Loose Women has expressed her sadness at the closure of the Brewhouse where she performed in its first ever show, Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquest.

Lynda, who performed at the theatre alongside David Jason back in 1977, told the County Gazette: “I remember the Brewhouse very well. We were playing in a wonderful play at the time.

“Actually I remember the week because I bought a brand new bright yellow VW beetle and drove it back to London very carefully to run it in and then on the Sunday someone drove the wrong way down a one way street and I was driving my lovely new car the right way! It was a write off!

 “I am sad that the theatre is to close. There are so few local theatres anymore and they perform such a vital part of community life not to mention employment for actors. Times are changing and not always for the better.”

2:05pm

THIS notice was placed on the door of The Brewhouse today.

12:51pm

FULL statement from administrators BDO LLP:

BDO LLP business restructuring partners, Simon Girling and Graham Randall were appointed Joint Administrators over The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre on February 21, 2013.

The Brewhouse, based in Taunton, Somerset, is a 352 seat theatre venue offering various programmes including drama, dance, comedy, music, workshops and art exhibitions.

Due to financial constraints, the business has ceased to trade and all 48 employees have been made redundant prior to the administrators’ appointment.

Simon Girling, BDO business restructuring partner, said:

“We appreciate that this will be a sad day for Taunton and the surrounding area, as the Brewhouse was a well-respected cultural venue.

"Unfortunately, the economic climate has significantly affected the business, and the facilities themselves meant The Brewhouse was overlooked by the biggest shows and theatre companies.

“As Administrators, our first step will be to investigate any and all options which would allow theatre to continue at the Brewhouse in the immediate future.

"This could potentially involve granting a license to a third party or a community organisation to operate the Brewhouse for a specified period.

“BDO, with Savills, will also immediately commence the search for a purchaser for the Brewhouse lease in order to secure the long term future of the theatre.

“Ticketholders for future shows should refer to the Brewhouse website www.thebrewhouse.net for further information.”

12:45pm

MARK Thomas's gig, which was due to be held at The Brewhouse tomorrow night, will go ahead at the new venue of Junction 24, near Bridgwater, it has been confirmed.

Tickets for the original show remain valid, although the performance will not start until 8.45pm, to allow time for people to travel to North Petherton from The Brewhouse.

12:23pm

TICKET holders for cancelled shows will NOT receive automatic refunds, the administrators of the Brewhouse have said.

In a message posted in the window of the venue, BDO LLP say:

CLOSURE OF THE THEATRE

The theatre, cafe, workspaces and restaurant have been closed to the public, and no further shows or performances will take place until further notice. The Joint Administrators have been appointed to explore all available options to the venue.

TICKETHOLDERS

Due to the Company's insolvency, any payments made to the Company for advance ticket purchases cannot be refunded. Ticketholders may rank as unsecured creditors against the Company for the value of tickets purchased.

In order that the Administrators may collate all such claims against the Company on a timely basis, please would ticketholders forward copies of all tickets purchased plus their payment receipt and their full contact details to the Administrators.

Ticketholders may wish to contact their credit card provider in order to explore the possibility of a refund.

To write to BDO LLP, write to:

BDO LLP, Bridgewater House, Finzels Reach, Counterslip, Bristol, BS1 6BX

12:04pm

12:03pm

SPEAKING today, Max Hebditch, chairman of the Taunton Cultural Consortium, said: “This is a terrible loss.

"Art, music and theatre are the soul of any town – especially in this time of recession. They are what make Taunton attractive to the new businesses we need.

"They work with our new museums, county cricket ground and improved public spaces to make Taunton a new regional centre.”

10:57am

10:56am

ARTS lovers in Taunton have left angry messages bemoaning the closure of the Brewhouse on hoardings outside the neighbouring Edwardo's restaurant, which has also been closed.

One example reads:

10:33am

WRITING in today's Somerset County Gazette, Brewhouse founder-chairman Cllr John Meikle has called for volunteers to come forward to help reopen the popular town centre venue.

Read his call to arms here .

10:24am

Here's how some of Somerset's other arts venues have responded to The Brewhouse's closure.

Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre director Charlie Dearden said: “It is a great loss for Taunton and the many people and groups that use the facility, as well as those who have lost their jobs.

“When you remember what a prominent role it played last year in Taunton’s jubilee celebrations it is very sad.

“Arts funding is a huge issue in Somerset, as it is across the whole country, and it is a regrettable that the arts, culture and creative industry has been so badly hit by the cuts.”

Ray Tew, (pictured above) chair of Minehead's Regal Theatre: "The Brewhouse is a major venue in the county town of Somerset.

"I hope this will be a wake-up call to all those in a position of influence to really consider what's important in terms of cultural life in this country.

"We have to look for a way forward to make this important historical venue survive."

Bridgwater Arts Centre board member and trustee Carol Bovett said: “All of us are shocked and saddened to hear that The Brewhouse is closing.

“We understand how difficult coping with a lack of funds is in any business, particularly the arts and among our patrons, but even though this is a sad sign of the country’s economic situation we endeavour to keep going.”

10:21am

STAFF at the Brewhouse have made their view on its closure clear by posting these messages on the outside of the building:

10:13am

9:50am

BREWHOUSE chief executive and artistic director Robert Miles blames the theatre’s demise on “years of underfunding”.

Writing in The Brewhouse Bulletin in today's County Gazettte, Mr Miles warns that county council grant cuts which, in turn, have deterred handouts from the Arts Council, mean venues across Somerset are struggling to survive.

He writes: “Our boarded-up building in the centre of the county town will be the most visible sign of the disintegration of the cultural landscape in our beautiful county.”

He adds that the Brewhouse’s closure will hit the local economy – he believes the centre generated £4million of spending in the town every year through customers using restaurants, cafes, shops, hotels and car parks in the area.

Mr Miles pays tribute to the many talented people who have appeared at the Brewhouse over the years.

He adds: “The team here were genuinely the best in the country – not just good at their jobs but passionate about their work and lovely genuine people.

“The Brewhouse has a fantastic reputation in the industry for punching above its weight and I cannot praise our staff and volunteers highly enough.”

Mr Miles is hopeful that, in the future, Taunton will get “the bigger theatre and arts centre it deserves and needs”.

9:45am

Patch Jobson, marketing and events manager of the venue Junction 24 near North Petherton. 

9:26am

AN OFFER of an alternative venue for shows due to be staged at The Brewhouse has come forward from Junction 24 near North Petherton.

With an arena that can hold 1,600 people seated and 2,500 standing, the venue has more than enough capacity to act as a replacement.

Junction 24’s marketing and events manager, Patch Jobson, said: “We don’t want The Brewhouse to close at all – it is one of the most important venues in Somerset – but if they can’t carry on here, we would like to offer our space.

“We are not doing this for financial gain – we are doing it to see if we can somehow keep it open. If we do lose the theatre it will be a very sad day.

“We all work together – everyone brings their own thing to the region. It’s a jigsaw puzzle and if we lose one piece, it makes it harder for the rest of us.

“We have already sent out emails to producers of the shows due to go ahead and I have been on the phone since 7am today to tell someone there is an offer on the table.”

Mr Jobson is urging someone from or representing The Brewhouse to get in touch with him as soon as possible.

He is contactable by emailing patch@junction24ltd.co.uk or by calling 01278-662200 and asking for his mobile number.

8:20am

8:11am

7:53am

7:49am

MANY people in Taunton are waking up to the news that the town's Brewhouse Theatre has closed its doors following a funding crisis.

Administrators have been called in to the Coal Orchard venue and more than 50 staff at the theatre have been made redundant.

A candlelit vigil has been organised outside the Brewhouse at 7pm this evening (Thursday) for supporters to reflect on the closure and discuss options.

There have already been calls from many people for the centre to be reopened, either to be run by volunteers or for authorities to increase funding.

Meanwhile, anxious ticket-holders for performances which have been cancelled are waiting for news on whether they will be able to claim refunds from the venue.

Don't miss six pages of reaction and analysis in today's Somerset County Gazette.

7:44am

9:58pm

9:56pm

9:55pm

7:58pm

7:57pm

7:57pm

6:52pm

6:51pm

6:42pm

6:29pm

6:28pm

6:21pm

6:19pm

6:16pm

6:12pm

6:12pm

6:10pm

6:10pm

5:34pm

The Brewhouse opened in March 1977 - here's the first group of volunteers, staff and founders pictured outside the venue shortly after it opened:

5:32pm

5:30pm

5:30pm

UPCOMING acts scheduled for the venue which have been cancelled include Mark Thomas, Marcus Brigstocke and Marty Wilde.

5:28pm

5:28pm

5:25pm

5:24pm

5:20pm

5:19pm

5:19pm

5:18pm

5:16pm

THE Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton has called in the administrators and will close on Thursday, it has emerged.

Dozens of staff at the 352-seat venue have been made redundant and all scheduled performances after tonight's production of Jane Eyre have been cancelled.

The demise of the riverside theatre, which is a registered charity, has been blamed on cuts in funding.

For more on this story, including an exclusive column by Brewhouse director Robert Miles explaining the reasons for the theatre's closure, see Thursday's edition of the Somerset County Gazette.

Leave your reaction to the news uisng the comment facility below or Tweet your views to @CountyGazette