IF you've missed live theatre over lockdown, here's something to get you excited.

A combination of opera, pop and comedy is coming to a gypsy caravan near you.

North Curry-based Bluebirds Theatre is deploying its Popera House, a custom-built mobile theatre to take its shows on the road.

The group is taking its imaginative reworking of Wagner's Ring Cycle to your doorstep with The Reduced Ring.

It's all been made possible through Arts Taunton's programme of grants, Art at the Heart, which has given £2,400 to Bluebirds.

Under the scheme, arts groups are invited to submit proposals for project ideas, with the charity funding up to 50 per cent of the cost to a maximum of £4,000.

Popera House co-director Sasha Herriman said: "It's a brilliant opportunity to keep live music and theatre going at a time when the whole world has turned virtual."

Fellow co-director Amy Hardwick said: "People need the joy that live theatre can offer and the Popera House allows us to do this in a safe and socially distanced way."

A second grant of £2,200 has been made to GoCreateTaunton for its Pride in Art a project, which promotes the arts to Taunton's LGBTQ+ adult community.

The programme is in two halves - In Isolation and Together.

GoCreate co-director Liz Hutchin said: "Our artists will provide two blocks of six monthly sessions guiding participants, developing their skills to create both collaborative and individual hanging banners which will adorn the streets of Taunton for our festival next year.

"These new banners will be part of raising awareness for Pride 2021 and the encouragement to engage in the Taunton Live Festival of the Creative and Performing Arts next year."

For details of Pride in Art, e-mail liz@gocreate.org.uk or jenny@gocreate.org.uk

Arts Taunton founder, Kit Chapman said: "Our aim is to make Taunton a vibrant regional destination for the arts.

"We want to celebrate its diversity and inclusivity across the whole community.

"This initiative, along with Tyca, our annual young people's festival, and all the other work we are undertaking goes a fair way towards achieving that goal."