THE final curtain has fallen at the Brewhouse theatre in Taunton after an audience gathered for its last-ever performance, just months before its 50th anniversary.
Theatregoers turned up at the venue for a sold-out country music show at around 7pm on October 31. The much-loved arts centre closed its doors just months before it was due to celebrate its 50th anniversary in March 2027.
Speaking to the County Gazette, theatre-goers described the closure as "heartbreaking" and voiced concerns about the future of live theatre in Taunton following the loss of one of the town's best-known cultural venues.
Veronica 'Ronnie' Roach, who lives near the venue, described the closure as "heartbreaking".
A regular visitor to the theatre, she said she had attended performances there for years and had watched her children grow up through pantomimes, workshops and youth theatre productions held at the venue.
Ms Roach said: "It's heartbreaking. It really is.
"I keep asking why it's closing and the answer is not enough money.
"I'd be happy to pay extra for my tickets to help keep it going."
Taunton Brewhouse closure leaves people 'heartbroken'
She added: "The children have been brought up here. We've had the pantos, the young theatre group and loads of workshops here.
"It's just heartbreaking."
Looking to the future, Ms Roach said she hoped someone would intervene to save the venue.
Ms Roach said: "I'd like to think somebody will come forward because we don't want our culture to go down the drain.
"This is the centre of town and it's just heartbreaking."
Among those attending the final show were Liz and Dorothy Feehan, who live on the Devon-Somerset border. They described the closure as a "real shame".
Dorothy, who had received tickets as an 82nd birthday present, said: "It's very sad. Very sad, isn't it?"
Reflecting on the future of the venue, Liz said she hoped the theatre could eventually reopen.
She said: "You've just got to go so much further for good theatre and comedians. It's a shame because so many times we come, it seems to be full. Everybody enjoys it.
"They don't do the big shows because they haven't got the big stage, but the comedians, the music and the activities are fantastic."
Speaking about where they will go for future performances, Liz added: "We're on the Devon-Somerset border, so we've really either got to come here or Exeter. We do go to Bristol or Yeovil. We've got a couple of things booked next year at Exeter Northcott, because that's one of the next closest places for things similar to this.
"It's a real shame. It's a loss for Taunton."
Dorothy added: "It's a sad day."
Nicola Hares, from Minehead, said the closure would be a major loss for the county town.
She said: "Taunton is our county town and why are you losing this? I just can't believe it.
"You've lost Debenhams and it's like a ghost town."
Ms Hares, who travelled from West Somerset for the show, said the Brewhouse was "worth coming to" and described its closure as "such a big loss".
She added: "I'm hoping there's somebody out there that will revive it.
"Surely the people of Somerset would be happy to step in and fundraise for it. I've seen so many crowdfunders raise thousands and thousands of pounds.
"I'm pretty sure people would put a fiver in to help keep it open. I definitely would."
As a sold-out crowd gathered for the Brewhouse's final performance, security guard Kye Page-Potter was among the staff helping to welcome theatre-goers through the doors one last time.
Mr Page-Potter said that, with no confirmed revival for the venue, it would be "sad" to see the Brewhouse close after becoming a regular part of his working life.
He said he initially took shifts at the venue on a one-off basis before becoming a familiar face for theatre-goers.
"I enjoy the environment it brings. Plenty of people come over for a conversation when I'm sat in the box office," Mr Page-Potter told the County Gazette.
"It's part of history. Fifty years is a long time for something like this to run and it will be sad to see it go.
"There's not very many places like this left anymore."
Mr Page-Potter said he hoped somebody could step in to help secure the venue's future.
He added: "This would be the perfect venue for something like a youth club. Even small donations could help keep the place open and running.
"There are not very many places for young people these days."
Having worked at a number of sold-out events in recent weeks, he said demand for performances remained strong.
He said: "The last few shifts I've done have pretty much always been sold out or nearly sold out.
"I suppose everybody wants to get one last taste of the Taunton Brewhouse."
Looking ahead, Mr Page-Potter said he hoped the building would not be left empty or converted into housing.
He said: "Keep it as it is. I just pray I don't see it becoming another car park."
Inside the building, many people left heartfelt comments in a book calling for the Taunton Brewhouse to continue operating indefinitely.
One comment from a Jordan R reads: "Always such good shows. Love the music and comedy, so such a shame if it closes."
Another comment, from a Terry and Androulla, reads: "What a fabulous night. Thank you [and] please stay open."
While the Brewhouse has now closed, efforts are continuing to bring it back. The group behind a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than £10,000 has reorganised into an action group with the aim of reopening and running the theatre.
The group includes members of several local performance organisations, including the Wayfarers, Taunton Thespians, Somerset Opera, @2K, TAOS Musical Theatre and the Taunton Association of Performing Arts.
Chair Mark Dawson said: "The Brewhouse matters to Taunton. We want to see it reopen as a place where the community is at the heart of everything it does."
People wishing to support the campaign can find out more at brewhousecommunitytrust.co.uk.
Why is Taunton Brewhouse closing?
The main reason given for the closure of the Taunton Brewhouse was that the organisation running the theatre, Taunton Theatre Association Ltd, could no longer make the venue financially sustainable.
The Brewhouse's trustees said the venue was closing due to ongoing financial pressures, including rising costs, reduced funding and an inability to operate on a sustainable financial footing despite support from local councils and fundraising efforts.
Taunton Theatre Association Ltd were responsible for running the venue's performances, events and community activities.
The closure came following the end of a financial partnership between Taunton Theatre Association Ltd, the charity that operated the venue, and Somerset Council, which had previously provided financial support.
Taunton Town Council stepped in with financial support for Taunton Theatre Association Ltd after the Somerset Council funding ended, but the charity later determined the venue was no longer financially sustainable.
The Taunton Brewhouse building is owned by Somerset Council rather than the charity that ran it, meaning there remains the possibility that another operator could take over the venue in the future.
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