Brewhouse Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre is the largest theatre
and arts centre
in Taunton
, the county town of Somerset
, England.
The building opened 28 March 1977 on the banks of the River Tone
, and offers a 350 seat auditorium and supporting studio and exhibition spaces. Its first professional performance was Alan Ayckbourn
’s "The Norman Conquest", starring a young actor called David Jason.
The administrative offices are on the first floor of a Georgian
Grade II listed building which gives the theatre its name.
In 2005, Arts Council England
announced that it would cut regular funding to The Brewhouse from 2006, following a drop in artistic output. In September 2005 a new director Robert Miles
was appointed to lead the artistic reinvigoration of the organisation, which now plays host to experimental theatre companies such as DEREVO
, and No Fit State Circus. It was also the first theatre, apart from the Royal Court Theatre
, to stage Caryl Churchill
's controversial play Seven Jewish Children
.
In 2009, ongoing under funding, combined with the impact of recession and a subsequent threat of cuts meant the venue was once again put under threat of closure. With support from its stakeholders The Brewhouse overcame these immediate funding concerns and in March 2010 it was announced that the organisation had been awarded £487,500 from Arts Council England's Sustain fund to allow it to continue to programme arts and participatory activities during the economic downturn.
A feasibility study by ArtsService recommends the current site be expanded to create a 600–750 seat auditorium, a larger gallery space and arthouse cinema with improved bar and catering provision as part of a new "Coal Orchard" - Taunton’s cultural quarter.
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and arts centre
Arts centre
An art centre or arts center is distinct from an art gallery or art museum. An arts centre is a functional community centre with a specific remit to encourage arts practice and to provide facilities such as theatre space, gallery space, venues for musical performance, workshop areas, educational...
in Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, the county town of Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England.
The building opened 28 March 1977 on the banks of the River Tone
River Tone
The River Tone is a river in Somerset, England, which is about long. It rises at Beverton Pond near Huish Champflower in the Brendon Hills, and is dammed at Clatworthy Reservoir. The reservoir outfall continues through Taunton and Curry and Hay Moors, which are designated as a Site of Special...
, and offers a 350 seat auditorium and supporting studio and exhibition spaces. Its first professional performance was Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn
Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE is a prolific English playwright. He has written and produced seventy-three full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where all but four of his plays have received their...
’s "The Norman Conquest", starring a young actor called David Jason.
The administrative offices are on the first floor of a Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
Grade II listed building which gives the theatre its name.
In 2005, Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
announced that it would cut regular funding to The Brewhouse from 2006, following a drop in artistic output. In September 2005 a new director Robert Miles
Robert Miles
Robert Miles is an Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ in electronica and alternative music.-Biography:...
was appointed to lead the artistic reinvigoration of the organisation, which now plays host to experimental theatre companies such as DEREVO
DEREVO
DEREVO is a physical theatre company inspired by Butoh founded by Anton Adasinsky in 1988 in St. Petersburg , Russia, later in Prague, Czech Republic and now based in Dresden, Germany since 1996....
, and No Fit State Circus. It was also the first theatre, apart from the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, to stage Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill is an English dramatist known for her use of non-naturalistic techniques and feminist themes, the abuses of power, and sexual politics. She is acknowledged as a major playwright in the English language and a leading female writer...
's controversial play Seven Jewish Children
Seven Jewish Children
Seven Jewish Children: A Play for Gaza is a controversial six-page, 10-minute play by British playwright Caryl Churchill, written in response to the 2008-2009 Israel military strike on Gaza, and first performed at London's Royal Court Theatre on 6 February 2009...
.
In 2009, ongoing under funding, combined with the impact of recession and a subsequent threat of cuts meant the venue was once again put under threat of closure. With support from its stakeholders The Brewhouse overcame these immediate funding concerns and in March 2010 it was announced that the organisation had been awarded £487,500 from Arts Council England's Sustain fund to allow it to continue to programme arts and participatory activities during the economic downturn.
A feasibility study by ArtsService recommends the current site be expanded to create a 600–750 seat auditorium, a larger gallery space and arthouse cinema with improved bar and catering provision as part of a new "Coal Orchard" - Taunton’s cultural quarter.