The Octagon Theatre

What The Octagon Theatre does

The Octagon Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Yeovil, Somerset, United Kingdom, operated by Somerset Council as a local-authority public service. It programmes a broad repertoire across dance, drama, comedy, musicals, opera, classical music, pantomime, and family entertainment, and describes itself as Somerset's premier arts and entertainment venue. The venue is currently closed for a major redevelopment into a flagship centre for the creative arts, with all events and activities temporarily relocated to its sister venue, Westlands Entertainment Venue, also in Yeovil.

Its core offering extends well beyond ticketed performance. The venue runs an extensive Take Part portfolio comprising weekly classes in dance, choir, theatre, and music for all ages and abilities, alongside targeted programmes for older adults (Silver Swans ballet), disabled adults and carers (Inclusive Dance, ChiChi Chair), people living with dementia or Parkinson's (Memory Choir, Parkinson's Dance delivered with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust), and youth summer schools (Theatre and Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance in a Day, Play in a Day). Underlying technology is operationally lightweight: ticketing is delivered through the third-party Spektrix platform embedded via iFrame, with phone and in-person box office channels and standard social media marketing.

The business model blends earned income (ticket sales via Spektrix, recurring weekly class subscriptions at £6–£7 per session, summer-school programmes at £35–£140, gift vouchers) with non-commercial revenue in the form of Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) grant funding, Somerset Council subsidy, and community donations including the 'Name A Seat' redevelopment fundraising campaign. Pricing is transparent and modest, with a 5% discount available on bulk class bookings. Customer segments span general theatregoers, families and children aged 7–16, older adults, disabled adults and their carers, and clinical-referred health-and-wellness participants, with no single named enterprise customer.

Name

The Octagon Theatre

Legal name

The Octagon Theatre (operated by Somerset Council)

Website

https://octagon-theatre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Octagon Theatre is a Somerset Council–operated performing arts venue in Yeovil, UK, currently closed for redevelopment, delivering live performance, weekly community classes, youth summer schools, and inclusive health-focused arts programmes with Arts Council England NPO support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Dance Companies (711120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dance Performances (THAJAFAD), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live theatre programming
• Community dance classes
• Youth theatre education
• Arts participation programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Yeovil

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to theatrical performances, concerts, dance shows, comedy, and other entertainment events.
2. Class and Workshop Fees: Weekly dance, theatre, and music classes for adults and children, including Silver Swans ballet, ChiChi FIT, Jazz Dance, Octagon Choir, and youth theatre programmes.
3. Summer School Programmes: Multi-day intensive programmes for children and young people including theatre, musical theatre, and dance summer schools at £140 per course.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Donations supporting the theatre's redevelopment transformation into a flagship centre for creative arts. Includes 'Name A Seat' campaign.
5. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers for theatre experiences and classes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Octagon Theatre is a publicly-operated performing arts venue that presents live entertainment (drama, musicals, comedy, dance, opera, classical music, pantomime, variety) and runs an extensive Take Part Academy of participatory classes and workshops for all ages and abilities, including choirs, dance, theatre, and music instruction. It also delivers youth summer schools and targeted health and wellbeing programmes such as Parkinson's Dance, Memory Choir, and Inclusive Dance, while supporting itself through ticket sales, class fees, donations, and gift vouchers.

Product overview

The Octagon Theatre is Somerset's premier arts and entertainment venue, currently undergoing redevelopment to become a flagship creative arts centre. During closure, events continue at sister venue Westlands Entertainment Venue. The core offering comprises participatory arts and educational programs including Take Part Academy Classes (dance, theatre, choir, and music instruction for all ages and abilities), youth summer activity programs, and community health-focused initiatives such as Parkinson's Dance, Inclusive Dance, and Memory Choir. The venue offers venue hire services, gift vouchers, and supports its transformation through the Name A Seat campaign. Ticketing is managed through the Spektrix System.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Take Part / Academy Classes Weekly participatory arts classes covering dance, theatre, music, and choir programmes for all ages and abilities, including The Octagon Choir, Octagon Junior Choir, Silver Swans Ballet, ChiChi FIT, ChiChi Chair, Octagon Inclusive Dance, Somerset Graduate Dancers, G's Dance Heels Choreography, Jazz Dance, Octagon Memory Choir, and Parkinson's Dance. Delivered at the Octagon and Westlands venues.
• Young People's Activity Programmes (Summer Schools) Multi-day intensive summer programmes for children and young people including Theatre and Acting Summer School (£140, ages 7-16), Musical Theatre Summer School (£140, ages 7-16, delivered with Castaways Theatre Group), Dance in a Day (£35), Play in a Day, and Project Dance Curtain Raiser (£35, ages 8-16). Several include tickets to the end-of-week performance.
• Live Performance Ticketing (Drama, Musicals, Comedy, Dance, Opera, Classical Music, Pantomime, Variety)
• Venue Hire
• Gift Vouchers

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Somerset CouncilcoreOthersOwner and operator of The Octagon Theatre. Somerset Council runs the website and manages the venue as part of its cultural services provision. The theatre is undergoing redevelopment as a flagship centre for creative arts under council leadership.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreOthersArts Council England provides National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) grant funding to The Octagon Theatre, supporting its operations and programmes as part of England's cultural infrastructure.
• Somerset NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner supporting the Parkinson's Dance programme, providing clinical expertise and credibility for therapeutic movement-based classes designed specifically to address Parkinson's symptoms.
• Sports EnglandsupportingOthersFunder and supporter of inclusive dance and physical activity programmes, with the Sports England logo displayed on inclusive programming materials.
• Castaways Theatre GroupsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal theatre group that partners with Octagon to deliver the Musical Theatre Summer School, providing instructors and production expertise for youth programming.
• Project DancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance company that partners with Octagon for curtain raiser events and masterclasses, providing professional choreography and performance opportunities for young dancers.
• Westlands Entertainment VenuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister venue operated by Somerset Council that serves as temporary home for all Octagon Theatre events during the redevelopment closure period. This partnership ensures continuity of programming and audience engagement.
• Yeovil Literary FestivalsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal literary festival partnered with Octagon for festival programming, cross-promoting events and shared audience engagement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bristol Old Vic: Largest regional theatre in the West of England, producing and hosting drama, musicals, opera, and community participation programmes. Operates in the same catchment as Octagon but with substantially larger capacity and production scale.
• Royal & Derngate, Northampton: Larger regional producing theatre in the East Midlands with made-in-house drama, musicals, and extensive community/youth engagement programmes. Comparable community-participation scope but greater producing scale.
• Theatre Royal Bath: Historic West Country regional theatre with a broader mixed programme of touring drama, musicals, and comedy plus participation work. Larger scale and longer heritage than Octagon, but serves an overlapping West-of-England audience.
• Theatre Royal, York: Historic regional theatre hosting drama, musicals, opera, dance, and pantomime, alongside a Youth Theatre and participation programmes. Comparable mixed-genre, mixed-audience operating model at larger scale.

Direct peers

• Salisbury Playhouse: Regional repertory theatre in Wiltshire producing drama, musicals, and community participation work including youth programmes. Closely comparable scale and programming mix to the Octagon Theatre.
• Westlands Entertainment Venue: Sister venue also operated by Somerset Council in Yeovil, currently hosting all Octagon programming during the redevelopment closure. Comparable scale, audience, and operating model with overlapping ticketing and participation offerings.
• Exeter Northcott Theatre: University-linked regional theatre in the South West offering drama, dance, comedy, and student/youth participation. Comparable mid-scale regional theatre competing for overlapping touring content and family audiences.
• Cambridge Arts Theatre: Mid-scale regional theatre hosting touring drama, musicals, opera, comedy, and dance with active participation and education programmes. Comparable operating model and audience-development approach.
• Taunton Brewhouse: Somerset-based regional theatre and arts centre offering a mixed programme of drama, comedy, music, dance, and participatory classes. Closest geographic peer with a similar council-supported, multi-genre community-focused model.
• Torch Theatre, Milford Haven: Mid-sized regional theatre in Wales with mixed drama, dance, music, comedy, and community participation programming including youth and inclusive classes. Closely comparable small/mid regional theatre operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/octagonyeovil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/octagonyeovil
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheOctagonTheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/octagonyeovil

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Octagon Theatre