New £3 ticket scheme launched for low-income audiences in Somerset

Over 600 tickets are set to be released throughout the year at £3 for low-income individuals looking to attend a show at The Octagon & Westlands.

Westlands Entertainment Venue & Octagon Theatre are committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has the opportunity to access our venue and attend shows, events, and activities. That’s why we’ve created a ticket scheme offering low-income households and individuals tickets to our shows and events for just £3!

We know that times are tough for many in our community and appreciate that cost may be a barrier to attendance. We are incredibly proud to introduce our Accessible Ticket Scheme, offering support to audience members who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend a performance.

We are continually striving to improve access to our programme, with inclusion at our core, and our new Accessible Ticket Scheme will help to remove ticket price as a barrier, making theatre attendance more affordable.

In partnership with Abri Housing Group, we are unlocking £3 tickets to a number of selected performances across our programme. From comedy to music, plays to dance, and our legendary pantomime, we will be offering hundreds of affordable tickets and bringing the magic of live performance to more people. From November 2024, anyone receiving government benefits will be able to access the £3 tickets for a range of shows and events.

The ticket scheme compliments our SHiNE Bursary Fund, launched earlier this year, which supports individuals of all ages that might not be able to afford to participate in classes and workshops. Bursaries are awarded to those on low incomes, Free School Meals, or Pupil Premium, with partially or fully funded places available depending on the level of support required.

“The support that the Octagon Theatre & Westlands Entertainment Venue have been able to give my son through attending holiday activities and weekly classes has made such a difference.” Parent

Arts & Entertainment Venues Manager, Adam Burgan commented: “Our venues are central community hubs, and we are constantly striving to improve access to our programme of shows, events, and activities. We are proud to offer a range of pricing schemes and even prouder to be introducing our Accessible Ticket Scheme at a time when rising prices and the cost-of-living crisis are impacting the communities we serve. Our new ticket scheme will make the best seats in the house available for just £3! We are delighted to make theatre more affordable and to share the magic and joy of live entertainment with as many people as possible.”

Abri’s Community Development Officer, Lisa Hatfield, commented: “Abri is very pleased to be offering support through our community funding, giving our customers, and the wider community the opportunity to attend a variety of shows at the local Westlands Entertainment Venue. This initiative is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to experience arts, dance, and creativity, making these shows accessible to all. Our focus on the health and wellbeing of our customers shines through this initiative, helping to combat loneliness and improve mental health by providing access to such events. One of our customers told us: "I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to take my grandchildren to see the pantomime. We all had a great time and made special memories; I couldn't have afforded it on my own.”

This scheme has been made possible thanks to the Octagon Theatre becoming an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) and being awarded an investment of £760,000 to support arts and cultural activities in Somerset from 2023-2026. The NPO investment supports our Arts Engagement & Outreach team to develop and deliver programmes and activities that benefit health and wellbeing, enrich learning and education in and outside school and inspire and celebrate talent, creating work that will support local artists and tell “local stories”. Our work seeks to improve inclusion and remove barriers, whatever they may be, so that everyone is able to enjoy and benefit from the creative arts.

Find out more on our dedicated Accessible Ticket Scheme webpage.