SHiNE puts the spotlight on Octagon Academy and community talent

For the final time at The Octagon Theatre as we currently know it, SHiNE was performed to an audience that were wowed by the creativity and talent on stage from the Octagon Academy and the local community connected to the theatre.

SHiNE is our annual showcase of talent from The Octagon Theatre and other groups that are associated with the theatre, creating a thoroughly entertaining evening of performances that have been worked on through the year. Over 300 people performed in SHiNE this year!

With the door of The Octagon Theatre scheduled to close after the show for the very last time before the theatre is transformed into a flagship venue for the arts and entertainment, SHiNE was the perfect way to say “au revoir” to the theatre.

Performers on the night included:

• Octagon Choir
• Octagon Street Dance (Juniors & Seniors)
• Tiny Dancers (Somerset Youth Dance Juniors & Tiny Tappers)
• Octagon Silver Swans
• Eminence Dance Academy
• Somerset Youth Dance Company
• Octagon Tappers
• Somerset Graduate Dancers
• Suzie Q’s
• Helen Laxton Dance Company
• THUMKA: Bollywood Dance
• G’s Commercial Dance
• G’s Heels Dance
• Yeovil Dancentre
• The Dance Factory
• Castaway Theatre Group

The evening was bought to a close with a special performance by Davina Derrick from Helen Laxton Dance Company who helped put the theatre asleep ahead of its transformation.

Plans to redevelop the Octagon theatre into a centre of excellence will help to spark economic regeneration for the area and e a source of joy, entertainment and inspiration to come. To help nurture and develop talent, the redeveloped Octagon Theatre will include:

• An increased seating capacity in the main auditorium from 622 to 900.
• Two new smaller cinema/studio spaces predominately for film screenings.
• A dance studio which will become the new home for our popular Octagon Academy.
• A community studio offering alternative space for additional classes.
• A greatly improved front of house and customer facilities
• Improved backstage accessibility.
• The construction of a fly tower, enabling larger companies to use the venue which would bring a new range of shows.
• A Changing Places Toilet for those with additional needs.

Take a look below at a selection of our SHiNE photos that highlights the talent on show. If you want to take part in any of the Octagon Academy classes, don’t forget to take a look at our classes online and book.

All photos taken by Len Copland.