Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to become resident company of Octagon in Yeovil

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will become resident at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil when the venue reopens following a £29 million redevelopment.

As reported previously by The Stage, the works include the theatre’s capacity being increased from 622 to 900 and the addition of a fly tower, allowing the Octagon to stage larger productions, including touring musicals.

The partnership between the theatre and BSO will see a regular concert series at the venue from the orchestra alongside education and outreach programmes, which the organisations said had been designed to bring "world-class musical opportunities to residents and visitors of Somerset".

The venue is owned and managed by South Somerset District Council.

Councillor Mike Best, portfolio-holder for health and well-being and chairman of Somerset Council, said: “For too long our residents have had to travel outside of Somerset to experience the type of performances and projects that this partnership will bring. Our ambitious and forward-thinking plans to develop the Octagon Theatre into a flagship regional centre of excellence for the arts is already proving to be a catalyst for change."

BSO chief executive Dougie Scarfe said the company was "looking forward to deepening our relationship with communities in Somerset, with even more live concerts from the full Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, plus family-friendly BSO on Your Doorstep chamber-scale concerts, workshops and events".

Octagon theatre manager Adam Burgan said the residency with BSO would enable the venue to bring "world-class artists to Somerset for regular performances throughout the year that will engage and delight our audiences".

The theatre is set to reopen in 2025 following its redevelopment.