Theatre reopens after 20 years for pop-up summer shows

Campaigners hope the summer shows will prove how valuable the venue is

A theatre that has been closed for almost 20 years is reopening for summer shows.

Campaigners attempting to buy and reopen Somerset's Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet have announced a programme of pop-up events, including live music and a cinema movie nights.

A temporary event space, which includes a mini auditorium and a café bar, has been built on the ground floor for the shows.

Martin Berkeley, from Let's Buy the Amulet, said: "We are so excited by this opportunity to briefly reopen the Amulet to showcase what a difference the building can make to Shepton Mallet."

Bosses of Let's Buy The Amulet group are hoping to secure public funding to purchase the site and turn it into a permanent community asset.

But in early 2025, the group was told money set aside by the previous government had been withdrawn.

Mr Berkeley added: "There is some new public funding that is becoming available that we will be applying for and we also have a community share offer so people can buy shares in the charity we hope will purchase and reopen the building."

The group is hoping to build a 60 seater mini-auditorium, an exhibition gallery and a café bar.

An auditorium is being set up in the Amulet Theatre ahead of summer events

Originally built in 1975 as The Centre, the building was a gift to the town from the Showering Family, who are famous for inventing Babycham.

It operated as a popular theatre and community centre for many years but has been in private ownership and largely out of public use.

The pop-up events will be held in July and August, with Mark Chadwick of the Levellers performing the opening show on 4 July.