Say hello to Vic, Kim, and Lucy – our wonderful programming team here at Taunton Brewhouse. Every season, they will be sharing with you their favourite shows –giving you the inside scoop on what’s caught their eye and why you won’t want to miss it.
Studio Series
Our Studio is the place for fresh ideas and bold voices. This autumn, we are kicking off a regular programme of comedy, theatre, and music that shines a spotlight on the brilliant talent bubbling up from the South West.
First up? Explaining Being Pan to Nan, Gurt Haunted, and AI AI OH… all brand new, all very funny, and all guaranteed to leave you smiling long after the curtain comes down. Perfect for those who like their nights out full of personality.
Explaining Being Pan to Nan | Fri 19 Sep | 7.30pm
P Burton-Morgan is a multifaceted artist, playwright, poet, director, and winner of the 2024 Ledbury Poetry Slam – the UK’s biggest poetry festival!
This no-holes-barred stand up-comedy/poetry show unpacks explaining your queer identity to your 86-year-old nan. Expect sexting in your 80s, knitting kinks, and discovering Grandad’s predilections. Wildly explicit, yet unexpectedly tender, this solo show explores the differences and understanding between the generations.
Gurt Haunted | Fri 17 Oct | 5.45pm & 8pm
Following its sell out at Bristol Old Vic, the Gurt Haunted team do a proper job with their part-improvised, part-devised, comedy thriller dedicated to all things West Country.
Tony Chestnut and his team of world-renowned spiritualists, mediums, and ‘professional investigators’ need your help to put the spirits of the region to rest (or at least get some footage for their newest TV series). Join them in this participatory, paranormal parody that will undoubtedly leave you pondering: “Am I a true believer… or have I just had one too many ciders?”
AI AI OH | Fri 28 Nov | 7.30pm
Once upon a time, a washed up London writer and technophobe went off-grid in a confused lockdown relocation… only to find that the grass ain’t always greener.
The blank page stretched out like the endless fields. His only hope? His greatest enemy – technology! A story of bots, writer’s block, and getting away from it all. Perrier Comedy and Fringe First winner Will Adamsdale presents a new autobiographical show about how he wrote a hit sitcom with ChatGPT.
Main House
Our Main House is all about pure entertainment and total escape. Old favourites. Bold reimagining’s. Nostalgic tunes you will know every word to. And yes, we’ve tucked a few surprises up our sleeve this season just for you.
RAÍCES | Wed 24 Sep | 7.30pm
Kicking off the Main House season, RAÍCES brings all the fire, drama and foot stamping flair you would expect from world class flamenco and then some.
Fresh from touring China, Ethiopia and Malaysia, Rebecca Orton lights up the stage with a mix of traditional Spanish passion and her own magnetic style. She is an award-winning dancer with elegance, razor sharp rhythm and the kind of physical skill that makes you wonder if she is secretly superhuman.
Why flamenco? Because it is pure storytelling through music, song, and movement – love, heartbreak, joy, despair, all in one go. And UNESCO has called it an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity… which is a lengthy way of saying, “This is seriously good stuff.” If you didn’t make it to Española this summer, we are bringing it to you.
Julius Caesar | Tue 21 Oct | 7.30pm
We cannot wait to welcome Tangle’s Julius Caesar to the Main House this October.
Tangle Theatre are the South West’s African Caribbean Theatre Company, and they have a real knack for taking classic plays, shaking them up with African inspired storytelling and live music, and serving them back with a serious punch. This Julius Caesar has it all — politics, power grabs, backstabbing (literally), and betrayal, delivered with high energy and original music performed right there on stage.
And don’t dash off when the curtain falls — stick around for a short and snappy post-show chat with the Tangle team and cast. It’s your chance to dive deeper into the big themes, ask your burning questions, and find out why this version of Shakespeare’s heavyweight political thriller still hits so hard today.
Short Tales of Other Worlds | Tue 4 Nov | 7.30pm
Ever seen a drawing come to life right in front of your eyes? The Paper Cinema pulls it off with a mix of live music, clever pen and ink illustrations, and a healthy dose of stage magic.
The puppeteers and musicians work in full view, and honestly, watching them at work is half the fun. If you like crafts or music or crafts and music – this is for you. They have performed everywhere from tiny village halls to big name museums and film festivals, and their shows have been described as “an illustrated song” and “a meeting of live music and moving drawings.” We just call it unmissable.
We love programming shows for you, but we cannot do it without you.
The truth is, the arts need their audiences more than ever and every ticket you buy helps keep live performance alive. For the price of a takeaway, you can give yourself an unforgettable night out (and save on the calories).
So grab your diary, pick something that makes you think “ooh, yes please”, and book your tickets. Because honestly? Nights out like these are too good to miss and your seat in the audience really does make all the difference.
To view all of our upcoming events, click here!
Kim, Lucy and Vic
Programming Team
