First show at Brewhouse Theatre

Tonight was a big night for the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton - after being closed for more than a year it finally re-opened its doors. Local scouts and guides were the first to tread its boards.

It closed suddenly in February last year after it ran out of money. Volunteers took over and tonight are hosting a very special show to mark what they hope will be a bright new future for the venue. Kevin Langdon reports.

The Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton opens its first show today under new management. The theatre closed in suddenly in February last year after it ran out of money. It's since been taken over by a team of volunteers, called the Taunton Theatre Association.

The Council has given them a five-year lease.

A community group is to take over the running of Taunton's Brewhouse Theatre.

Councillors have tonight approved plans by Taunton Theatre Association to reopen the 350-seat venue in the new year.

The Brewhouse closed in February after the company which owned it went into administration. 50 members of staff lost their jobs.

The Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton has been saved after councillors voted tonight to buy the lease from administrators.

The Brewhouse closed suddenly in February after 35 years as an arts centre. More than 50 people lost their jobs.

The council will now hand over the running of the venue to a community arts group.

Administrators have confirmed that hundreds of people who bought advanced tickets from Taunton's Brewhouse Theatre won't be getting their money back.

The Brewhouse closed without warning in February after 35 years as an arts centre. Fifty staff lost their jobs. This afternoon administrators said there would be no cash available for unsecured creditors.

Taunton Deane Borough Council is hoping to take over the building.

Councillor Ian Morrell has welcomed the councils decision to try to reopen the Brewhouse but has also said caution is needed:

Taunton Deane Borough Council has voted unanimously to try to buy the leasehold for the Brewhouse Theatre.

The venue went into administration in February. Final Bids for the theatre must be put forward by Friday and we understand one offer from the council has already been rejected.

Administrators for the Brewhouse in Taunton say there has been "encouraging" levels of interest in the theatre and its facilities.

It comes on the day Taunton Deane Borough Council discuss making a bid for the theatre.

Taunton Dean Borough Council will discuss making a bid for The Brewhouse Theatre today.

It would not mean the authority would take on the running of the theatre though.

The public arts and performance hub went into administration in February leaving more than 50 members of staff redundant.