The Octagon Theatre

Creative activities that provide emotional and physical support to individuals with mental health and physical support to individuals with mental health and long-term health conditions, delivered in partnership with NHS trusts, community organisations, and voluntary services.

Our projects provide support for individuals to take part in creative arts activities, in a nurturing environment.

Projects including:

Parkinson’s Dance in Langport, a movement & dance project designed specifically to address the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Movement Through Cancer in Yeovil, a movement & dance project designed specifically for people living with or at any point of their cancer journey.

Time Together in Wincanton, a music-making project aimed at parents feeling low at the birth of their child.

Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra in Chard, a music-making project aimed at adults who have reported mental health challenges or would like extra support.

Parkinson’s Dance is a fun and creative movement-based session, designed specifically to address the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Sessions are led by a team of two specially trained practitioners, using the Parkinson’s Dance Science model - a marriage of physiotherapy and creative dance with researched and evidenced underpinnings. Sessions feature a variety of dance styles, focusing on: posture, strength, coordination, balance, creativity, suppleness and most of all, fun. Participants will be supported throughout with seated and standing options, plus time to connect and chat over a cup of tea or coffee at the end of every session.

When: Mondays 10am – 11:30am

Venue: Ridgway Hall, Langport, TA10 9PQ 

Facilitators: Carrie Madgwick & Sammy Gillingham

For more info and to take part in our Parkinson’s Dance project: Parkinson’s Dance

Hear from participants of our Parkinson’s Dance project in this short film created last year:

Movement Through Cancer is a movement and dance project designed specifically for people living with or at any point of their cancer journey. The sessions are led by a team of specially trained practitioners, with support of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and The Octagon Theatre. The creative dance and movement-based sessions are aimed at those undergoing treatment, in recovery and those affected by cancer to explore moving and dancing to music in a relaxed, uplifting and fun environment. Participants will be supported throughout with seated and standing options, plus time to connect and chat over a cup of tea or coffee at the end of every session.

When: Mondays 1:30pm – 3pm

Venue: Ridgway Hall, Langport, TA10 9PQ 

Facilitators: Carrie Madgwick & Sammy Gillingham

For more info and to take part in our Movement Through Cancer project: Movement Through Cancer

Hear from participants of our Movement Through Cancer project in this short film created last year:

Time Together is a music-making project aimed at new parents and their babies aged 0 – 12months to experience music together. The Octagon Theatre are working in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) to deliver this 8-week music making project at The Balsam Centre in Wincanton. Musicians from BSO will lead participants and their babies through sensory and creative based music activities aimed at increasing bonding. Parents and babies will go on a creative journey through making their own music, using their voices and having a go at playing some instruments. Each session will end with tea and coffee and an opportunity for connecting with other parents. 

The Time Together music sessions run weekly for a block of 8 sessions on Tuesday’s from 10am- 11:30am, at Memorial Hall in Wincanton.

For more details and to book your place on the project, contact our Box Office at westlandsyeovil@yeovil.gov.uk

Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra is a music-making project aimed at adults who have reported mental health challenges or would like extra support. The Octagon Theatre are working in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO), ARK at Egwood and The WATCH Project in Chard, to deliver this weekly project. Musicians from BSO lead participants through specialist support-led activity that focuses on music making and connection with green space to positively impact participants mental health and wellbeing. The Wellbeing Orchestra gives adults the opportunity to listen to, create and play music alongside other people in a safe and supportive environment. Each session includes time for tea or coffee and an opportunity for connecting with others. 

The Somerset Wellbeing Orchestra run weekly on Tuesday’s from 1pm-3pm, at ARK at Egwood in Merriott.

For more details and to book your place on the project, contact our Box Office at westlandsyeovil@yeovil.gov.uk