July 1, 2026
Hello and welcome to our July newsletter. This month we’re sharing a great opportunity for local artists and makers, an invitation to join us at Chill on the Hill, a short Great Mead update and a useful resource for anyone making or presenting theatre across the South West.
We’ve heard from Jemma Pattrick in Milborne Port, who has shared this opportunity:
Milborne Port Village Hall is a friendly community venue in South Somerset, welcoming artists, theatre-makers, musicians, performers and local creative groups. The hall offers flexible space for rehearsals, workshops, classes, works-in-progress, creative events and live performances. Whether you’re bringing people together, testing a new idea or getting ready to meet an audience, they’d love to welcome you.
To chat about availability or arrange a look around, contact Jemma Pattrick at booking@milborneportvillagehall.org.uk or call 07946 333542.
You can also find Milborne Port Village Hall on its website and Facebook.
Plans for Chill on the Hill are coming together beautifully, and we’d love you to join us on Sunday 30 August for a relaxed, family-friendly celebration of nature, food, arts and community at Ham Hill Country Park. Whatever the weather, there’ll be plenty to enjoy, from live performances and music to creative workshops, children and family activities and delicious local food. It’s a lovely way to round off the summer holidays, slow down and reconnect.
You can find out more and book here.
This year we’re doing things a bit differently. The day will begin at the new Ham Hill café and visitor centre with workshops and activities, before everyone heads off in a lively drumming procession to the stone circle.
One of the day’s highlights will be On the Shoulders, a new circus show from Pirates of the Carabina. Beautiful, surprising and unlike anything else you’ll see this summer, it blends aerial performance, circus, dance, puppetry, verbatim theatre and live music, all performed in, on and around a spectacular giant female puppet. On the Shoulders brings humour and beauty to real stories of women living in the South West, exploring collective strength and intergenerational connection.
We’re also delighted to welcome Somerset-based artists Sarah Mooney, Lucy Hartland-Mann and Yeovil Art Space, with more still to be announced.
Food is part of the celebration too, and we’re pleased to be supporting local producers. New for this year, A Slice of Salerno Pizza Horsebox from East Chinnock will be joining us with pizza, and ARVO Caffeine will also be serving hot drinks, perfect for sipping while you sit back and soak up the atmosphere.
It may have seemed a little quiet on the Great Mead front recently, so we wanted to share a quick update.
There’s plenty happening behind the scenes, especially around future planning and new funding applications. Last year’s pilot has opened up some promising opportunities but, as we know, good things take time to fund and make happen. We’ll share more as plans develop.
In the meantime, Great Mead is looking especially lovely, so if you get the chance, do spend a little time there enjoying the peace, trees, land and stream. You’ll find it at Great Mead, Zembard Lane, Chard, TA20 1BZ.
Routes In is a resource hosted by Taunton Brewhouse and facilitated by Kim Burnell (Artistic Programme Co-Manager). Created with regional partners, the database helps artists and companies connect with venues and support organisations across the South West. It also includes a useful glossary of financial deal terms commonly used by venues.
We hope you have a great summer. Keep an eye on our website for more theatre and Cultivate activity over the next few months.
All good wishes,
The Take Art Theatre and Cultivate Team
