Octagon Theatre Refurbishment Project

A Preliminary Market Engagement Event will be hosted online by Somerset Council on Thursday 19 February 2026 at 15:30

Suppliers should use the messaging function on the portal to request the meeting link:

Portal address - supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login ↗

Listing - ERFX1002793 - Octagon Theatre Refurbishment Project

The meeting will be hosted on Microsoft Teams - the link can be accessed through a web browser and does not require that you have Microsoft Teams installed.

The Preliminary Market Engagement Event is intended for the Authority's officers to share information with regards to this contract.

The Draft Agenda for the Preliminary Market Engagement Event will be as follows:

• Introductions
• Design Scope and Constraints
• Procurement Process
• Conditions of Contract - NEC4
• Questions
• Closing Information

Attendance or non-attendance will not prejudice any supplier's participation in any subsequent procurement exercise/s.

The slides, information presented, and any questions & responses provided will be made available following the event.

The publication of this preliminary market notice starts the market engagement process for Somerset Council's (the Authority's) for the refurbishment and improvement works. The Authority wishes to engage with potential suppliers with an expertise in the successful delivery of similar works and provide an overview of the Authority's proposed approach and procurement process. The Authority wishes to enter into a NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract for this work. The objective of the Authority is to deliver the following outcomes:

• The replacement/renewal of the plant, machinery and physical infrastructure of the building - investment to meet current compliance requirements and provide resilience.
• Improving accessibility for all, including additional accessible toilets throughout the building for customers, a changing places facility and an accessible dressing room, also with accessible toilet and shower.
• Renewing and improving the auditorium and rehearsal space for a better audience experience and wider participation.
• Reorganisation and significant improvement of front of house facilities - significant benefits for audience experience, particularly for trading incomes from food and drink.
• Backstage accessibility improvements to ensure comprehensive accessibility.
• Plans to improve the environmental impact of the venue - energy efficiency measures/sustainable practices.
• Increased revenue from front-of-house facilities.
• Improvements to the stage house and backstage area will significantly improve the technical aspects of our productions. Raising the roof will enable the team to fly cloths out and a backstage crossover will support the ambitions of the theatre programme and talented local community groups.

The Authority is publishing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice to inform the market of its intention regarding the above.

Key elements of the project include:

• New build extension
• Repairs, upgrades and refurbishment of the existing building fabric such as new roof, insulation, cladding, doors, windows.
• Auditorium Refurbishment: The main auditorium will undergo a full refurbish-ment, including new seating, carpets, and layout improvements.
• Participatory Studio, Enhanced Café Bar, Front of House and Customer Facili-ties Customer facilities will be substantially improved, including a major in-crease in the number and accessibility of toilets. This will include:

o Toilets on each level of the venue

o Gender-neutral toilet options

o Additional accessible toilets

o A Changing Places facility to meet the needs of those with complex dis-abilities

• The redevelopment will ensure full accessibility throughout the venue. En-hancements include:
• Lift access to all floors

o Accessible toilets and showers both front-of-house and backstage

o Improved circulation for audiences, performers, and staff

o Backstage & Technical Enhancements: Substantial improvements to the stage house and backstage areas

• Key upgrades include:

o Raising the stage house roof to accommodate a double-purchase coun-terweight flying system that will mean the theatre will be able to fly stage cloths out and support more technically challenging productions

o Installation of a backstage crossover

o Structural interventions to adjust the existing build

o Mechanical and Electrical works

o Landscaping works (hard and soft)

o Fit out of kitchens, WCs, public areas

o Specialist theatre fit out including stage engineering, acoustics and the-atrical systems