A THEATRE show which was set to be performed at a bar which was damaged in a fire has been saved by a nearby pub in Somerset.

The White Hart in Wells has stepped in to host one of many Wells Theatre Festival Shows after the Tramways bar caught fire in April.

Festival organisers were planning to turn the Tramways into an old seafaring pub called The Shaggy Dog Tale for a show of the same name, due to be performed on Sunday, June 23 as part of this year’s festival.

The show - which is a raucous spectacle of music, storytelling, and audience participation - is set in the pub, so a venue enough for a performance space that includes a bar was paramount for the production.

The White Hart on Sadler Street soon stepped in and saved the day, making available their Hart’s Head function room for The Shaggy Dog Tale, also agreeing to sell tickets for all the shows at the festival.

Somerset County Gazette: Firefighters outside Tramways.Firefighters outside Tramways. (Image: Jamie Grover, Newsquest)

Tickets for Wells Theatre Festival are available at www.wellstheatrefestival.org and from the from Wells Market every Saturday in the run up to the Festival (card or cash). Tickets are also available from The White Hart, Sadler Street (cash only).

Neil Johnson, Associate Director of Wells Theatre Festival said, “I am relieved to hear no one was hurt in the blaze at Tramways.

"I had no idea of the devastation it has caused, and we all wish Dave and Emma and all the staff the best for a speedy renovation.

"However, the festival was left with another potential disaster, if we couldn’t find another suitable venue for our show.

"We are all so grateful to Ade and all the staff at the White Hart for stepping in and offering us their function room The Harts Head.  

"It’s perfect for what we need. It even has its own bar”. 

Ade Price, Manager of The White Hart said: “We were all so sorry to hear about Tramways and we do hope that they will be up and running again very soon.

"Everyone at the White Hart is very excited to welcome the Wells Theatre Festival and proud to be a venue this year.

"We can offer audiences to the show excellent beer and wine and a warm welcome for what is going to be a great show.”