Amulet Included In Theatres At Risk Register 2026
Theatres Trust have published their annual register of theatres under threat and the Amulet has once again been included.
This year’s Theatres at Risk Register consists of 39 theatres, which all have strong architectural merit, cultural heritage or value to the local community as performance venues. We are thrilled that the Amulet has once again been included in this list as it provides much needed support for current and future funding bids.
They noted that it’s a unique part of Shepton Mallet’s heritage. Opened in 1975 as The Centre, it was gifted to the town by the Showering family as part of a major regeneration project, creating a lasting cultural legacy. The building is a rare example of Brutalist architecture in Somerset and is home to what is believed to be the UK’s last surviving motorised seating ceiling, an extraordinary piece of theatre engineering. For decades, The Amulet has brought theatre, live music and film to the community, making it a vital cultural hub for Shepton Mallet and the surrounding area.
The risks they pointed out included repeated proposals for conversion into flats and retail space. It remains vulnerable because redevelopment could permanently remove one of the area’s few theatre venues and a cultural gift originally intended for the people of Shepton Mallet.
They added The Amulet has huge potential to become the cultural heart of Shepton Mallet once again. The theatre remains largely intact, meaning it could be brought back into use for live performance, cinema, arts, and community events with relatively little alteration. With no comparable venue in the town and strong local demand, community support has been overwhelming. Since 2023, our campaign has been working to secure the building, backed by positive public consultation and successful pop-up events. Our vision is to restore The Amulet as a thriving community-owned venue that not only brings arts and culture back to Shepton Mallet but also helps drive the regeneration of the town centre.
