TOWN Hall Arts have opened their first season of professional live performances, visual art exhibitions and workshops at the Town Hall, following its recent success in securing funding from Arts Council England, Wiltshire Council and Trowbridge Town Council.

Town Hall Arts was the name chosen by the Trowbridge Town Hall Trust for its operating arm, reflecting two of the Trust's main aims, to regenerate the hall and promote the arts, and linking to the previous very successful Trowbridge Arts series.

The Autumn Season began with the first monthly Youth Music event Unsigned, led by local young musician Alice McNeil who invites other talented young musicians to perform to an audience aged over 14. There is also music on offer from more seasoned musicians Kit Holmes and Al Greenwood on October 1, an evening of enthralling and energetic blues-driven roots with a soul sensibility. The Town Hall once again hosts the annual Trowbridge Village Pump Club's Night for Dorothy House on November 25, which will feature many local favourites including Mike Scott, Rosie Upton, Peter MacGregor and Merv Grist.

The first theatre performance of the season is Dracula on October 21, by Wiltshire-based company Last Baguette, described as ‘Hilarious, dark and splurting – a horror in English and French for adults and courageous children’. Young audiences will also enjoy The Boy Who Bit Picasso on November 5, a hands on hilarious family show for four-eight-year-olds hat introduces one of the 20th century’s most influential artists through the eyes of a young boy.

Ministry Of Entertainment return on November 18 with their great humour and lovely music, this time with ‘Mrs Gerrish’s Guesthouse, set in Weston-Super-Mare in 1958. The award-winning Pip Utton returns also, with a performance of Dickens on December 16, an ideal festive theatre visit for friends and colleagues.

The season ends with a beautiful family show for Christmas, Jack Frost on December 17. Perfect for over-threes and up, there is also a 'relaxed' afternoon performances aimed at families with children who are nervous of the theatre, find being still for long periods of time difficult or have special educational needs or autism.

There is also a full programme of workshops with Trowbridge Arts Youth Company, which begin again from Monday (26 September) for young people aged 10-16. This term the company will be working on a play as part of the National Theatre’s Connections programme. A 10-week term costs just £60, which includes a ticket to see one of the professional performances, and bursaries to help with the fee are available.

This autumn Town Hall Arts welcomes its very first Poet In Residence, Josephine Corcoran who will be offering poetry short courses for people of all abilities over the next year as well as a one off Poetry Walkshop on October.

Josephine, whose work as a playwright and short story writer has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and whose poetry is widely published, has set up a Poetry Society Stanza which is meeting on the second Monday of every month from 6-8pm.

Stanzas poetry groups are open to anyone with an interest in reading and writing poetry. There is no need to book, just come along on the night.

The Town Hall's popular Tea Dances with Mike Freke continue on the last Thursday of every month at 2pm. They cost just £5 and include tea and cake.

Visual artists at any stage of their development can work with Dr Michelle Whiting on her Exploring Drawing courses, which began yesterday (Thursday 22 September).

A full programme of arts exhibitions will be open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm. Currently exhibiting is a fascinating Townscape of Trowbridge painted directly onto the wall of the gallery by two local artists whilst blindfolded. From September 30 the Town Hall is hugely proud to again be exhibiting the Derwent Art Prize winners, which showcases a diverse range of 71 artworks created entirely using pencil.

‘We are massively grateful to have received ongoing support to be able to bring together Trowbridge Town Hall with a diverse arts offer to create Town Hall Arts," said Tracy Sullivan, Director of Town Hall Arts. "We have a lot of work to do yet to develop the many aspects of Town Hall Arts to ensure this hugely important building continues to make a real difference to the community for years to come, so we really hope people come and discover us by visiting our free exhibitions, coming to see one of our brilliant professional productions or trying out our workshops."

To find out more about what’s on offer and book tickets visit www.trowbridgearts.com, call into the Town Hall or Tourist Information Centre for a brochure, or call 01225 774306 to have one posted to you.