Theatre Severn’s programme and marketing manager Adam Burgan, who has brought many major shows to the town including the musical Blood Brothers, is leaving to manage his own theatre in Somerset.

Mr Burgan, 28, helped oversee the theatre’s move this year from the Music Hall to its premises by the Welsh Bridge.

He will become theatre manager for The Octagon Theatre in Yeovil.

Mr Burgan today said he had thoroughly enjoyed working in Shrewsbury and first started working as a steward and in the box office when he was 17.

He said: “It was working there which inspired me to go into performing arts management.”

Mr Burgan then studied at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts before taking on several roles including for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

He arrived back in Shrewsbury in 2003 as marketing manager at the Music Hall and later took on the role of programming.

“Over the years, the Music Hall has been a bit like a family. It has been so lovely working with these people and I will miss so many,” said Mr Burgan.

He said one of his highlights was seeing Blood Brothers shown at Theatre Severn this month.

He said: “I just felt so proud of seeing the show I booked and seeing the audience’s reaction to it.

“Another highlight was seeing Romany Wood come together, which was a relief, and directing the theatre group for Viv Kelly.”

Mr Burgan said he was looking forward to managing his own theatre.

“I have learned so much in Shrewsbury and I’m looking forward to taking some of that to Yeovil and also learning from what they have been doing there,” he said.

It is a really exciting opportunity.”

He added: “I hope they find a theatre manager for Shrewsbury who will be able to take it forward and make it become all that it can be.

“It has nearly been open for six months and we have already achieved a huge amount but there is so much more Theatre Severn can offer.”