Past Performances

Internationally renowned DV8 Physical Theatre bring their powerful new production to the National Theatre, fusing movement and spoken word to create a touching performance. Broadcast live at the Merlin Theatre.

Richard Armitage stars in Arthur Miller’s classic American drama, based on Salem’s infamous witch trials, brought vividly to life in this visceral new production by internationally acclaimed director Yaël Farber.

This ghostly tale of Past, Present and Future is brought to life in an exciting new musical adaptation by the award winning Merlin Theatre Company. Keeping true to the original text, it draws upon the themes of time, family and society’s ills in a tale to warm even the coldest of hearts.

We are very sorry but this show has been cancelled. We hope to reschedule in 2015.

UK Touring Theatre returns to the Merlin Theatre with the World Premiere of a brand new English translation of A Doll’s House; Henrik Ibsen’s groundbreaking play about marriage, money, and the freedom of women in the late 19thcentury.

The Merlin is delighted to welcome the UK’s largest youth drama festival to our stage

A fun-filled workshop which gives kids the chance to create their own crime fighting characters – FREE when you book your ticket to the show

Merlin favourite Pip Utton returns with his latest offering, featuring the talented dancer Marguerite Chaigne. Welcome to Casanova’s memories, his dreams, his conquests and his broken hearts, his triumphs and his defeats. And welcome to his seduction secrets…

National Theatre Live’s thrilling broadcast of Frankenstein returns to cinemas and theatres for a limited time, due to unprecedented audience demand. Tonight’s screening will star Benedict Cumberbatch as the creature.

Adapted from Anthony Horowitz’ novel of the same name, The Falcon’s Malteser follows hopelessly inept private detective Tim Diamond and his sharp witted brother Nick on an hilarious and thrilling case with comedy, songs, puppetry, slapstick and a whole lots of laughs. Family show for 8 yrs +

Our favourite workshop of the year is back, ready to thrill and chill this Halloween.

National Theatre Live’s thrilling broadcast of Frankenstein returns to cinemas and theatres for a limited time, due to unprecedented audience demand. Tonight’s screening will star Johnny Lee Miller as the creature.

The Merlin Theatre is proud to support local performer, Lottie Ball, who is raising funds for professional training at Laines. Enjoy entertainment from a talented cast of local performers as we help Lottie reach her target!

This classic fairytale now gets the Lyngo treatment so expect lots of surprises and beautiful images as Patrick Lynch (from Cbeebies) tells the gripping story of Jack who sells his cow for 5 magic beans and finds himself in the land above the clouds>

Two assassins. A dumb waiter. The order for steak and chips is strangely shocking. What happens if they can’t deliver? Claustrophobic, menacing and hilarious – classic Pinter. An internationally prize-winning company, Cross Cut’s work has been seen in Ireland, New York, Italy and around the UK.

A musical glimpse into the life of seventeen dancers auditioning for spots in a Broadway Musical. There is no glorifying or sensationalising. These dancers aren’t stars. This is the working class of Broadway performers; the chorus line.

“Brother my sponsor has pulled out on me and I want to stay in school. Can you help? Ronnie x”

A true story spanning 4000 miles and thousands of pounds invested. Exploring the murky processes behind bettering oneself in Uganda.

It took Michael Portillo little more than 10 years to get a seat in the Commons and then rise in power and esteem to a point where he was a favoured leader of his party and possible future PM. Tonight he will tell his extraordinary story and take questions from the audience afterwards.

Returning for the last time the Merlin Theatre where it all began, Sgt. Pepper’s Only Dartboard Band are here to remind us why they’re one of the most internationally respected and widely known Beatles act.

A one woman show telling the adventures of Annie Wilde through a musical drama that draws on class, privilege, hope and disappointment in war time England.

The fastest-selling production in the Young Vic’s history, Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire will be broadcast live from their London home by National Theatre Live. With Gillian Anderson as Blanche DuBois, Ben Foster as Stanley and Vanessa Kirby as Stella.

A mesmerising, soaring evocation of the Eternal City and its contemporary inhabitants.

“A shimmering coup de cinema to make your heart burst” Robbie Collin, Telegraph

Helen McCrory (The Last of the Haussmans) returns to the National Theatre to take the title role in Euripides’ powerful tragedy, in a new version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell.

This year’s Tri.art Summer School is the award winning musical Oliver! Students from the Summer school work hard to pull together a full blown musical in a fortnight.

Award-winning, internationally-touring theatre company Illyria return to the Merlin to take on one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. Expect a gripping story and the dazzling swordplay for which Illyria has an unmatched reputation.

Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan feature in the highly anticipated production of David Hare’s Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry and broadcast from the West End by National Theatre Live.

New York State of Mind is a new musical that takes place in New York in the 1920s. The prohibition has been announced to all states of America, banning the importation and consumption of alcohol, ending the life of the night scene. Or so it would seem….

We are sorry to announce this performance has been cancelled

There will however be a performance at Bridgwater Arts Centre on Friday 18 July

A Frome Festival Performance Jeremy Hardy is the hilarious comedian known for his quick wit and anti-establishment politics, with a prolific career that has spanned three decades.

A Frome Festival Performance Sharp, creative observational comedy from teh award-winning, charismatic comedian, Seann Walsh. The evening will include support from Romesh Ranganathan, nominee for best newcomer at the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award 2013.

A subtle study of love and loyalties in Stasi-era rural East Germany. Directed by Christian Petzold

A Frome Festival Performance The South West Collective’s COUNT ME IN is a spoken word theatre show about the numbers in our lives. They will also run a free workshop at 2pm, where the words you write will be part of the show. Can we count you in?

A Frome Festival Performance Miracle celebrates 35 years of producing engaging, inventive and enjoyable theatre by bringing together a team of talented collaborators, past and present, to create a fresh and musical adaptation Shakespeare’s timeless play that will delight audiences of all ages. The Tempest will be an outdoor performance

A FROME FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE Join Simeon Wood, live in concert for one night only. Reknowned for the dexterity of his playing, Simeon has a repertoire including flute, celtic whistles, pan pipes and even an NHS Crutch.

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School return to the Merlin with Georges Feydeau’s high spirited romp. Sauce For The Goose is stuffed with preening characters knitting their legs in sexual frustration as master French farceur Feydeau’s sparkling play switches from riotous farce to barbed social satire.

Armed with a stage full of instruments and a box of chalk, FINE CHISEL’s award-winning actor-musicians conjure the rush of waves, the buzz of a 1960s pirate radio station and the far-from-dry world of marine mammal bioacoustics.

Warminster School stage a magical retelling of this classic novel by Russell Hoban.

A riotous exposure of entrepreneurial greed by Olivier Award-winning playwright Alan Ayckbourn. A Small Family Business returns to the National Theatre for the first time since its celebrated premiere in 1987, when it won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play.

A richly unfamiliar, convention-twisting black comedy, directed by Peter Strickland

In a scintillating fusion of heart wrenching vocals, explosive footwork and virtuoso guitar playing, Jaleo return to Britain after three years with their latest new stage show ‘A Compás’, brimming over with the intoxicating rhythms, palpable energy and joie de vivre which has become synonymous with the company.

Join Tri.art for a delightful evening as students from the drama groups, hip hop classes and dance classes perform a wonderful mixed bill of theatre and dance.

Geminus is a visually and musically stimulating show, featuring dance, rhythm and object manipulation and tailor-made for Early Years.

The first outdoor performance of 2014! Following their enormous successes with JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH and FANTASTIC MR FOX, and a record-breaking sell-out season of THE TWITS, Illyria returns with yet another Roald Dahl classic full of (literally) larger-than-life characters, plenty to join in with, and just a twist of malicious fun!

A surreal, hilarious and entertaining double-bill from up-and-coming writer/performer Tom Wainwright. His work has been produced by Bristol Old Vic, Theatre Royal Bath, Tobacco Factory, Theatre Bristol, MAYK, Myrtle Theatre, ATC, Paines Plough, Hull Truck, and BBC Radio 4, now you can catch him in Frome!

Following its smash-hit live broadcast in 2012, the National Theatre production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time returns to venues.

Fifty young people from Frome Youth Choir combine their voices with a live band to provide an afternoon of unforgettable musical entertainment.

Endearing and hard-hitting drama-documentary about the redemptive and liberating power of art. Directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani

Courage Performers have a brand new treat for you to enjoy, a new musical production which they will be taking to the Edinburgh Festival in the summer of 2014. Fun for the whole family. You’ll leave with a smile on your face and a song in your heart!