Past Performances

FIVE PLAYS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. The Western Area Final of the All-England Theatre Festival presents plays which have won a Festival. The winner progresses to the national Grand Final Jan Palmer-Sayer gives her adjudication of each play.

Inspired by the story of the mythical wizard, the screening of Northern Ballet’s ‘Merlin’ will take audiences on a sweeping epic adventure of heartbreak, hope and more than a little magic.

After a plane crash, a group of students reach an island. While Ralph rationalizes the procedures, Jack returns to primitivism, using fear of the unknown to control the other boys, hunting and chasing pigs, stealing the possessions of Ralph’s group – and worse…

Quirky Bird Theatre’s popular production of Dennis Kelly’s DNA comes to The Merlin.

“stunning…superb directorial interpretation”

A fast paced and brutal piece, this play hurtles through the dynamics of a crumbling friendship group, following a night of vodka… and murder.

Tri.Art Dance and Theatre School present their 2022 showcase. This delightful evening of dance features all of Tri.Art’s students, from our Dinky Dancers all the way to our Adult Tappers.

This screening was captured live from the Donmar Warehouse in London. An exciting modern production directed by Max Webster, exploring what it means to be English and our relationship to Europe, asking: do we ever get the leaders we deserve?

A brilliant and brutal – often shocking and disturbing – exploration of not the battles of war but the aftermath. While tough and unsparing, this film offers moments of kindness in its portrayal of love, friendship, loyalty and survival.

Once upon a time there were three little pigs… who set off to build their dream homes in the green field on the other side of the river. But who is the grumpy person who lives under the bridge?

Relationships fundamentally influence our health and happiness – and family relationships affect us most profoundly. Join us for an evening with leading psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE as she helps us navigating the challenges of those closest, but not always easiest, of bonds.

Frome College Music department presents a musical extravaganza in support of the Frome Town Council’s twin town Ukrainian refugee appeal. Please join us in fundraising as much as we can for such an important cause.

A brilliantly theatrical play packed with wonderfully layered characters and sparkling with wit, Dangerous Liaisons examines the corruption and cruelty at the top of a louche society about to vaporise in the cauldron of the French Revolution, a society of sexual politics, power games and revenge.

Selwood Academy presents a school production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoa based on the Biblical story of Genesis, which tells of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. It features songs like “Any Dream Will Do”, “Close Every Door” and “Go, Go, Go Joseph”.

We are sorry to announce that we have had to cancel tonight’s performance due to writer, co-producer and performer Hannah Kumari suffering an extreme allergic reaction resulting in her being too poorly to perform. We are hoping to reschedule this event.

Box Office staff will be in touch to refund any tickets purchased.

The moment sperm meets egg, we join the queue for death. So what should we do while we’re waiting in the queue? Help Dr Phil figure it out, or at least die laughing. “Entertainingly subversive” Guardian

“Consistently funny” Sunday Telegraph

Dive into the magical world of Club Origami, an immersive and interactive dance show inviting family audiences to create and imagine ways of moving. The magic of origami sweeps us up on a spirited adventure in a land made purely of paper and play.

Set twelve years before the epic His Dark Materials trilogy, this gripping adaptation revisits Philip Pullman’s fantastical world in which waters are rising and storms are brewing.

Multi-award-winning Merlin Associates New Old Friends are back with another hilarious comedy thriller. Crimes, Camera, Action whisks the audience to golden-era Hollywood and introduces a new lead detective: a world-weary, hard-boiled private-eye in the mould of Humphrey Bogart: Stan Shakespeare. 

Multi-award-winning Mark Bruce Company present a triple bill of cinematic dance theatre.

Green Apples featuring tracks by The White Stripes
Folk Tales set to the evocative music of Martin Simpson
Phantoms, a stunning dance theatre tale of love, tragedy and revenge.

Regarded as ‘Britain’s greatest living playwright’ (Times), Academy and Tony Award-winner Tom Stoppard’s critically acclaimed new play Leopoldstadt is a passionate drama of love, family and endurance.

A joyful evening of theatre and dance, suitable for all the family, from Somerset’s own Kerchief Theatre and aKa Dance.

Christmas with André is guaranteed to warm your hearts and get you in the festive spirit. Join André for his inaugural Christmas concert all from the comfort of the Merlin Theatre. An unforgettable festive treat for the whole family.

Full of humour, wit, a gorgeous, soaring score and heartwarming lessons of friendship, this is the perfect way for families to kick start their festive season!

Directed by The Merlin’s own Claudia Pepler and fully produced, performed and designed by Frome-based Merlin Theatre Productions, this is live, local musical theatre at its finest.

Stand-up poet, comedian and broadcaster, armchair revolutionary and walking shortbread tin, Elvis McGonagall resides at The Graceland Caravan Park somewhere in the back of beyond where he scribbles satirical verse whilst drinking malt whisky and listening to Johnny Cash.

The Weir is a powerful ensemble piece with humour and pathos. Set in a pub in rural Ireland the locals spend their evenings gossiping and telling each other spooky stories. One evening a young woman from Dublin comes in ………

As Project Play enters its third year, following superb productions of The Vicar of Dibley and Allo Allo! this all-time favourite is sure to be yet another big hit.

In 1926, Agatha Christie’s crashed car was discovered in Surrey. She was missing, presumed dead. She was eventually found at a luxury hotel in Harrogate. She claimed amnesia. Did she lie? Did she suffer from amnesia? Was it a publicity stunt? Or was there a darker secret involved?

Come and meet this eclectic group of charming yet cheeky animals, as they discuss the challenges they face in a rapidly changing world. A joyous puppet show inviting people of all ages to join the conversation about animal conservation.

This stunning and original play takes the tragic end of Hamlet and turns it into something very different. Argumentative actors, new characters, and Will Shakespeare himself all feature in Shakespeare Live’s fast-moving and exciting new comedy.

This event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologies for any inconvenience caused. Ticket holders will be contacted to arrange refunds.

This critically acclaimed bold new film brings to life the remarkable backstage spaces of the National Theatre in which desire, dreams and destiny collide to make Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy sing in an entirely new way.

And nothing makes sense

but in telling our story
we learn who we are.

Liv Torc’s Project Haiflu was one of the runaway creative success stories of lockdown. Now thanks to Arts Council England, Liv has created a full-length show using film, theatre, poetry and live music.

A thought-provoking, poignant, dynamic, and semi-immersive theatre collage of the worlds and era that surrounded the “Mother of Free Festivals.” Inspired by the ethos of the hippie, counterculture, and free-festival movements, Something Underground brings you its tribute to Woodstock ’69.

Belgian detective, Artemis Arinae, is set to enjoy a cruise along the Nile when tragedy strikes. All the passengers and staff are suspects and the murder count is growing. Will Arinae’s little grey cells identify the murderer in time? 

After a year online, award winning Tri.art Theatre School are delighted to be back live on stage with their summer school production of the Broadway Junior version of Lionel Bart’s classic musical based on Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist.

Set on board the warship HMS Pinafore, the opera cheerfully mocks such Great British institutions as Class, Patriotism and the Royal Navy, faithfully performed by a reduced cast on a beautiful nautical set.

Claudio loves Hero, and Benedick hates Beatrice. This is just as well, because Hero loves Claudio and Beatrice hates Benedick. Everyone laughs when Don Pedro plays a trick on Benedick and Beatrice, letting each think that they are secretly loved by the other.

Filled with live music, colourful characters and puppetry, this wonderful family musical has something for everyone! Bring along your picnics, blankets, folding chairs and friends and family!

Will Prospero grant Ariel her freedom and be restored to his dukedom? Will Ferdinand and Miranda’s love overcome all? Folksy’s wonderful production is filled with live music, colourful characters, enchantment and a little touch of magic.

FOUR PLAYS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

The Western Area Final of the All-England Theatre Festival presents plays which have won a Festival. The winner progresses to the national Grand Final. Nancy Heath gives her adjudication of each play.

Frome Festival

Share a Sunday afternoon on ECOS celebrating the art of the short story, including Flash Fiction Frenzy (12.00–2.00pm) and the Frome Festival Short Story Competition Prize-giving (2.30-4.30 pm).

Share a Sunday afternoon on ECOS celebrating the art of the short story, including Flash Fiction Frenzy (12.00–2.00pm) and the Frome Festival Short Story Competition Prize-giving (2.30-4.30 pm).

Frome Festival

Direct from the Edinburgh Fringe 2019 via a year of lockdown, here at last is a brand new comedy and cooking show for 2021.

Frome Festival

The Tea Pad sound draws on myriad influences – from Hank Williams to Django Reinhardt, Tom Waits to The Beatles – yet ultimately sounds like nobody else, that North Eastern Swing style that’s utterly their own.

Frome Festival

The Fabulous Red Diesel are riot of original new music, amazing vocals delivering wonderful soaring melodies, a skin-tight rhythm section and even the occasional tuba.

Frome Festival

This event has been cancelled. Our Box Office will contact you in due course. We apologies for any inconvenience.

Frome Festival

Open mic plus Special Guest: Frome’s sensational Liv Torc

With prizes donated by Hunting Raven Books and Frome Wholefoods

Frome Festival

Paul Foot is a unique talent who has inspired other comedians (notably Russell Brand) with his inventive, quirky and bizarre trains of thought.

Frome Festival

This is a show about grief. This is a show about loss. Just not how you’d expect.

Dance Like It Never Happened is the funniest, most joyful and uplifting show you will ever see about feeling totally bereaved.

Frome Festival

Live Bluegrass, American Old-time musicians bring new life to iconic Hollywood silent movie Beggars Of Life. Kate Lissauer (Buffalo Gals), Jason Titley and Leon Hunt, reveal a thrilling, witty approach to this 1928 Louise Brooks film with their original soundtrack.

This show has been moved inside due to the bad weather. Social distancing measures will be in place for your safety. Please email merlintheatre@gmail.com if you have any concerns.