About Us

Built in 1974, the Merlin Theatre is a registered charity run by a small team of professional staff and a dedicated group of volunteers. It has a 240-seat auditorium with a smaller, outdoor amphitheatre (ECOS) and is situated on the campus of Frome Community College.

We programme theatre, dance, comedy, live literature and music by professional and non-professional companies, show films and run regular classes and workshops and one-off, participatory projects.

The Merlin is a venue without pretension, where professional and non-professional artists, audiences, and participants – new and established- feel at home. It is a venue where the quality of work is consistently high, where ticket prices are affordable, and where performance and participation are valued equally.

Our Purpose
To provide the people of Frome and the surrounding area with excellent, memorable experiences in the performing arts.

We believe that opportunities to enjoy the arts, whether as a member of an audience or as a participant in a production, a workshop, or a class, can significantly increase the well-being and quality of life of individuals, of communities, and of society as a whole.