Past Performances

If you like jazz and swing music with a twist of pop you’ll love the sounds of Tom Carpenter and his band. Will I Am describes him as ‘freakin’ awesome’.

This event is a joint fundraiser for Merlin Theatre and Tourettes Action.

Simon Godwin (Man and Superman) directs George Farquhar’s wild comedy of love and cash. The ‘Beaux’: Mr Aimwell and Mr Archer, two charming, dissolute young men who have blown their fortunes in giddy London. Shamed and debt-ridden, they flee to provincial Lichfield. Their ‘Stratagem’: to marry for money.

Othello is the greatest general of his age. A fearsome warrior, loving husband and revered defender of Venice against its enemies.

But he is also an outsider whose victories have created enemies of his own, men driven by prejudice and jealousy to destroy him.

Following the huge successes of Oliver! and Singin’ in the Rain, Tri.art students perform one of the greatest musicals of all time. The dark theme and the focus on social problems still resonate today.

Tim Minchin’s musical masterpiece about a girl who dares to change her destiny features five much-loved songs with linking passages and excerpts creating a wonderful mini version of the current west end favourite!

The workshop will take place between Monday 10 and Friday 14 August with a performance on 14 August. Booking with a deposit is essential.

Sorry – we’re not able to take bookings for this workshop on line at the moment. Please call the Box Office 01373 465949 to book a place.

Everyone wants to marry mild-mannered Bianca. No-one wants to marry her older sister Kate. Their father won’t let anyone marry Bianca until a husband can be found for Kate – but no-one knows anyone mad enough to take her on. Until Petruchio comes to town…

A story about choice: about a woman paralysed by decision. Told through physical performance, story-telling and animation, we watch as she dangles from buildings, journeys through micro-landscapes and dances in the rain.

In the melting pot of Venice, trade is God. With its ships plying the globe, the city opens its arms to all, as long as they come prepared to do business and there is profit to be made.

With the gold flowing all is well, but when a contract between Bassanio and Shylock is broken, simmering racial tensions boil over. A wronged father, and despised outsider, Shylock looks to exact the ultimate price for a deal sealed in blood.

Frome’s finest musical theatre performers attempt to produce a rock musical loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème in just 24 hours. Can they do it?

Everyman is successful, popular and riding high when Death comes calling. He is forced to abandon the life he has built and embark on a last, frantic search to recruit a friend, anyone, to speak in his defence. But Death is close behind, and time is running out…

Michael Pennington, one of the most respected and learned actors, star of stage, screen and radio, reads from his recently published autobiography Let Me Play the Lion Too: How to be an Actor.

One of the finest singer-songwriters of his generation, presenting songs from his superb solo albums The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook and of course from the famous Squeeze back catalogue including Labelled With Love, Tempted and of course, Up the Junction.

It is the night of Shakespeare’s funeral. The mourners have all gone home, leaving his wife Anne to remember her life with the most talented playwright the world has ever seen. Or was he?

Cornwall’s’ award winning Miracle Theatre takes a long-awaited visit to the Wild West with this brand new spaghetti western for lovers of open-air theatre.

Olivier Award winner Sara Kestelman and BAFTA-nominated Leo Aylen ask women and men some impudent questions about men and women and turn man-woman clichés upside down.

Join Romesh Ranganathan as he hits the road with his eagerly anticipated brand new show ‘Rom Wasn’t Built In A Day’.

Join Tri.Art Dance Academy as we journey through the portrait gallery and bring the artworks to life through a series of dance.

An award-winning hilarious take on Cervantes’ timeless novel.

Two feisty señoritas and a downtrodden Englishman take on Don Quixote’s quest accompanied only by an otherworldly virtuoso guitarist.

A live feature-film premiere: the events that shook Suffolk in 2006 when the quiet rural town of Ipswich was shattered by the discovery of the bodies of five women…

A brand new production of Shakespeare’s most enduringly popular play of love and intrigue, magic and celebration set on that most dangerous of nights when fairies are abroad and nothing is as it seems…

With their work rooted in the ridiculous, LeNavet Bete presents a physical comedy influenced by the world-famous detective. Dick Tracy promises to have the bad guys in handcuffs and the audience in stitches.

Bored with his chores, the apprentice waves his wand and a broom magically fetches water for him. But he can’t find a spell to stop it. In desperation he saws it in half – and everything spirals out of control…

The Freedom Theatre brings its latest production on its first UK tour: the untold accounts by the exiled fighters who sought sanctuary in the Church of the Nativity, of an event that has taken on almost mythical proportions.

A dazzling programme of ballet, neoclassical, contemporary and narrative dance. The company’s young and dynamic dancers showcase their talent with a diverse performance of newly commissioned works and celebrated revivals.

Come and play down on the farm with Tony and Picasso!

Storytelling, music and lots of chances to make your own art – this hands-on family show introduces one of the 20th century’s most influential artists through the eyes of a young boy.

Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient, Schindler’s List; Oedipus at the National Theatre) plays Jack Tanner in this exhilarating reinvention of Shaw’s witty, provocative classic.

Dance theatre at its most thrilling. Set against the imagined backdrop of New York’s world famous, iconic Empire State Building, five outstanding male performers inhabit the world of the heroic construction workers of 1930.

Frome Drama Club presents Tom Jones, Joan Macalpine’s riotous dramatisation of Henry Fielding’s great picaresque novel. This bawdy 18th century romp sees Tom Jones, Squire Allworthy’s adopted son, falling victim to the charms of one rustic wench after another.

Acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love, Arcadia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead) returns to the National Theatre with his highly-anticipated new play The Hard Problem, directed by Nicholas Hytner (Othello, Hamlet, One Man, Two Guvnors).

Tri.Art Dance Academy returns this year with their version of Petipa’s classical ballet, Sleeping Beauty. Join us as we venture into the land of fairy tale, where good reigns over evil and a happily ever after is lived by all.

This affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name. Down-and-out skid row florist’s assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. A high energy, darkly comic tale featuring classic songs “ Skid Row”, “Feed Me”, and “Suddenly Seymour”.

Hilarious and touching, Rob Gee’s FRUITCAKE – Ten Commandments from the Psych Ward brings empathy and personal experience to extreme comedy in a unique performance which has been hailed as a tour-de-force across two continents.

FILMED THEATRE SCREENING

Hamlet’s father is dead and Denmark has crowned a new king. Consumed by grief Hamlet struggles to exact revenge with devastating consequences.

Selwood Academy presents the Somerset premiere of a new musical production of Jules Verne’s classic adventure, packed with dynamic songs, physical comedy and frantic against-the-clock action.

Pulizter Prize-winner Katherine Boo spent three years in Annawadi recording the lives of its residents. From her uncompromising book, David Hare has fashioned a tumultuous play on an epic scale.

Emily Brontë’s emotionally gripping Wuthering Heights is, without a doubt, one of the most tragic and infamous love stories ever told. This production will leave you covered in goosebumps and reaching for the nearest copy.

With original live music, high energy performances and a huge emotional world, Hammerpuzzle’s 60 minute adaptation of ‘King John’ captures the dynamic realism of this compelling tale whilst holding on to the heart of Shakespeare’s original text.

Love her or hate her, Margaret Thatcher was one of the central figures in 20th century British politics. It is a challenge for any actor to play her convincingly on stage but, having portrayed both Hitler and Churchill already in his one-man shows, Pip Utton is ‘up for it’.

Disney’s Frozen gets the full sing-a-long treatment! Featuring the award winning song ‘Let It Go’ this sing-along version of Disney’s family favourite, with lyrics on screen, is sure to be a hit with the kids this half term

Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny is brought to life in a thrilling new stage adaptation by Bryony Lavery, broadcast live from the National Theatre.

This lively show for children 3 and up is full of fun, feathers, laughter and excitement, featuring original music and lots of audience participation! The friendly bus driver leaves us with one simple instruction: “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!” However, the pigeon is very clever and whines, bribes, pleads and even sings a song to get his own way… BUT WILL YOU LET HIM DRIVE???

This workshop aims to give you an insight into the creation of this exciting production, reflecting on Shakespeare’s original text and the history of John. Part practical, part discussion, it’s a great opportunity to work with a visiting theatre company.

Frome College Expressive Arts’ Faculty present Romeo and Juliet. Set in contemporary China, this production is an exciting updated version of Shakespeare’s classic play.

Miracle deftly combines its own inimitable style with the wonder of Victorian Music Hall to tell the story of one man’s obsession to discover the heart of Africa and transform an entire continent single-handed – AND of a woman left behind…

Yorke Dance Project presents Figure Ground a compelling 5* programme that brings together the work of three generations of choreographers. An evening of brilliant dancing that is rooted in tradition whilst blazing its way into the future

This highly acclaimed folk/bluegrass band have appeared live on BBC TV (Andrew Marr Show), on Radio 4 (Loose Ends) and have had praise in the Guardian and Independent. An exciting live act, around a single mic, they sell out arts centres across Europe.

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.