As the Merlin Theatre continues to celebrate its 50th year, this popular 240-seat theatre arts venue is bucking the national trend with its new season’s programme offering even more live performances than ever.
In addition to hosting now the only opportunity in the UK to see Beatles-Hall-of-Famer Mark McGann and his brother, ex-Doctor Who actor Paul McGann, performing their unique journey into the heart of Liverpool’s legendary music scene, the theatre is also bringing several new plays, cabaret entertainment, stand-up comedy and an exciting professional ‘first ever’ moment to the stage this Autumn/Winter season.
Playwright and performer Marina Sossi will premiere her bold, witty new play, ‘Let Love Kill You’ on 23rd September. With her heart firmly in Frome, Marina was born in the town, educated at Frome college, performed as a young person in The Merlin and then spent several years working in London and America, before returning to live again in Frome last year.
Credit Pamela Raith Photography
As she says, “It has been a joy to come home, to write, be closer to the countryside and now to create a play featuring local professional actors, including music written and performed by Kate Lissauer, known by so many as the band-lead for Buffalo Gals, just shows what a special place this is.”
October is set to be side-splittingly funny with stand-up comedy in the form of Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and Radio 4’s The News Quiz star Angela Barnes. It will also see the return of the Pick and Mix variety night, welcoming comedy improvisation experts Instant Wit as headliners.
Loved for their fast-paced hilarious sketches, the performers improvise live on stage, directed by the audience themselves! The evening will also feature Frome’s own master of musical mischief, Tom Veck, plus opening the event will be the town’s ukulele afficionados, The Frukes.
And taking half a century of performance to new heights, The Merlin Theatre will host its first ever fully professional Christmas show run. Crimes Against Christmas, produced by New Old Friends, a Frome based company whose work has been presented all over the country, this same show has previously had sold out runs at Theatre Royal Bath and Lichfield Garrick, as well as, during the pandemic, being turned into an audio series featured on Radio 4’s Front Row.
A comedy murder mystery farce, 12 strangers are stranded on a remote island, dying in mysteriously Christmassy ways. All 12 roles are played by just four actors, all of whom are South-West professionals as ‘keeping it local’ was a key factor in this ‘Made in Frome’ production.
Head to the theatre’s website for information about the full season including an evening with Marty Wilde, the return of special intergalactic sixties girl band Planet Janet, as well as a series of classic National Theatre Live screenings, a new musical written by Frome’s own Martyn Dimery, A Monster Calls, from Frome Drama Club, a one-night-only show from American comedian Rich Hall, ballet shows, a new play written and acted by one of Frome’s ex-taxi drivers and events for children including Wallace and Gromit and, for families at Christmas, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
