THERE’S no rest for the staff and volunteers of Frome’s professional community theatre, The Merlin, as new and last-minute performances are popping up for the end of a glorious summer season.
The team at Frome’s popular local arts venue are more than happy to keep the doors open and to welcome audiences in, following a fantastic summer of theatre, dance, comedy and music which has entertained so many already this year.
Just announced and for one night only, the Merlin is proud and delighted to be hosting hilarious and brilliant comedian, writer and presenter Dave Gorman, who will bring his latest work-in-progress to the town as he finalises a new show ready for a national tour. Famous for his quirky view on everyday subjects, Dave returns to the Merlin after more than three years, to test the waters and the laughter level with the people of Frome on Friday 9th September.
Before that, on 2nd and 3rd September, there is just time to squeeze in two more performances on ECOS, the outdoor amphitheatre that makes the Merlin such an usual and versatile venue for the town. Wyrd Sisters, in which best-selling novelist Terry Pratchett’s most famous characters are brought to life in an hilarious, fast-paced adventure, presents a cast of local amateur Frome actors as they abandon their day jobs and take to the stage for the final of this summer’s outdoor shows.
Due to demand from audiences and staff alike, there will be a second screening of Jodie Comer’s tour-de-force performance in the National Theatre’s Prima Facie, from the Harold Pinter theatre. Totally selling out last month, throughout the country not just at the Merlin, this encore performance will take place on Monday 5th September and interested ticket-buyers are encouraged to book ahead as it already looks like the 230-seat venue will be filled to capacity once more.
During what continue to be very difficult times for theatres all over the country, especially outside of big cities, Merlin director, Claudia Pepler, is keen to thank people for their support.
Claudia said, “Audience members, participants in shows, hard-working volunteers, visiting professional companies, our staff, local press and journalist as well as businesses, so many people are needed to make a theatre really work and survive. Thank you. We are very pleased to say that we have a full season of events lined up for the autumn and winter, including a fantastic family Christmas show in December, so look out for the new programme which will be back from the printers and going up online any day now!”
The Merlin’s programme, and regular updates, can be found at www.merlintheatre.co.uk
