A local drama group, Dramakarma, has launched its first radio play in collaboration with FromeFM.
Titled The Last Matron, this original production brings to life the rich, often untold history of Keyford Asylum, a once-pivotal institution in the heart of Frome.
Written by Kevin Ross in association with Dramakarma and Keyford History Group, the play is inspired by real events, personal diaries and historical records spanning over a century.
First performed on stage in 2023 to wide acclaim, The Last Matron will now reach a broader audience through the radio adaptation.
Set against the backdrop of a crumbling institution facing demolition, the story is woven with vivid characters: a defiant young girl desperate to escape institutional life, elderly residents clashing and reminiscing, and brave evacuee children confronting the chaos of World War II.
At the heart of it all is the Matron, a stoic figure holding together the fragile threads of life inside the walls of the ‘home’.
Kevin Ross said, “As the Matron bears witness to the spectres of the past, The Last Matron becomes more than a tale of loss; it’s a call to remember and honour the lives shaped within those historic walls.
“This is not just a drama; it is a tribute to a building that once was the soul of the community. Through radio we’re able to breathe new life into the voices of those who walked its corridors.”
Keyford Asylum was established in 1804, following the charitable legacy of Richard Stevens, a local courier who left funds to educate poor girls and care for elderly men in the town. Serving multiple roles over its 150-year history – from a hospital to a military auxiliary during World War I, and a refuge for evacuees and billet for soldiers in World War II – the institution stood as a beacon of care and resilience until its demolition in 1957.
Now, decades later, The Last Matron ensures that the building’s legacy is not lost to time.
The Last Matron will premiere on FromeFM on 29th October at 8pm on 96.6FM, or simultaneously online at www.frome.fm.
Kevin said, “Listeners can expect a gripping hour of storytelling, history and emotion – grab a slice of your local heritage.”
