Merlin Theatre News

One of the Merlin’s favourite performers returns on Friday 15th February at 7.45 pm when Pip Utton presents his new one-man show: And Before I Forget I Love You, I Love You.

Pip is one of the Merlin’s regulars. His award-winning performances of Adolf, Chaplin, Maggie, Churchill, Hunchback and Dickens have begun there and gone on to tour around the world to great acclaim. His new, moving and affectionate performance is about the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease, not only on the sufferer but on family, friends and carers. 

It is based on his and his brother’s experiences of seeing their mum deteriorate and die from Alzheimer’s three years after being diagnosed with the disease at 68, and on Pip’s intensive research. Pip’s character takes the audience on a journey full of smiles, laughter, respect and tears. Tissues recommended! 

The running time for this show is one hour and there is an age recommendation of 12 plus. All tickets are £10.50.

Rescheduled from the recent snowy Friday, Zoe Lyons will now deliver her show Entry Level Human on Sunday 17th February at 6.45 pm. Zoe is a regular on ‘Mock The Week’ and a much-loved figure on ‘Live At The Apollo’, as well as being all over Radio 4 – for whom she’s making her very own series in 2018, after extensive stints on ‘The News Quiz’, ‘Just A Minute’, ‘The Now Show’ and plenty more. All this makes it sound like Zoe Lyons has some sort of idea what she’s doing in life. But does she? Or is she the perfect example of an Entry Level Human? Decide for yourself, as this hugely popular comic returns with a fresh crop of ‘quick-fire observational gags, delivered with utter conviction’ (Chortle), not to mention ‘proper laugh-out-loud one-liners’ (The Herald).Tickets £16, recommended 14 plus.

There’s dance from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on Tuesday 19th February (7.15pm), with Don Quixote, a ballet in a prologue and three acts. Cervantes’s story of the bumbling knight Don Quixote has inspired countless artistic interpretations. Marius Petipa choreographed this sparkling ballet about the encounters of the man from La Mancha and his faithful squire Sancho Panza. 

At its heart are virtuoso roles for the lovers Basilio and Kitri. Carlos Acosta chose this joyful classic for his first production for The Royal Ballet. His vibrant staging brings together the whole company in such roles as exuberant villagers, passionate gypsies and even fantasy flowers. The story follows Don Quixote’s picaresque journey to do deeds in honour of his imaginary noble lady, Dulcinea. Sunny, charming, funny and touching – Don Quixote is a ballet as full of uplifting emotion as it is of astonishing ballet technique. Tickets are £16 and the running time is 165 minutes.

Frome College takes the Merlin into March with the High School edition of the iconic musical Chicago, playing at the Merlin Thursday 28th February, Friday March 1st and Saturday March 2nd, at 7.00 pm.  By Fred Ebb, Bob Fosse, John Kander and Maurine Dallas Watkins, this amateur production is presented with permission from Samuel French Ltd. and features high energy numbers including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango and Razzle Dazzle!   

Roxie Hart has always wanted to be a star but can’t quite seem to catch a break. Things seem poised to change when she is arrested for the murder of her lover. Roxie decides to become the media’s new darling and begins vying for the spotlight, and the attention of their lawyer Billy Flynn, with her idol, nightclub performer and accused double-murderess Velma Kelly. Tickets: adults £9.50, concessions £7.50; recommended age 11 plus, running time 90 minutes.

Check out www.merlin theatre.co.uk for comedy, dance, drama, opera and spoken word events in March!

Pictured Top: Don Quixote. Above: Before I Forget.