AS the last of the memories of pandemic restrictions and fear fade away into the to distance, the Merlin theatre is embracing the traditional energy and joy that the autumn and winter always bring to the town’s favourite community arts venue.
While the trees turn to red and gold outside, inside the building, among the red velvet seats and bright lights, the theatre has full-size casts, busy children’s workshops and family-friendly charming theatre shows to keep us all warm.
October half term brings a ‘Thriller’ spooky dance workshop for 7-12 year olds; getting a grip on the language and stories of The Bard is ‘Fun With Shakespeare’ for those up to aged 13, plus a ‘Playing With Puppets’ workshop where participants are invited to bring their own sock!
After half-term, local community actors, Frome Drama Club, provide adults with the perfect escape from everyday life by transporting them to the 1950s, on a bus! In a newly written play, ‘The Frome to Canterbury Tales’, Chaucer’s vivid original characters, the story of their pilgrimage and the fun, sometimes risqué, tales they tell, are updated to the early 1950s. This original adaptation of ‘The Canterbury Tales’ is full of life, energy and humour and more than a smattering of Frome and area locations that the audience will recognise and enjoy as they are taken on a three-day bus trip from Frome. The show runs from 16th to 19th November.
With something-for-everyone very much on the minds of the Merlin, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ comes to the stage for everyone aged 3 or over at 2pm on Saturday 26th November. As part of the theatre’s commitment to family time together, they have booked professional children’s performance experts, Lyngo Theatre, to bring a magical, hilarious, music and puppet-filled retelling of a traditional favourite tale. Watch out for the wolf!
In addition to this wealth of live performance and activity, the theatre is proud to remain a selected venue for screening live, London-based, highest quality dance and theatre. November 20th sees the brilliant Matthew Bourne’s ‘Nutcracker’ ballet with Tchaikovsky’s glorious score accompanying dazzling choreography, sets and costume, influenced by the lavish Hollywood musicals of the 1930s.
Full details of all events at The Merlin Theatre, plus booking details, are on www.merlintheatre.co.uk
Photo by Alex Brenner.