What’s on at the Merlin this October

FROME’s ever-busy professional community theatre The Merlin, continues its busiest year since lockdown with the very exciting arrival of one of the UK’s leading physical theatre companies hitting the stage with a brand-new comedy for the ages on 20th and 21st October.

“Le Navet Bete, kings of comedy, masters of physical theatre and proud proponents of accessible performance for all, are bringing their brand new, hilarious re-telling of King Arthur to The Merlin,” says a spokesperson for the theatre. “They explain in their own words ‘The main reason we do what we do is that we simply love to make people laugh. Everyone should be able to enjoy theatre.’

“Comprising three actors, who all met at University of Plymouth 20 years ago, Nick Bunt, Al Dunn and Matt Freeman have remained stalwart Southwest fans. Living and basing the company in the Southwest area, Le Navet Bete’s hundreds of both indoor and outdoor performances to thousands of people have seen them at the festival tent at Beautiful Days, the circus fields at Glastonbury Festival, theatres throughout the region and nationally as well as internationally as far away as the gardens of the Herrenhausen Palace in Hanover, the Plaza de Armas in Mexico and even high up on the side of the Rock of Gibraltar.

“Contrasting in tone and style, to provide the Merlin’s well-respected diverse and eclectic programme, in the week before Le Navet Bete’s arrival the venue will offer a rare and beautiful treat for dance enthusiasts, with the work of Yorke Dance Project. Screening as a double bill, Sir Rober Cohan’s Seven Portraits and Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Sea of Troubles both demonstrate the brilliance of two legendary choreographers, with exquisite ballet from some of the finest dancers currently working in this country, including Dane Hurst, Freya Jeffs, Romany Pajdak (Royal Ballet soloist), Oxana Panchenko, Edd Mitton and Warbis.

“Additionally, Charlotte MacMillan, designer, photographer, artist and daughter of Sir Kenneth MacMillan, is a Somerset resident and will be joining the audience at this special screening. Charlotte, as well as being a costume designer for previous Yorke Project ballets, was responsible for the redesign of the costumes for the film that Frome’s Merlin audience will enjoy on Saturday 14th October.”

With the autumn/winter season now well and truly into its stride, Merlin director Claudia Pepler and her staff have a busy time ahead with a raft of shows, both professional and community, coming up to fill the darker nights.  As well as Elf – The Musical and a seasonal special featuring Frome Town Band, events include Frome Drama Club’s A Doll’s House, Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horrors, a classic silent movie accompanied on stage by live scored original music and The Vicar of Dibley. However, Dibley fans are warned not to be fooled by its title, A Vicar of Dibley Christmas, as it takes place from 24th 28th October!

Details of these and many more shows at The Merlin theatre can be found on merlintheatre.co.uk