Discover Frome

Leigh on Mendip School: the Wizard of Oz
2026-07-15 17:30 - 19:00 (Europe/London) | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
Follow the yellow brick road in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film. The timeless tale, in which young Dorothy Gale travels from Kansas over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz, continues to thrill audiences worldwide.
Running time: 70 minutes plus interval
Recommended: All ages
Tickets: £5

Stage and Screen Acting Classes
2026-07-18 10:00 - 17:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
Following the nationwide success of these much-loved and unforgettable stage and screen acting workshops, Mark McGann is now offering his unique courses to the South West region at the Merlin.
These are a must for professionals and non-professionals alike, with no previous acting experience required, making them accessible to all participants.
Sun 7th June 2026, 10am – 5pm
Stage Acting Class ‘Play in a Day’ TBA
£95 (includes lunch – N.B. There will be a small additional cost for your personal play text which is sent to you in the post.)
Sun 14th June 2026, 10am – 5pm
Stage Acting Class ‘Acting Shakespeare’ TBA
£95 (includes lunch)
Sun 21st June 2026, 10am – 5pm
Screen Acting Workshop
£230 per duologue scene (all scenes professionally shot, edited and delivered in broadcast quality for your professional use as showreel scenes etc.)
Sat 18th & Sun 19th July – A 2 Day Professional Acting Course – Details TBA in due course
Link to completed scenes from the Screen Acting WS 25th January 2026
To reserve a place or for more information
Please contact Drama Direct Ltd at:
dramadirect@icloud.com
WhatsApp: 07977068869
Drama Direct Ltd is a Merlin Theatre Associate Company.

The Elizabethan Evening presents The Three Musketeers
2026-07-25 16:00 - 19:30 | Manor Farm, Corsley, BA12 7QE
The Elizabethan Evening is a much-loved annual outdoor theatre event in the village of Corsley supporting local charities.
The event has raised almost £90,000 to date and this year we’re supporting Frome College Young Carers and the Youth Adventure Trust.
Help us raise vital funds for these important organisations by joining us to enjoy The Three Musketeers, performed by outdoor theatre specialists Illyria.
All for One – and One for All! Set in 17th century France at war, this production is a whirlwind of excitement, broad comedy and ingenious storytelling. Romance. Intrigue. Betrayal. Revenge. Dumas’s classic has the lot!
Young D’Artagnan is desperate to join Athos, Porthos and Aramis as an elite Musketeer of the King’s Guard. To prove himself he plunges headlong into a thrilling adventure to retrieve the Queen’s jewels, restore Her Majesty’s honour, survive the machinations of Cardinal Richelieu and cross swords with the deadliest of femmes fatales Milady de Winter.
Staged in the gardens of the historic Elizabethan Manor Farm, it’s a truly special setting for this popular annual occasion.
Gates open at 4pm, with the performance starting at 5pm. Performance time is 2 hours plus a 20-minute interval.
Bring your own seating, grab some friends and we’ll do the rest. We offer a licensed bar, tea, coffee, brownies and ice cream for sale (cash or card).

Spellbound Presents Singing in the Rain
2026-08-06 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-07 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-08 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Frome Memorial Theatre, Christchurch Street West, Frome, BA11 1EB
Spellbound, the youth section of Frome Musical Theatre Company, is producing Singin’ In The Rain as their 2026 summer spectacle!
Based on the iconic 1952 movie musical of the same name, Singin’ In The Rain is set in 1920s Hollywood at Monumental Pictures, where the story follows a film studio’s chaotic (and hilarious!) transition from silent movies to the brand-new “talking pictures.”
Packed with comedy, romance, and dazzling dance numbers, the show features unforgettable songs including “Moses Supposes,” “Make ‘Em Laugh,” “Good Mornin’,” and the title number “Singin’ In The Rain.”
An incredible celebration of classic musical theatre – audiences won’t want to miss this toe-tapping summer production!

The Folksy Theatre Presents: a Midsummer Nights Dream
2026-08-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
Love, laughter, and a little bit of lunacy – enter a world where fairies meddle, lovers quarrel, and magic runs wild! Enjoy Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy, filled with Folksy’s twist of live music, audience interaction, and impressive multi-roling!
Running Time: 120 mins plus interval
Recommended: All ages
Tickets: £20 | Students: £13
Outdoors on E.C.O.S. Amphitheatre. Please bring blankets, cushions and chairs. We welcome picnics, but please buy drinks from our bar. In the event of bad weather this event will move inside.

Kids Summer Drama Workshop: Diggers & Dreamers
2026-08-19 10:00 - 2026-08-21 15:00 | Rode Methodist VC First School, High Street, Rode, BA11 6NZ, United Kingdom
‘DIGGERS & DREAMERS’ Drama Workshop
Through games, creative play and imaginative storytelling we will create a fantastical performance together!
No experience needed.
The Story:
Every year in the ancient woodland creatures gather to celebrate the ‘Day of the Little People.’ It is a colourful day of carnival and magic when the world is turned upside down and it is believed, wishes are granted.
But this year, strange incidents in the wood have driven its residents underground.
A family living on the edge of the wood are returning to the city in three days when Alex hears a knocking at her window. Can Alex and her midnight visitor reverse the fortunes of the wood and its inhabitants, or will they run out of time?
Three Day Drama Workshop for Kids (Aged 6-10)
Show for parents on the last day!
19th – 21st August
10am – 3pm
Standard £100
Supporter £100 – £130
Sibling discount 10%
Contact kevin@dramakarma.co.uk

Tri.art Dance and Performing Arts Academy: West Side Story
2026-08-20 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-21 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-08-22 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
This August sees the return of Tri.Art’s Award-Winning Summer School, now in its 12th year. This year, students will be performing the classic musical, West Side Story. Join us as we celebrate the incredible talent of our Youth Theatre students!
Running Time: 120 minutes plus interval
Age Recommendation: 14+
Suitable: All ages
Tickets: Adults £16 Concessions £10

Illyria: as You Like It
2026-08-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
In this play, Shakespeare explores Love in all its guises. Four pairs of soulmates meet in the mysterious Forest of Arden. One pair leaps straight into bed. Another pair is instantaneously dumbstruck by each other’s beauty and pledges their undying troth. The third pair torment each other: he showers chaste love upon her, which she haughtily rejects – yet secretly she enjoys the flattery. The fourth pair go further still, playfully blurring their roles and identities to such an extent that flirting becomes more pain than pleasure, and Love itself is pushed to the limit of its endurance – and beyond.
Throughout the summer, Shakespeare’s iconic comedy will be performed where its action is set – in the great outdoors, by a 5-strong cast of classically trained professional actors. Multi-award-winning Illyria has an unmatched reputation for excellence, forged over three decades, that dominates the outdoor touring theatre sector. Join them this summer for a memorable night of laughter and romance under the stars.
This performance will be outdoors at the E.C.O.S. Amphitheatre. Please bring blankets, cushions, and chairs. We welcome picnics, but please buy drinks from our bar. In the event of bad weather, this event will move inside.
Running time: 140 minutes plus interval
Recommended: All ages
Tickets: £18 | Child: £10 (Under 10) | Concessions: £14
Registered carers go free

Four Forty Theatre: Romeo & Juliet
2026-09-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
With their first ever full-length production, this unique interpretation turns Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy into an outrageous, fall-on-the-floor comedy!
Four Forty breathe new life into the feuding families of Verona and their star-crossed lovers, revealing unexpected laughter and joy in the familiar tale. Rediscover Romeo and Juliet as a vibrant, comical, and thoroughly anarchic experience. A must-see that transforms the timeless story into an unforgettable celebration of Shakespearean silliness!
Suitable for all ages, this production captivates those studying Shakespeare for the first time, introduces newcomers to the Bard’s work, and offers lifelong fans a delightful, fresh perspective on a timeless classic.
This performance will be outdoors at the E.C.O.S. Amphitheatre. Please bring blankets, cushions, and chairs. We welcome picnics, but please buy drinks from our bar. In the event of bad weather, this event will move inside.
Running time: 90 minutes plus interval
Recommended: 7+
Tickets: £18 | Child: £10

Illyria: Pinocchio
2026-09-06 15:00 - 16:30 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
Carlo Collodi’s classic is a perennial favourite. It is the third most translated book in the world, having appeared in no fewer than 260 languages since it was published in 1883, and has never been out of print. Childless toymaker Geppetto buys a piece of wood to make a puppet, little realising the chaos he is about to unleash. The puppet yearns for adventure and runs away, but instead of excitement, only finds glorious attractions containing hidden dangers.
He returns home, hoping to be showered with sympathy and learns his tribulations are just beginning. Running away hasn’t worked; lying won’t work; he must become a real boy to achieve the belonging he craves. Collodi describes the development from puppet to real boy in the same way that useless green timber is matured into useful, well-seasoned wood – a transformation only achieved through trials of water and fire. Illyria celebrates this magical coming-of-age tale in a thrilling musical outdoor show.
This performance will be outdoors at the E.C.O.S. Amphitheatre. Please bring blankets, cushions, and chairs. We welcome picnics, but please buy drinks from our bar. In the event of bad weather, this event will move inside.
Running time: 95 minutes including interval
Recommended: 5+
Tickets: £18 | Child: £10 | Students and those claiming financial assistance: £14
Registered carers go free

Illyria: the Pirates of Penzance
2026-09-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
Frederick, accidentally apprenticed to Pirates as a child, is indentured to the Pirate King until his 21st birthday. On the day he reaches 21 he leaves the ship, announcing that he now intends to dedicate his life to the Pirates’ destruction. The Pirate King checks the contract’s small print – and realises that as Frederick’s birthday is 29th February on a leap year he has only had four birthdays and is actually indentured for another 63 years. With only the Penzance constabulary to protect him, will Frederick be forced to serve the pirates until he is 84? And will his sweetheart, Mabel, wait for him that long?
Performed by a six-strong cast of actors/singers with fully orchestrated accompaniment, The Pirates of Penzance boasts such gloriously memorable songs as “To be a Pirate King!”; “Modern Major General” and “A Policeman’s Lot is Not a Happy One”. With razor-sharp satire and glittering wit, it remains as fresh as if it had been written today.
This performance will be outdoors at the E.C.O.S. Amphitheatre. Please bring blankets, cushions, and chairs. We welcome picnics, but please buy drinks from our bar. In the event of bad weather, this event will move inside.
Running time: 120 minutes including interval
Recommended: All ages
Tickets: £20 | Child: £10 | Students and those claiming financial assistance: £14
Registered carers go free

Rory Bremner and Friends
2026-09-17 19:30 - 21:30 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
As the nations favourite satirical mimic, Rory really needs no introduction what-so-ever.
He’s provided definitive impersonations of PMs and Presidents from Major to Mandela, Blair to Brown, Clinton to Cameron and Bush to Trump. As himself, he’s been presenter, writer, quiz-show host, actor, translator and even (briefly) ballroom dancer. (Strictly, 2011. WTF?)
By the time he’d graduated in 1984, he was already performing on the London stand-up circuit and at his native Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and got his first TV series with the BBC in 1986. In a TV career of over 30 years, he’s won numerous awards, including 3 BAFTAs for his long-running Channel 4 satire series Bremner Bird & Fortune, featuring Rory and the two Johns.
Rory’s other TV credits include regularly appearing on Whose Line is it Anyway, Spitting Image, Have I Got News for You, and Mock the Week.
Roger Monkhouse is one of the most original and distinctive acts on the comedy scene. A consummate stand-up who employs a deadly combination of charm and menace to exert a masterful control over any audience.
Newcomer Rich Bunn will be doing a ten minute spot – he was recently the Runner Up in the 2026 Bath Comedy Festival New Act Competition.
Running time: 120 minutes including 20-minute interval
Recommended: 14+
Tickets: £27

New Old Friends: Pick & Mix
2026-09-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
A highlight of each season, Pick & Mix returns with Fearg and a new line up for another brilliant evening of music, comedy and more.
On the bill this time are:
Oliver Young – an up & coming stand-up who was just named as runner up in the Bath New Act final, which was the launching point for Rob Beckett’s comedy career. Come see Olly before he’s stratospheric.
Lilac Looney Cirque Show – two brilliant cirque performers fresh from a massive tour, will make you gasp in wonder and laugh with abandon with their acrobatics, hula, juggling and clowning.
Leigh Coleman – an incredible guitarist and singer who mixes soul, pop, funk and all genres in between with total joy. Leigh is hugely in demand as a session musician and event entertainment, so this is a rare opportunity to see a master playing a set list of his own choosing in the intimate environment of the Merlin.
Plus, we might have some special, local, guests announced closer to the time.
Grab a ticket and join the community.
New Old Friends is a Merlin Associate Company
Tickets: £16
Running Time: 120 mins plus interval
Age Guidance: 12+

NT Live: the Misanthrope
2026-09-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
*Screened Performance*
Award-winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) plays the title role in this razor-sharp reimagining of Molière’s classic dark comedy.
Telling the truth isn’t always that simple. Alice, a brilliant novelist, despises the carefully constructed lies of modern society. But the more she challenges those around her, the fiercer the backlash becomes. Soon, she must confront the price of speaking her truth in a world that would rather silence her.
Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham directs Martin Crimp’s (Cyrano de Bergerac) highly anticipated play.
Tickets: Adults £18 Friends £15

Michael Spicer: Hope All's Well
2026-09-25 19:30 - 21:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
Michael Spicer, the online sensation who brought you the award-winning viral hit The Room Next Door, brings another hilarious and brilliantly entertaining satirical stage show packed with sketches, short films and stories about why we’re witnessing such a gigantic political and global shitshow, featuring characters from his BBC Radio 4 show ‘No Room’ as well as some old friends too.

Alfie Moore: Acopalypse Now
2026-10-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
The Four Horsemen of Rising Crime, Global Warming, AI and Culture Wars are galloping towards us. Are we on the road to hell? And can we avoid the potholes? In his brand new tour show ‘Fair Cop’ Alfie has the antidote to the breakdown of law and order, fake news and the price of baked beans.
He’s encountered more than his fair share of egotistical dictators in his policing career and learnt when pragmatism, and more than a dash of laughter, can defuse even the most menacing showdown.
Join Alfie as he’s saddles up to see off those bullies on their pesky ponies. Doomsday is no laughing matter but this show certainly is.
Running time: 90 minutes plus interval
Recommended: 14+
Tickets: £21

Shoddy Theatre & Skedaddle Theatre: a Brief Case of Crazy
2026-10-09 19:30 - 20:30 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
OFFIE WINNER 2026
AN AWARD-WINNING ROMANTIC PHYSICAL COMEDY FROM SKEDADDLE THEATRE & SHODDY THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH YORK THEATRE ROYAL.
Inspired by the timeless genius of Mr Bean, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, A Brief Case of Crazy is a heart-warming and hilarious physical comedy told through slick choreography, mime, clowning and puppetry.
Meet Thomas, an awkward, introverted office worker with a quiet crush on his equally shy colleague, Daisy. His quest for love must contend with a boisterous boss named Simon and a rather bothersome briefcase that drags an awkward introvert into extraordinary events.
Will his quest for love fail? Or will he discover, it’s what’s on the inside that counts?
A Brief Case of Crazy is a silent love story with a very loud heart.
Running time: 60 minutes no interval
Recommended: 5+
All Tickets: £15

Mark Thomas: 40 In Stand Up Years
2026-10-11 20:00 - 22:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
What?! Mark Thomas has been ‘standing up’ for 40 years? Impossible!! But how old does that make you…? Alas it is true; one of our oldest surviving alternative comics celebrates 40 years at the mic as he takes his brand-new show on the road this autumn.
So, here’s what he has done so far in numbers; performed comedy for 40 years, won 8 awards for performing, 4 for human rights work and 1 he invented for himself, made 6 series of the Mark Thomas Comedy Product (Channel 4), written 6 books and 5 play scripts, made 5 series of the Manifesto for Radio 4, made 3 Dispatches for Channel 4, sued the police (and won) 3 times, curated and authored 2 art exhibitions with artist Tracey Moberly and had 1 Guinness World Record for holding 20 protests in 24 hours.
If that’s not enough, he’s also walked 724km around the length of the Israel Wall in the West Bank, been credited with changing the law on tax avoidance, started a comedy club in Palestine with Dr Sam Beale and campaigned successfully for things like trade union recognition for cinema workers and getting multinationals to change their practices. You’re right, there’s more, but your attention is running out and we’re running out of space. So, let’s just say he’s generally mucked about trying to have fun and upset the right people…which he is really, really good at.
This is a taster menu of political and personal mayhem, jokes, rants and a state of the nation broadcast as he tries to turn ‘what the hell is going on’ into a cogent evening of stand-up.

Our Star Theatre Company: the Three Musketeers
2026-10-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
Prepare for a hilarious and uproarious family farce brought to you by Our Star Theatre Company. This theatrical re-telling of The Three Musketeers is packed with laughter, lively audience participation and plenty of energetically silly performances.
The story centres around a small troupe of performers gearing up for their highly anticipated debut performance of The Three Musketeers. However, as the curtains rise, all is not as it seems. What starts as a simple theatrical endeavour quickly unravels into a whirlwind of confusion, mayhem, and comical mishaps. From forgotten lines to chaotic set changes, the actors find themselves entangled in a series of laugh-out-loud blunders, much to the delight of the audience.
This delightfully entertaining production is brimming with wit, slapstick humour, and a dose of good-natured silliness that will keep you on the edge of your seat, laughing from start to finish.
Running time: 85 mins plus 20 minute interval
Recommended: 8+
Tickets: £18 Adults | £15 Students

Tom Stade Rules
2026-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Cheese and Grain, Market Yard, Frome, BA11 1BE
Canadian powerhouse Tom Stade is back on the road with a brand-new show – taking aim at the absurdities of modern times with his contagious charm and incisive, gloriously unfiltered wit.
Direct from the Edinburgh festival, join this free spirit as he grapples with rebellion, responsibility and the tension between the old and the new. Everything from unspoken social codes, cultural divides, identity and marriage – Tom dismantles all the rules – and redefines them his way!
As seen/heard on Have a Word Pod, Ch4’s Comedy Gala, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, The John Bishop Show, Live at the Apollo (so good, he’s done it twice) and much more.
He’s been rocking live audiences for decades with his trademark swagger, and masterful stage presence. Consistently magnificent, blisteringly funny, come see for yourself why Tom Stade Rules!

Shakespeare Live: Shakespeare’s Green-Eyed Monster
2026-10-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
O beware of Jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster…
Jealousy and envy – powerful and destructive emotions that sow doubt, suspicion, disgust, anger and even murder.
Shakespeare’s Green-Eyed Monster is a full-length play created by director Gill Morrell for Shakespeare Live from extracts and quotes, some serious and even tragic, but others light-hearted and full of laughter.
Including scenes from Othello, The Winter’s Tale, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Cymbeline, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Two Noble Kinsmen and many more, this is an entertainment for anyone who enjoys great theatre.
An ensemble cast will transport you into these differing worlds united by the theme of green-eyed jealousy…
Running time: 120 minutes including interval
Recommended: 12+
All Tickets: £16

Ten Minute Call: the Queens of Nassau
2026-10-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
Set sail for a bold new musical adventure inspired by the true stories of infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
The Queens of Nassau is a fierce, emotional and rebellious folk-punk musical about identity, freedom, survival and the price of living life on your own terms. From the streets of Ireland and England to the lawless waters of the Caribbean, two women fight to escape the lives the world chose for them and carve their own names into history.
Packed with soaring songs, raw emotion, dark humour and thunderous energy, this original production brings the golden age of piracy vividly to life.
With corrupt governors, dangerous lovers, naval hunters and the legendary Calico Jack standing in their way, Anne and Mary must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for freedom.
A story of fire, defiance and legacy, The Queens of Nassau asks: what does it truly mean to live free?
This production contains themes and depictions of violence, death, execution, imprisonment, discrimination, misogyny, gender disguise/identity concealment, references to pregnancy and illness, strong language, alcohol misuse, and scenes of emotional distress.
Running time: 120 minutes including interval
Recommended: 14+
All Tickets: £15

Shaun Ryder - Happy Mondays, and Fridays, and Saturdays, and Sundays
2026-10-30 19:30 - 21:30 | Frome Memorial Theatre, Christchurch Street West, Frome, BA11 1EB
He’s the wild man of rock who became a national treasure.
Happy Mondays and Black Grape frontman Shaun Ryder is hitting the road for a new, spoken word tour.
The star of more-TV-shows-than-anyone-has-a-right-to-feature-on – including Celebrity Gogglebox, and I‘m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, among many others – redefined the sex’n’drugs’n’rock’n’roll lifestyle during the halcyon age of Madchester.
He’s touring in support of his new book: Happy Mondays – and Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays.
Fans can look forward to a carnival of excess, wild tales, and improbable truths, as they enjoy the talents of a unique rock’n’roll star dubbed Britpop’s answer to WB Yeats. Strap yourselves in and say Hallelujah for Shaun.

The Royal Ballet: Manon
2026-11-01 14:00 - 18:00 | Merlin Theatre, Bath Road, Frome, BA11 2HG
*Screened Performance*
In the seedy underbelly of 18th-century Paris, money is king. Nothing is sacred – even love itself can be bought for the right price. A native of this hedonistic underworld, Manon is caught between twin desires when she falls in love with the student Des Grieux. Steadfast and devoted, he offers the possibility of an honourable life. Yet, the riches promised by the world of Parisian society remain tempting…
Manon’s inner turmoil and struggle for survival lie at the devastating heart of Kenneth MacMillan’s 1974 adaptation of Abbé Prévost’s novel. In this signature work of The Royal Ballet, MacMillan’s nuanced understanding of human psychology makes for an unflinching look into the moral degradation of Manon’s Paris, while all its decadence and decay are brought to life through Jules Massenet’s score and Nicholas Georgiadis’s designs.
Running Time: 190 minutes, two intervals
Tickets: £18
Friends of Merlin: £15
