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DYLAN THOMAS'

A Child’s Christmas In Wales

ADAPTED & DIRECTED BY EMMA RICE

AT OUR SECRET THEATRE IN THE HEART OF FROME

Rose Langley

As a kid, I lived on a little dead-end lane populated by lots of families. My brother and I had constant playmates and spent most of our time outdoors with the neighbours. Activities ranged from bothering the well-meaning congregants of the chapel next door with ball games, to climbing trees and scaffolding, skateboarding, splashing about in our big muddy pond, and making VERY COOL dens.

This latter pursuit was the one we were most keen on. We built three proper dens, complete with rations and tools for improvements. One day, to our dismay, we found that our furthest-flung den had been vandalised. We knew who was responsible — a rival gang in the village who also made dens, though to our minds theirs were, in every way, inferior to our palatial structures.

This was war. And we took our roles seriously, trailing them to find their latest hideout and systematically taking it apart once they had gone home for tea. Things came to a head when their top dog (who shall not be named, for fear he still holds a grudge) cornered us when we were on our way home from the video shop (with Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure). He was a big guy and probably a few years older than us, and we were

scared — I think he may have threatened a thump or two. I remember running home with my brother, heart thudding. This rivalry went on for a year or so, until eventually we tired of our dens and found new pastimes. But that first taste of social disharmony stayed with me. It was oddly enjoyable — thrilling, almost. This flexing and testing of relationships and boundaries was, I’m assuming, a characterbuilding experience — one that, whilst common in my childhood, is distinctly lacking in my son’s life.

Playing out with friends and neighbours seems to be something reserved for much older kids, and our growing fear of, well, everything, seems to keep us more indoors and isolated than ever.

But my son has a plan. He has decided to befriend every kid on our relatively new street and ask them to hang out in the land at the end of our gardens to build a den! He’s made one friend already and has his sights set on more. Maybe his generation will overcome the fears of their parents, the distraction of solitary screen time, and the isolation that has been normalised — and turn it around. And maybe we all have something to learn here, about neighbours, friendship, community, and isolation.

Or maybe I’m just being soppy, once again.

Drawing the Night In – The Second Sleep

Black Swan Arts, 21st October – 17th November

As Autumn deepens and daylight fades, six artists — Henny Burnett, Susan Francis, Nick Grellier, Debbie Lee, Prudence Maltby and Corinna Spencer — come together in Drawing the Night In: The Second Sleep, to explore the mysterious terrain of night. This evocative group exhibition at Black Swan Arts delves into darkness as both subject and metaphor, revealing what is hidden, dreamlike and deeply human.

The artists’ works — spanning painting, sculpture, and installation — offer diverse and seductive interpretations of the night’s blackness and its quiet shadows. Their reflections draw on ideas of solitude, fear, imagination and the secret life that unfolds while the world sleeps. Inspired by research into the historical ‘second sleep’, when people once naturally awoke in the small hours to

Voices of Frome: Verity Standen

Rook Lane, 12th November, 7.30pm

Local composer Verity Standen has collaborated with Terrestrial to create Voices of Frome — a unique performance inspired by conversations with residents from all walks of life. Drawing on stories of daily routines, memories and dreams for the town’s future, Verity has composed original a capella pieces performed by an ensemble of singers from HOWL. The result is a moving celebration of community, connection, and sound. Part of Terrestrial’s ongoing creative work in Frome, the event is free to attend, with optional donations and limited capacity — early booking is advised.

think, talk or pray, the exhibition questions what this ancient rhythm might reveal about our own restless wakefulness. As one 18th-century scholar noted, “our entire history is only the history of waking men.” Perhaps night, then, belongs to another realm — feminine, intuitive and unspoken. Drawing the Night In invites visitors to linger there, to find truth and tenderness in the dark. Preview: 24th October, 6 – 8pm, with Artists’ Walk and Talk

05/06 December

CHRISTMAS MARKET

.STALLS, LIVE MUSIC, FOOD & DRINK, BBS WINES, CRAFT STALLS, BRAMLEY, MULLED WINE

FRIDAY 05 DEC | 17.00 - 20.00

SATURDAY 06 DEC | 10.00 - 17.00

KLINKER Club

The Bennett Centre, 22nd November, 7.30pm

Wildly experimental music, poetry, performance and film night returns to Frome. This November KLINKER club presents Landscape Suicide (Aberystwyth) who play musical saw and drones, a performance from KLINKER founder Hugh Metcalfe and Dwhyte Olivers, who collaborate on a live soundtrack to accompany super 8 films, and Ian George will bring his unique style of performance poetry. Tickets cost £10 or £6 concessions, on the door.

Shine Christmas Market

RISE, 29th November – 7th December

This December marks one year since SHINE –Frome Arts Collective opened its doors at RISE, the beautifully restored former Methodist Church on Whittox Lane. What began as a pop-up has grown into a vibrant permanent space, home to eight local artists — Amy Yates, Emma Le Lohe, Julia Blaker, Kerry Munden Starr, Liza Saunders, Rose Hunter, Sarah Truscott, and Sue Willis — showcasing fine art, textiles, mosaics, printmaking and more. To celebrate, SHINE will host its first Christmas market, an eight-day festive event featuring guest artists, handmade gifts and community spirit. Visitors can browse original artworks and crafts while enjoying seasonal food and drinks from the Rye Bakery Café, creating a warm, welcoming space to shop and relax ahead of the holidays. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 3pm. Follow @shine_frome_arts_collective on Instagram or email shinefrome@gmail.com for updates and artist opportunities.

Silver Clay Pendant Workshop

Thrive Pilates Studio, 30th November 2pm

Join this relaxed, festive workshop and create a silver clay pendant inspired by nature, while enjoying mulled wine and mince pies. Perfect for beginners or those with some experience, this hands-on session explores silver clay – a magical material that transforms from clay to solid silver when fired. Using natural textures like leaves, shells and twigs, you’ll design a unique, one-of-a-kind pendant that captures the beauty of the outdoors. Hosted by jewellery artist Rebecca Lucy, the friendly 2.5-hour workshop offers time to learn, experiment and enjoy the creative process at your own pace. You’ll leave with a beautiful, meaningful piece of jewellery to treasure. Tickets £65 and can be booked online at Thrivepilatesfrome.co.uk/events

3 NOVEMBER LAURA JURD ALBUM LAUNCH

Doors 7pm concert 7.30pm. Tickets £15 from Eventbrite

9 NOVEMBER

FROME CONCERTS GROUP PRESENT: KASPARAS MIKUZIS

Doors 2.15pm Concert 3pm Tickets from fromeconcertsgroup.org

12 NOVEMBER TERRESTRIAL PRESENT: VOICES OF FROME 7.30pm to 9pm Tickets Free but donations welcomed book with Eventbrite

30 NOVEMBER

FROME CONCERTS GROUP PRESENT: FIORA STRING QUARTET

Doors 2.25pm Concert 3pm full length concert with interval. Tickets from fromeconcertsgroup.org

For full details of all events and ticket links please go to rooklane.org

Frome Multicultural Festival

Cheese & Grain, 16th November, 12 - 3pm

Frome’s Multicultural Festival returns to the Cheese & Grain on Saturday 16th November, 12–3pm, celebrating residents from over 65 nationalities. The festival features live performances, music, dance and singing workshops, and stalls offering crafts, activities, and international food, drinks, and cakes (small charges apply).

Organised by Young People Frome and supported by Frome Town Council, the event promotes friendship, learning, inclusion, and celebrates the town’s vibrant diversity. Local groups including Welcome Hub, Frome Welcomes Refugees, Diversity Voice and SARI will also be involved.

Supper Club with Kasea Vincent

The Stores, 27th November

Kasea Fraser, finalist in MasterChef: The Professionals, is back by popular demand for another unforgettable Supper Club at the Stores. This time, Kasea is embracing the Stores’ shared love of cheese, with a multi-course menu where every dish features cheese as an ingredient, accent or inspiration. From delicate starters to decadent desserts, expect cheese to be woven through each plate in creative and unexpected ways. Limited seats are available, so early booking is advised. Go to: thestoresinfrome.co.uk

Donations are welcome on the day. For involvement, contact azeemacaff@googlemail. com or lenkagrimes@gmail.com

Wild Christmas at 42 Acres

Alternative Celebrations for Conscious Organisations

Step away from the festive frenzy and gather your work team for something truly special at 42 Acres.

Gather around the fire in the oak forest glade to reflect on the year gone by, share a unique Wild Christmas lunch in the beautiful Hermitage – using ingredients grown and gathered on the 42 Acres land – create your own festive wreaths, or give back to nature with a team tree-planting experience. Leave feeling reconnected, inspired, and a little more joyful – the perfect festive treat for you and your colleagues. £85 per person, with a 20% discount for charities and community groups. Book at 42acres.com

Cheese & Grain, 1st November, 10am - 2pm

Fair Frome is delighted to partner with the Cheese and Grain to relaunch the Charity Christmas Fair as the new Winter Community Fair. The event will feature a wide range of stalls run by local charities and community groups, helping them raise funds and connect with the public. “It’s a chance to get into the Christmas spirit, shop early, and support local causes,” says Lenka Grimes from Fair Frome. “The Cheese and Grain is fully accessible for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs, making it a welcoming venue for everyone.” There’ll also be affordable children’s activities, including face painting and a Santa’s grotto with elves for just £2 per child.

Fair Frome is an independent charity tackling poverty through projects such as the Food Bank, Community Pantry, Food at 5, Furniture Bank, and Baby Basics. For stall enquiries: info@fairfrome.org

A Weekend to Remember

The history of Frome between 1939-1945

Frome will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2 with a ‘Weekend to Remember’ from 7–9 November, celebrating the town’s wartime history. In partnership with historian David Lassman of Frome

Heritage CIC, and led by Jane Norris of the RBL, events will centre on the Frome Memorial Theatre, itself 100 years old. The weekend features a Festival of Remembrance, wartime prose, music and unseen footage, walks and talks at key sites, and a showing of In Which We Serve. It concludes with the Annual Parade and Act of Remembrance on Sunday. All generations are welcome.

Frome Creatives

DRINK OUR NEW 2024 WINES ALONGSIDE A SPECIAL 2021 BLANC DE NOIRS RELEASE + FREE PAIRED CHEESES. POP IN TASTING 11 AM - 9 PM

FRI 21ST NOVEMBER POST HARVEST WINE TASTING

JOIN HEAD WINEMAKER ADAM POURING AND COMPARING WINES FROM THE LATEST ICONIC 2025 HARVEST VS FINISHED WINES FROM 2024 AND 2023 + CHEESE AND CHARCUTERIE £30PP 6.30PM- 8.30PM

SADDLE GOOSE

The River House Refurb

The River House has recently undergone an impressive refurbishment, bringing new life into the café space at Black Swan Arts. “Having been here for four years now, we thought it was about time to have a big refresh and make the most of the space,” said owner Ellen Porteous. “We were also keen to make the place as comfortable as possible for our visitors so that they feel inclined to stay and explore the rest of the centre – checking out the gallery, studios and shop. It’s a very exciting time!” The River House is open again, 9am–5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am–4pm on Sundays. Be sure to pay a visit and check out all the swanky improvements!

Razaqa: Sustain Palestine — A Feast of Solidarity in Frome

On Friday 14th November 2025, Frome’s historic Silk Mill will be transformed into a vibrant space of food, art and music in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Razaqa: Sustain Palestine brings together some of Frome’s most talented chefs, artists and musicians for an extraordinary evening celebrating Palestinian culture while raising vital funds for those living under siege.

Taking its name from the Arabic word razaqa — meaning ‘to sustain’ or ‘to provide for’ — the event is both a celebration and an act of resistance, honouring a culture and cuisine under threat. Guests will share a communal meal curated by acclaimed local chefs including Georgie Everett, Juli Perella, Tom Wilford, Lizzy Haughton and Cherry Truluck, featuring traditional Palestinian dishes such as Bamieh, Qidreh and Kaek bil’ ajwa, with generous

RANK

Merlin Theatre, 15th November, 7.30pm

based on a true story by Frome-based writer and actor, Dan Gaisford. A taxi driver’s life is turned upside down by an epic encounter with a young woman and her two small children who use his services to travel cross-country to buy a horse. As the odyssey unfolds and the woman’s situation becomes known, the taxi driver must decide whether to get the job done or act like a decent human being. But as he battles to tell his tale against the backdrop of an ever-ringing phone, it is apparent he has become far more involved in the lives of his passengers than he ever intended.

pours of olive oil, symbolising the land itself. Music, art and ritual will weave through the evening. Local musicians led by Natalie Brice of Sinnober will perform specially created pieces, and a postcard art auction curated by Temujen Gunawardena and Rachel Marshall will raise further funds. Proceeds support the Gaza Soup Kitchen and the Hebron International Resource Network, aiding farmers and families affected by violence. Tickets and details: razaqa.org.uk

OFFPISTE THEATRE PRESENTS: RANK ROYAL BALLET: LA FILLE MAL GARDÈE

RICH HALL PRESENTS: CHIN MUSIC ROYAL BALLET: CINDERELLA

Two great shows

each offering something different right here in Frome this December. Booking is advised.

TTheatrical Festive Treats

At The Merlin

his festive season, fans of live theatre are in for a treat, as The Merlin has a jam-packed December full of quality entertainment. In addition to another instalment of Merlin Theatre Productions’ excellent family shows (this time a delicious, chocolatey confection), they are, for the first time, presenting a professional Christmas production — a hilarious comedy murder mystery.

The Merlin is undoubtedly one of the gems of Frome’s cultural and entertainment scene. It is a lovely place to watch theatre (both streamed and live), with genuinely comfortable seats, a welcoming bar, excellent sightlines from everywhere in the auditorium, and ample parking. If you haven’t yet checked out a show at The Merlin, this December is the perfect time, with two productions catering for all tastes.

First up, Merlin Theatre Productions present Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory — but only to a lucky few.

Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination, featuring chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels, and the great glass elevator — all revealed by Wonka’s army of curious Oompa-Loompas.

Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features songs from the motion picture, including “Candy Man”, “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket”, “Oompa Loompa Song”, and “Pure Imagination”.

Welcome to the world of pure imagination, brought to life by an outstanding community cast under the ever-wonderful stewardship of Merlin Theatre Productions. This is the golden ticket for the whole family this Christmas.

Later in the month, Frome’s own New Old Friends present the first-ever professional Christmas show at The Merlin — and it’s a cracker:

Crimes Against Christmas. New Old Friends have built a national reputation for their brilliantly bonkers comedy murder mysteries, which have delighted audiences and critics all over the country. Crimes Against Christmas itself has enjoyed soldout runs at Theatre Royal Bath and the Lichfield Garrick, and during the pandemic was turned into a daily audio series that won awards and was

featured on Radio 4’s Front Row (still available under the Comedy Whodunnits For Your Ears channel). The ridiculous premise, lightning-fast quick changes, and wonderfully witty gags are guaranteed to make you laugh.

But what’s the story? Twelve strangers are stranded on a remote island and start dying in mysteriously Christmassy ways. All the parts are played by just four actors — all South West professionals (including the long-awaited return to the stage of Heather Westwell) — as ‘keeping it local’ was a key factor in this Made in Frome production.

04 - 13 Dec ‘25

Merlin Theatre Productions

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Suitable for a family audience

Running time: 2 hours plus interval

Relaxed performance: Saturday 6th December, 11am

Tickets: Adults £16, Children & Merlin Friends £10

17 - 28 Dec ‘25

New Old Friends Crimes Against Christmas

Suitable for ages 12+ (due to murder and some innuendo)

Running time: approx. 90 minutes plus interval

Tickets: £15

Crimes Agains Christmas is sponsored by Brûler. For more information and to buy tickets go to merlintheatre.co.uk

Photos by Pamela Raith from 2016 production of Crimes Against Christmas

Christmas at Cheddar

A Magical Underground Adventure

This Christmas, venture deep beneath the Mendip Hills to discover a world of festive wonder at Cheddar Gorge & Caves. Hidden within the spectacular Gough’s Cave, Father Christmas’ South West Workshop is buzzing with activity as the elves sort letters, make toys, and prepare for the big night.

From 15 November to 24 December 2025 , visitors can step behind the scenes to see the grotto come alive with twinkling lights and yuletide cheer. Families can join the Father Christmas Grotto Experience

West Workshop and six other attractions, including the aweinspiring Gough’s Cave, the immersive new Yeo’s Journey experience, the Museum of Prehistory, and the breathtaking Cliff-Top Walk with panoramic views over the Mendip Hills.

Workshop

Whether you’re meeting Father Christmas or exploring the ancient caves, Christmas at Cheddar promises a day of enchantment for the whole family — dogs included!

Explore

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Sing

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A Pilates Studio that Welcomes Every Body

Thrive Pilates Studio is not just a place to move your body - it’s a light, spacious and calming sanctuary where you can pause, breathe and reconnect with yourself. The studio was founded by Laura Carter on a simple belief: everyone deserves to feel at home in movement. Classes are mixed-level, so whether you’re brand new or experienced, you’ll always be guided in a way that works for you.

The approach is personal, too. With one dedicated teacher, you’ll get continuity and care: someone who knows your goals, keeps an eye on your progress, and adapts exercises to suit your needs. It’s not a one-sizefits-all class, but an attentive, supportive experience designed to help you feel stronger, more stable and more at ease in your own body. The passion behind the studio comes from Laura’s lived experience.

Having discovered how Pilates could transform her life with hypermobility, building strength, creating stability and sparking a love of movement, Laura now shares that journey with others, helping people feel more empowered and at home in themselves. “I wanted to create a space where everyone feels they belong, no matter their ability or experience. Because it’s just me teaching, there’s a real personal touch, I get to know each person and what they need. I’m especially passionate about welcoming those who might never have felt comfortable in exercise spaces before. Thrive is for every body.”

Now welcoming new members, you can sign up to classes and memberships at: thrivepilatesfrome. co.uk, or drop Laura a line to find out more at hello@thrivepilatesfrome.co.uk

Unwrap your moment of calm

The festive season can be hectic, but in our cosy studio under twinkling lights, there’s space to breathe, reset, and rediscover the joy of movement. Treat yourself, or someone you love.

HATHA YOGA AT VALLIS FARM

Start your week feeling nourished by mindful movement with breath awareness, as part of a six-week yoga course at the beautiful Vallis Farm. The Hatha Yoga classes are rooted in cyclical wisdom and with an emphasis on meeting yourself with acceptance, exploring postures with a playful attitude and finding pleasure in both movement and rest.

Following a gentle warm-up, the class will build to strengthening poses and end in short relaxation, aiming to leave you feeling refreshed and reenergised, connected both to yourself and a circle of support. Cecilia has been teaching yoga for over 12 years and practising for over 25 years, and offers adaptations so that everybody feels welcome. Find out more about your practitioner here: yogawithcecilia.co.uk