Frome's Merlin Theatre, known as much for its joyful annual community shows as it is for its purpose-built outdoor festival-friendly amphitheatre, has always set itself the ambition of bringing high quality professional, quality theatre, dance and music to the town.

This popular, volunteer-supported venue, even with the current challenges of lack of access to funding and the limitations of being a relatively small theatre, always thinks big where it can – and Spring 2024 is no exception as it brings to town renown the award-winning Vamos Theatre company.

Director, Claudia Pepler, tell us about the UK's leading full mask theatre company's upcoming visit and their new show, Boy On The Roof. "We are so excited that one of the UK's finest, professional touring companies is back in town.

Their new show, which opened in London earlier this month, is based on stories of real life experiences and has been created by gathering those experiences of ADHD, loneliness, aging and hearing loss.

This company has brought two years of making together to create a truly moving and entertaining piece of theatre, telling the story of teenage Liam, a boy with ADHD, and his 91-year-old neighbour, Albert."

Performed by some of the UK's best physical theatre mask actors, including Gavin Maxwell from Frantic Assembly and James Greaves and Alan Riley (Founder) of Trestle Theatre, the wordless storytelling comes through gesture, movement and body language, with an original soundtrack, and is described in a 5 star review in The Stage newspaper, as "The delicate detail of the actors' movements is exquisite..."

When teenage Liam's report card reveals a distracted and academically challenged boy, his father becomes increasingly frustrated with his son's nervous habits and lack of attention.

But, next door, OAP Albert spends his days alone with only a photograph of his dead wife for company and little connection to the modern world, until trying to figure out a smartphone brings Albert and Liam together and an unlikely bond develops.

Focusing on urban loneliness and feeling misunderstood, Boy on the Roof establishes an unexpected connection across a generational divide between neighbours who barely acknowledge each other's existence.

From a football-loving nurse to the single dad with an eternally crying baby and the teenagers rehearsing for their band, the intensity of these separate lives is captivating as Frome is treated to some of the highest quality professional work, right on its own doorstep.

Taking its funny and fearless brand of wordless theatre across the length and breadth of the country and beyond since 2006, Boy On The Roof, suitable for adults, including young people over the age of 12, will play The Merlin at 7.30pm on Saturday 2 March. Discounted and low pricing is available for students. Full details can be found on website www.merlintheatre.co.uk