The Theatre Shop has finally settled into its much anticipated new venue, and the excitement around this fresh start is absolutely contagious. The historic Market Hall is officially their new home. Brought into the community fold by the Clevedon Pier & Heritage Trust, this beautiful building is ready for a vibrant new chapter.
During a recent invitation to tour the new venue, the familiar layout immediately stood out. The building still looks very much like the old Theatre Shop, retaining that same intimate, welcoming feel audiences have always loved, but now set within a grander piece of local history
The move itself has been remarkably easy, a feat the organisation credits entirely to their fabulous team of volunteers. They are incredibly grateful for the hands on help and are actively looking to welcome more people to this wonderful crew as they settle in. More about volunteering here.
This move is about so much more than a simple change of address. Connecting the Market Hall with the Pier opens up brilliant new opportunities for collaboration. It provides a dedicated place to bring people together through shared heritage, arts, culture, learning, and exhibitions. Everyone involved is deeply thrilled to finally open the doors and welcome the town in.
The autumn programme is packed and ready to go. The very first production to hit the new stage is Living Spit’s The Tragedy of Omlet, Prince of Hen-mark, an egg-sistentially hilarious take on Shakespeare.
LIVING SPIT: THE TRAGEDY OF OMLET PRINCE OF HEN-MARK by Stu McLoughlin (and William Shakespeare), Tuesday 29th September 2026 – Saturday 10th October 2026
“O, that this too too solid shell would melt,
Thaw and resolve itself into a dew…”
The question of suitability to play the Moody Dane has preoccupied theatre makers for centuries. Scholars have long debated age, physique, gender and temperament – yet all have overlooked the perfect candidate: an egg.
Enter Omlet, Prince of Hen-mark; Hamlet rehatched; fragile, brooding, on the brink of cracking under the pressure of his own Egg-sistential angst and joined by a full supporting cast of vegetables and assorted foodstuffs – fresh from the fridge and prepared to present Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy as you’ve never seen it before; retold by one man, one egg and a trolley full of comestibles.
But this is no ordinary one man show. With live original music, perishable puppetry, and an overly confident reliance on bad puns, actor Stu Mcloughlin juggles an entire allotment of Shakespearean tragedy whilst trying not to turn his leading man into a leading flan.
Omlet, Prince of Hen-mark is a sumptuous scramble of skilful soliloquising, small-scale suspense and sunny-side-up Shakespearean silliness. A cracking night out, proving once and for all that…
…something is rotten in the state of Hen-mark.
Age guide: 12+ Running time: 1h 40 inclusive of 20 min interval. Tickets are £15. Book here! Doors open at 7.00 p.m. The show starts at 7.30 p.m.
THE LAST BAGUETTE: PLAYTIME 29th October 2026 10.00 a.m. & 11.30 a.m.
Ratty’s birthday, and we are all invited to Ratty’s party, but will she get everything in time? It could be Mayhem! But we are all hoping for a little bit of Magic at this party…
Ratty has a lot of ideas, but sometimes things don’t go according to plan! Can you help her by playing along and working together? A fun and gentle introduction to theatre with play-along storytelling, original music, puppetry, theatre games, movement, and lots of imaginative play.
Sessions last 1 hour and are created for ages 2-6 and their grown-ups. Younger and older siblings welcome!
The Last Baguette makes entertaining, accessible and eccentric work for family audiences.
Please note that space is limited, and children aged 2+ and their accompanying grown-ups will need tickets. You are welcome to bring children under 2 along without a ticket. Tickets are £8. Group tickets available. Book here.
“Playtime is an absolute joy to be a part of. The sessions are a lovely way for us to play together and explore our imaginations.” The Greatest Showmum
“Playtime has proved to be a real success for us here at The Pound Arts Centre. The quality of performance is high and Sidney and Tristan are skilled at creating a warm, welcoming and playful atmosphere where everyone feels included. Shows sell out fast. We love it!” Helen Dilley, Creative Learning Officer, Pound Arts
CARMENCO TRIO: MY MY MY DELILAH! 27th November 2026 7.30 p.m.
70% music and 30% spoken word, My My My Delilah! is a riotous concert-play in which the Bible’s most notorious femme fatale finally tells her side of the story. What really motivated her betrayal of Samson? Was she chasing fame, settling scores, or simply fed up with all that hair?
Packed with virtuosic live music, sharp comedy and unexpected twists, this irreverent tale of rivalry, superstardom, power and vanity features music from some of opera’s greatest hits, ingeniously reimagined for CarmenCo Trio’s unique combination of flute/voice and two guitars. The new show from the trio behind A Pocket Opera, My My My Delilah! is a witty, exhilarating mix of classical music, storytelling and comedy that audiences won’t soon forget.
“The musicianship was wonderful. What I had absolutely not expected was that it would be so entertaining as well as dramatic and touching… the story telling was spellbinding”
Frome Concerts Group organiser on A Pocket Opera
Doors open at 7.00 p.m. The show starts at 7.30 p.m. Book here.
LIVING SPIT: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE QUIZMAS! 4th & 5th, 11th & 12th , 18th & 19th, 21st – 23rd December 2026
Ah, Christmas. A time for goodwill, peace on earth, and absolutely CRUSHING your friends and family in a festive quiz. But this isn’t just any Christmas quiz night. It’s a comedy show hastily gift-wrapped in unrecyclable quizzy paper! Join Living Spit’s Holy host, Stu Mcloughlin, as he sings, dances and otherwise vaguely performs his way through ridiculous rounds, questionable facts, surprise challenges and enough festive foolery to make Santa fake an injury.
Bring your brains, your buddies and your strongest opinions about which Quality Street selections are the best. Big laughs! Tiny prizes! Family arguments! Come clever. Leave confused.
Writer and performer: Stu McLoughlin; Director: Craig Edwards
Running Time: 85 mins (inclusive of a 20 min interval). Age guide: 12+. Tickets are £15. Book here.
STEWART WRIGHT WITH SALLIE CHEDBURN: SANTA & SNOWBALL Saturday 5th December 2026 1.30 p.m. & 3.00 p.m.
I don’t know if you know, but filling the stockings of every child in the world in just one night is a HUMONGOUS undertaking. It requires planning, team work, dedication and – of course – a sprinkling of Christmas magic. These last few years Santa has taken to recce-ing ahead of the big drop to help Christmas Eve run as smoothly as possible. He brings with him Snowball, his brand new reindeer handler, she’s keen to get things right, though is a bit prone to mishap. We’re sure her talents will shine through in the end and she may even achieve her dream of turning into a snowball.
Together, they’re hoping to shave valuable seconds off their busy Christmas Eve schedule by gathering crucial stocking location and roof landing intel ahead of time. Are you up to the challenge of helping our festive heroes with their quest? Get a peek into their enchanting world, see Snowball play with her favourite snow elf circus toys, enjoy a Q&A with Santa and more. They’ll also answer the big questions of the Santa story and show glimpses of their Christmas magic.
Come and see why the show has been selling out venues from Tobacco Factory Theatres to Soho House and beyond! Guaranteed to bring a sense of fun, mischief and anticipation to all.
Created and performed by Stewart Wright with Sallie Chedburn.
‘A funny and touching sprinkle of Christmas magic, which you’d be hard pressed not to be enchanted by, whatever your age.’ Bristol’s Best Christmas Shows, Bristol 24/7
‘The most magical and authentic Father Christmas you’ll ever meet’ Bristol Post
‘Utterly magical – we all loved it’Audience reaction
Suitable for ages 2+ (under 2s on laps do not need a ticket). 50 mins, no interval. Book here.
DAVID MYNNE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL 10th December 26 7.30 p.m.
David Mynne, veteran Cornish actor and a founder member of Kneehigh, in the 10th anniversary tour of his one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Joy to all mankind? Bah
Spend an evening with Ebenezer Scrooge: a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, covetous, old miser! Bah!
In their inimitable style, the team that brought you Great Expectations, Dracula and The Odyssey will now take you on a grim (sort of) journey through the dark, dismal streets of Victorian London. Dickens’ original words with added silliness. Silliness? Bah!
Celebrate the festive season with a mesmerising one-man performance of Charles Dickens’ timeless, transformative story: A Christmas Carol. Bah! Now with extra Humbug!
“A Christmas Carol was beautiful – apparently simple theatre with just one actor, but you go home remembering a cast of dozens! He is a genius.” Richard Wolfenden-Brown: Director, The Plough Arts Centre
“Beautiful – apparently simple theatre with just one actor, but you go home remembering a cast of dozens! He is a genius.”
Director The Plough Arts Centre
Doors open at 7.00 p.m. Show starts at 7.30 p.m.
THE LAST BAGUETTE: TWINKLE, TWINKLE. 3rd January: 10.00 a.m., 11.30 a.m., & 2.00 p.m.
It’s the longest night of the year and it’s hard to sleep. Gazing at the stars, surprising things start to happen….
As the sun sets and the stars come out to shine, join the woodland animals as they gather together to celebrate the solstice.
Together we will discover the light that shines in the darkness.
‘Tis your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the trav’ller in the dark :
Tho’ I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
A playful, gentle journey based on the poem The Star by Jane Taylor (first published 1806) with original music, puppetry, joyful jokes, a host of woodland animals and lots of starlight.
Created for ages 2-6 and their grown-ups. Younger and older siblings welcome. Running time: 45 minutes plus a 10 minute stay and play session. £8
“Funny, charming and thought-provoking” – Creative Reviews UK on The Bird Show
As for what happens after Christmas, I will admit I know very little about the rest of the programme just yet. I do know, however, that the brilliant poet Luke Wright will be taking to the stage in March. A quick word to the wise: tickets for his shows always disappear incredibly fast, so you will definitely want to keep a close eye out and book early.