Frighteningly funny Young Frankenstein

Round & About

Farnham Maltings

You’d be mad to miss FAOS Musical Theatre Group’s latest show at Farnham Maltings

Join FAOS for a terrific time in old Transylvania, where the wolves are howling, the scientists are mad, the monster has escaped and everyone is Puttin’ On the Ritz!

Young Frederick Frankenstein (that’s Fronken-steen), returns to his grandfather’s Transylvanian castle with his trusty sidekick Igor (that’s Eye-gore) and with the help of beautiful blonde Inga (that’s buxom) and the slightly sinister Frau Blücher (that’s… enough!) creates a magnificent monster.

However, the brain used isn’t quite to the standard Frankenstein expected, and with the local police inspector and villagers breaking down the door with pitchforks – for a friendly welcome – and a surprise visit from Frankenstein’s fiancée Elizabeth, just as you would expect hilarious chaos ensues.

Young Frankenstein is scientifically proven, monstrously good entertainment, a frighteningly funny show that will leave you in stitches. You’d have to be mad as Frankenstein to miss it.

Performances: 12th-15th June, 7.30pm, 2.30pm on Saturday.

To book tickets, adults £18, under 16s £13, call the box office on 01252 745444 or visit farnhammaltings.com/events/faos-young-frankenstein

Farnham Maltings also offers a pre-show dining option.

FOAS has been part of life in Farnham for almost 100 years. They are always looking for new performers and behind the scenes for help with costumes and make up, props, set-building, lighting, sound engineering, front of house, backstage crew during show week and marketing and publicity.

Dancing dinosaurs at Farnham Maltings

Karen Neville

Farnham Maltings

Roustabout Theatre’s acclaimed stage adaptation of Michael Foreman’s Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish plays Farnham Maltings on Sunday, 26th March

One man’s passionate dream to find his paradise beyond the stars leaves the world in ruins. Can the dinosaurs who sleep deep underground wake up in time to sort out the mess and save Planet Earth?

Expect a riotous hour of dancing dinosaurs, space travel and catchy songs when Roustabout Theatre’s adaptation of Michael Foreman’s classic children’s book, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish, plays Farnham Maltings on Sunday, 26th March at 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Foreman’s cautionary environmental tale for children celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, having sold more than 150,000 copies world-wide. The book and theatre adaptation deliver an important message of ecological awareness: “the Earth belongs to EVERYONE, not parts of it to certain people but all of it to everyone, to be enjoyed and cared for”.

Multi-award-winning writer and illustrator, Michael Foreman, said: “When I wrote, and illustrated, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish in 1972, it was because of the growing threat to the environment. I never imagined the book would be even more relevant more than fifty years later, and I am delighted that director Toby Hulse and Roustabout are bringing it to a wider audience. I saw the show and thought it was BRILLIANT! We really enjoyed it. Sitting there, I felt so proud that my ancient book had played a part in this joyful experience. For me, as an author/illustrator, it was a rare and special treat to feel, at first hand, such a warm and enthusiastic response from parents and children together. Thank you all for bringing the story to life in such a glorious and fun production, I feel deeply honoured.”

Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish is created by Roustabout (Luna, This Island’s Mine), and performed by actor-musicians Oliver de Rohan, Robin Hemmings and Shaelee Rooke.

It is directed by Toby Hulse, who said: “I am thrilled that, after the roaring success of the first tour, we are able to bring the show to so many more families in so many more venues. This is a book that I devoured as a child, and it’s such a treat to share it with all kinds of brand new audiences.”

Alongside the underlying green message, Roustabout’s signature silliness will abound in this vibrant musical show which promises to have audiences tapping their toes.

Roustabout is proud that this production is sustainable, monitoring its carbon footprint in every area of production including set and costume, travel and marketing.

Originally commissioned as a digital production by Watermans, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish was shortlisted for Best Theatre for Children, OFFIE Awards 2022. It is produced by arrangement with Penguin Books Ltd, a Penguin Random House company.

Recommended for 3-8 year olds and their families.

To book tickets contact the Farnham Maltings Box Office: Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish by Roustabout Theatre | Farnham Maltings

Match made in heaven

Round & About

Farnham Maltings

The story behind a local production of Little Matchstick Girl at Farnham Maltings has an equally moving significance & legacy

The Little Matchstick Girl is one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most evocative and best-loved fairytales. And this month the tale is brought to life on the Farnham Maltings stage thanks to an equally heartfelt journey.

The show’s producer is Sophie Key whose father, Jeremy Paul, was a well-known television writer, starring in Upstairs Downstairs, Secret of Sherlock Holmes, Lovejoy, Midsomer Murders and Hetty Wainthrope. He originally adapted The Little Match Girl for television in the early 1970s and was then approached by composer Keith Strachan to turn it into a musical, which they did in 1977 at The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. ‘’I was six at the time,’’ recalls Sophie, ‘’and I remember the production vividly, which my father also directed. In the 1980s it was adapted again for television starring Twiggy and Roger Daltrey. My sister and mum [well-known actress Patricia Garwood who played Beryl in No Place Like Home in the 1980s] put on a version of it about 10 years ago at The Lighthouse Theatre in Poole, and another sister was in that production.

‘’I took my daughter, Abbie, who was six at the time to see this production, and she absolutely loved it, and has been asking me ever since to put on a production.’’

A decade later, and in a lovely turn of events, this show comes to the Farnham stage and Abbie will star in this production, playing Liza, one of the rich girls the Match Girl meets. ‘’So, this is also an opportunity to pass the magic of the show down to the next generation,’’ adds Sophie. ‘’I have a close personal connection to the show, and it is a fulfilment of a lifetime ambition to put on my own production of it. The reason I am doing it this year is that I sadly lost my mum to cancer in February, and I wanted to put my energies into something creative and positive and something she would have been really proud of me for doing. My dad died eight years ago, so I’m dedicating the production to both their memories.’’

The musical includes the song’Mistletoe & Wine which was the Christmas Number 1 of 1988, recorded by Cliff Richard, and went on to win an Ivor Novello award. Composer Keith Strachan explains how this came about: ‘’Mistletoe & Wine, was a Christmas song to be sung by the cast in the style of a Christmas Carol. We discussed using a traditional carol but decided to write our own. And I kept saying to the others ‘this is a hit’ and I sent it to recording artists but no one was interested in recording it… Well at least not until 1988 when Cliff Richard heard it and made it his own.’’

Sophie lives in Farnham and runs a corporate video production company with her husband. This is the first theatre production she has done for a number of years although she trained originally as a theatre director at The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond.

‘’I have cast the production using local talent, including actors from FAOS, Haslemere Players, The Grayshott Stagers, Farnham Dance, Showshack Elite Theatre Group, and pupils from Weydon, All Hallows and Frensham Heights. So it’s a real community project. All profits from the production are going to Phyllis Tuckwell.’’

More info

Book your tickets for The Little Match Girl at 2.30pm on Saturday, 14th December by calling 01252 745444 or visit

Purls of wisdom: unravel knitting festival

Round & About

Farnham Maltings

Farnham Maltings will once again host unravel… a festival of knitting, between Friday, 22nd and Sunday, 24th February.

“It’s amazing to see the community of knitters, crochet and craft enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds return year after year to celebrate their love of yarn,” says festival organiser Gemma Curtis. “Whether you’re new to knitting and crochet or have years of experience, there is something for everyone.”

Since its launch in 2009, unravel… a festival of knitting has become one of the leading independent events, with yarn enthusiasts visiting from across the country and around the world.

The hub of the festival, unravel’s marketplace, allows visitors to buy products from more than 70 quality exhibitors from across the UK and Europe. Exhibitors include locally based The Little Grey Sheep and international vendors including Dye Dye Done from Poland, Fine Fish Yarn from Belfast and Lanivendole from Genova as well returning favourites and some new to the show for 2019.

As ever, unravel is offering expert-led workshops and talks on a range of disciplines. Classes include a mystical lantern class by crochet expert Jane Crowfoot, international tutor Kate Atherley introducing participants to the skills of glove-making and renowned knitwear design Alison Ellen leading an Entralec skills class.

Running throughout the whole Maltings building, visitors can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the show in this unique setting.

• Tickets £8 in advance / £10 on the door and workshops can be booked in advance and include the price of same day entry.

  Call 01252 745 444 or visit www.farnhammaltings.com