The Full English
Front Room Weston-Super-Mare, Weston-Super-Mare, BS23 1FF
"It's a bish-bosh, wish-wash, car crash mishmash!" Ever wondered where the word hoo-ha comes from? Why there ain’t no party like a double negative party?
“It’s a bish-bosh, wish-wash, car crash mishmash!”
Ever wondered where the word hoo-ha comes from? Why there ain’t no party like a double negative party? And why bead doesn’t rhyme with bread, machine doesn’t rhyme with nine, and don’t get me started on yearly and early? From gangs of gung-ho Anglo-Saxons and smelly Vikings to Covidiots and Instagram influencers, from enormous vowel movements to katsu curries self-isolating in the Twitterverse, this one-woman show by poet, spoken word artist, former ‘A’ level English lecturer and all-round linguistics nerd, Melanie Branton, explores the fascinating history of the English language through the media of performance poetry, silly hats and dad jokes.
Melanie Branton has performed at festivals including Womad, Shindig and Valleyfest, as well as at spoken word nights the length and breadth of the country. She has also represented Bristol at three national slam finals. Her published collections are The Full English (2023), Can You See Where I’m Coming From? (Burning Eye, 2018) and My Cloth-Eared Heart (Oversteps, 2017).
“The Full English combines both entertainment and education to explore the quirky and fascinating history of our rich linguistic heritage with charisma, wit, and large dollops of expertise. Melanie’s in-depth knowledge of the English language as a lecturer on the subject ideally complements her skills as one of the country’s cleverest and most engaging performance poets, and I would highly recommend the show to anyone with an interest in our bizarre but beautiful language.“
Rob Casey
“Quite brilliant – Melanie Branton’s ability to conjure light from the darkness, comedy among the tragedy, and a magical absurdity out of the everyday.”
Brian Bilston, the Poet Laureate of Twitter
“Melanie Branton is an unexpected poetry slap. The kind that makes your face tingle and your eyebrows sky rocket. She is funny, clever, ironic, dry, gripping, needed and you won’t see her coming until she is standing in your face.”
Liv Torc
Coming Up...
Dive into an exciting lineup of performances at Front Room Theatre. From cutting-edge local productions to family-friendly shows and touring acts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Keep an eye on our upcoming events, as we regularly showcase a diverse range of talent – all happening right here in Weston-super-Mare. Whether you’re looking for a night of comedy, theatre, or cabaret, we’ve got you covered. Browse our calendar and book your spot today!
What Our Audience Thinks...
Hear from those who have experienced the magic of Front Room Theatre – real stories from our community of theatre lovers.
4.8 out of 5.0 based on 48 reviews as of 16/10/2024
Michael Woodman
The Front Room is a fantastic addition to Weston’s cultural scene. The team brings quality work into Weston, which wouldn’t get to be seen otherwise, and provide a unique platform for local artists to perform.
Dagmar Wilhelm
The Front Room is fantastic. I have seen so many brilliant shows there in the short space since they opened. It is brilliant. It is exactly what Weston super Mare has so badly needed.
Rosemary
Great to have this venue in Weston super Mare! On the site of the old pizza express, this theatre has fully accessible facilities and refreshments available on site. We saw a brilliant family show put on by Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals. Fantastic!
Amy Parker
Watched a show today here with my son, what a lovely place! Very cleverly done and he really enjoyed it. Staff so lovely.
Rhys Ford-Young
Fantastic production of the shaggy dog tails!
A wonderful evening of great company and entertainment, great bar selection of local IPA ales and further drinks. Would highly recommend a visit if you can, a highly talented young crew 👍
Laura Duffy
Absolutely excellent venue. Wonderful staff, comfortable and inviting. Weston super mare needs this place, it's been a long time coming. 5 stars 🌟 ✨ 😍 💛 💖