The Last Matron radio play.

Titled The Last Matron, this original production brings to life the rich, often untold history of Keyford Asylum, a once-pivotal institution in the heart of Frome. First performed on stage in 2023 to wide acclaim, The Last Matron now reaches a broader audience through this atmospheric radio adaptation.

Written by Kevin Ross in association with Dramakarma and Keyford History Group, the play is inspired by real events, personal diaries and historical records spanning over a century.

Set against the background of a crumbling institution facing demolition, the story is woven with vivid characters:-a defiant young girl desperate to escape institutional life-elderly residents clashing and reminiscing-brave evacuee children confronting the chaos of WW2. And at the heart of it all, the Matron- a stoic figure holding together the fragile threads of life inside the walls of the ‘Home.’ As the Matron bears witness to the spectres of the past, The Last Matron becomes more than a tale of loss- it’s a call to remember and honour the lives shaped within those historic walls.

“This is not just a drama-it’s a tribute to a building that once was the soul of the community,” said Kevin Ross. “Through radio we’re able to breathe new life into the voices of those who walked it’s corridors.”

The Keyford Asylum was established in 1804, following the charitable legacy of Richard Stevens, a local currier who left funds to educate poor girls and care for elderly men in the town. Serving multiple roles in the town over its 150-year history-from a hospital to a military auxiliary during WW1 and a refuge for evacuees and a billet for soldiers in WW11- the institution stood as a beacon of care and resilience until its demolition in 1957. Now, decades later, The Last Matron ensures that the building’s legacy is not lost to time.

Broadcast Details

‍The Last Matron will premiere on FromeFM - Frome’s community radio station- on October 29 at 8pm on 96.6fm or simultaneously online at www.frome.fm

‍Listeners can expect a gripping hour of storytelling, history, and emotion- grab a slice of your local heritage!’

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