Latest Mercury Theatre News

The Mercury Theatre in Colchester, has become the first theatre in Essex to purchase a captioning unit. Awarded with a Community Initiatives fund from Essex County Council, the £6000 grant has allowed the theatre to purchase a captioning unit. The unit provides those who are deaf or of hard hearing, with a theatre experience that describes what is happening on stage.

This week,  Mercury Theatre’s archives are open to the public as part of a temporary exhibition in the Digby Gallery, offering local residents the chance to glimpse into the history of their local theatre – perhaps for the first time. This exhibition is part of Mercury Voices, an exciting new project through which Essex residents can share their memories of the Theatre, enabling the theatre to create an online database where anyone can access textual, visual and oral materials relating to the Mercury’s history. The project is in partnership with Essex Records Office and Colchester Recalled, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Essex Heritage Trust.

Starring Krissi Bohn and Pete Ashmore  

UK Regional Première CLYBOURNE PARK By Bruce Norris 8 – 23 April

Mercury Theatre Colchester is one of 16 organisations nationwide to reach the final stage of an Arts Council England major funding scheme. Arts Council awards £478,000 to advance extensive rebuild plans, with an invitation to apply for a further £3.5m. Colchester Council is proposing to invest £1m to the project, subject to a formal decision, and to support with project management. The Mercury Theatre is announcing an £8.8m plan to redevelop its buildings and site, improving and extending audience and production facilities whilst also creating a learning and participation centre that will help to extend its educational and community work. For the first time, all areas of the building will be fully accessible. If the project is successful, the new facilities would open in 2020.

Aladdin Relaxed and Dementia Friendly Performance

Lisa Maxwell to star in West End and Broadway smash hit drama • Regional premiere of Olivier award-winning comedy drama Clybourne Park • World War II drama from the producers of Birdsong • Spectacular dance showcase from Strictly Come Dancing favourites •

Full cast announced for Mercury Theatre Panto

June 2016

Mercury Theatre Colchester, Wed 4 Nov, 7.30pm

Written by The Goodale Brothers

David McKee’s Not Now, Bernard & Other Monster Stories  

For the 2015 summer season, The Mercury Theatre has announced its upcoming show, and there is plenty on offer to make this a memorable summer for all.

Talented young people from the Mercury Youth Theatre will be taking part in an annual national festival of new plays for youth theatres and schools for the first time ever, with their production of Hospital Food.

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to think about pantomimes like the Mercury Theatre’s 2014 pantomime, Cinderella.

This October, The Mercury Theatre will play host to the West End and Edinburgh sensations The Fitzrovia Radio Hour, in a co-production of Dracula- as you’ve never seen or heard it before!