Adopt a Seat

We can’t promise your name in lights, but the next best thing is to adopt a seat in our auditorium. Add a name, quote or honour a loved one.

Visit mercurytheatre.co.uk/adopt or speak to a member of our team to find out more.

Sat 22 Jul Children’s

Stories of a Little Watersprite

11:30am & 1:30pm | £10 | 4+

Amongst drifting waterweed and ancient mossy rocks, newts, snails and fish of all sizes go about their business. But strange things have started to appear. Things that crinkle and clatter and clutter up the pond. This underwater world needs change. This is where a little watersprite awakens…

Sophie Nüzel’s work for families uses storytelling, movement and puppetry to tell an important tale of our time and how we can come together to create change.

Grab a fancy gin, locally brewed beer, or a sharing platter of tasty snacks before the show!

Open all day before a show 10am-Late

Sat 24 Jun Children’s

Professor Slug’s House of Bugs

11am & 2pm | £10 | 3+

The House of Bugs is fully booked with all sorts of bugs seeking help from Professor Slug and his fellow bug experts (that’s you, the audience!) But can all these buggy problems be solved before the Queen Bee arrives, or will a swarm of honey-hungry wasps wreak havoc?

This interactive show is packed full of colourful puppets, catchy songs and educational info about the wonderful world of bugs.

Professor Slug’s House of Bugs is proud to be supported by charity partner Buglife.

Santi & Naz

Thu 22 – Fri 23 Jun Drama

8pm | £12 | 12+

Santi and Naz are bestest-best friends living in a village in pre-partition India.

One Sikh, one Muslim; they have little understanding of how religion will divide them. As partition draws closer, the carefree girls remain oblivious to the spreading social unrest and violence. But when Naz is betrothed to a tailor from the soon-to-be capital of Pakistan, the threat of separation for the young women looms. Bound by their love, we learn how far they will go to avoid the inevitable. Winners of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Fund 2023.

Praise for Ladykiller (2018):

‘A smash hit’ ★★★★★ Broadway Baby ‘Superb’ ★★★★ The Scotsman

Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers

11am & 2pm | £10 | 5+

All around the world Roald Dahlʼs words are disappearing, not only from books but children’s minds too!

Now only a secret organisation known as the Ancient Guild of TaleTenders can save the stories - and they need your help...

Especially made for ages 5 and up, the show develops both creative and literacy skills through performance, games and creative play, while exploring Roald Dahl’s extraordinary stories, including The BFG and The Twits along the way.

Mischief & Mystery in Moominvalley

11am & 2pm | £10 | 3+

Based on the much-loved novels by Tove Jansson, this heart-warming show tells the story of a year in Moominvalley. Moomintroll wakes up in the middle of winter with a ‘something-wrong-feeling’. There’s no sign of his good friend Snufkin, or the note Snufkin left him. As winter turns to spring and Snufkin returns, the days lengthen into a lazy summer and ‘the sea brings them all the adventures they could wish for’.

This theatrical experience for children aged 3-7 years is a delightful show full of magical puppetry, an ingenious pop-up book set, original music and interactive storytelling.

Your legacy is their future

Leaving a gift to the Mercury in your will helps to ensure the arts in Colchester are supported for many years to come, including our work training the budding young stars of tomorrow. Gifts can be general donations or go towards a specific area of our work. We will gladly discuss how your gift can best be recognised. Let your love of theatre live on by visiting mercurytheatre.co.uk/legacy today.

Youth Play

See website for times | £16 | 8+

By Nikolai Gogol

Adapted by Darcy Brymen

Performed by Mercury Young Company

Gogol’s Underdogs will catapult audiences into the fantastical world of St Petersburg as seen through the eyes of Ukrainian novelist Nikolai Gogol.

A man chronicles his descent into madness. A poor filing clerk’s life is turned upside-down by the overcoat he sacrificed so much to obtain.

A Very Important Person wakes up one day to discover his nose is missing, only to find out his nose is now a government official - and the nose outranks him!

A visual feast featuring physical theatre, music and puppetry. These surreal and wonderful tales paint a critical, yet hilarious portrait of a city riddled with pomposity and selfimportance, combining absurdist farce with biting satire.

Sat 17 Jun

The Life of Pi

11am or 7:30pm | £13.50 | 12+

Puppetry, magic and storytelling combine in a unique, Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of the best-selling novel brought to life in a breath-taking new way for cinema screens.

After a cargo ship sinks, a 16-year-old boy named Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?

Fleabag

7pm | £13.50 | 15+

Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) and directed by Vicky Jones, Fleabag is a riproaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life. Following a box-office record-breaking run in cinemas in 2019, the one-woman show returns to the big screen this summer

Best of Enemies

7pm | £13.50 | 15+

David Harewood (Homeland) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) play feuding political rivals in James Graham’s (Sherwood) multiple award-winning new political thriller.

As beliefs are challenged and slurs slung, a new frontier in American politics is opening and television news is about to be transformed forever.

Pride Movie Nights

Join Colchester Pride for a celebration of queer cinema, bringing classic LGBTQ+ movies back to the big screen every month!

We’re delighted to host a diverse selection of film screenings in partnership with Colchester Pride as we line up cult films like To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar through to modern classics like Brokeback Mountain.

Grab some popcorn and settle in for a great night out with movie icons!

See our website for the full schedule.

The Mercury is a place where anyone, regardless of background, can take part in our exciting programme of weekly workshops and classes for adults and young people that are designed to develop performance skills, build confidence, meet new people and unleash your creative side!

Social Club

55+ Musical Theatre Dance

Our Social Club is an opportunity for anyone aged 55 and over to connect with other members of our community, learn new skills and take part in fun activities. This is an opportunity for participants to get involved creatively and is a safe, inclusive space to forge new friendships.

The Social Club meets every Thursday and the best part? Brews and biscuits are included in the price!

Thursdays, 12-2pm £7 per session

18+

Each week our experienced choreographers, Rosie Mather (Matilda the Musical film) and Vivien Carter ( Anything Goes), will teach routines inspired by hit musicals in our gorgeous dance studio. With routines from classic and contemporary shows, you will be introduced to various styles such as Modern Jazz, Latin, Hip-Hop and many more. Staying active whilst dancing to your favourite show tunes – who could ask for anything more? Why not join us for a drink afterwards? All dancers receive a 10% discount on their first drink in our café bar.

Tuesdays, 6pm & 7pm £6 per session

Mercury Community Choir

18+

Come sing with us! Led by our professional chorus leader the choir offers participants an opportunity to sing a dynamic and diverse repertoire of songs with performances in our theatre and at special events in Colchester and beyond. Whether you’re a seasoned singer or just looking to have a great time and make friends through song - Community Choir welcomes you.

See website for dates

Thursdays, 7-8:30pm £120 for term

We offer a payment plan, just ask our friendly Box Office team for details.

18+ Crafternoons: Millinery

In this 2-hour workshop you’ll be guided by Susan Widlake, Milliner and Mercury Creative, through the process of making your very own fascinator or bicorn. There will be an assortment of ribbon, flowers, feathers and trims for you to create something uniquely yours to take home. Basic sewing skills are useful but if you think you might struggle, don’t worry, Susan will help!

Saturday 10 Jun, 2-4pm £30 per workshop

Drag Workshops with Tracey and Sugar Paper

Here’s your chance to join a fun and fabulous workshop led by professional drag and performance artists, Dan Deller-Thompson (Drag Queen) and Lisa Warnock (AFAB Queen). This class is open to all genders and is suitable for complete newcomers who just want to try something fun, as well as those with some prior performance experiences.

See website for dates and times £15 per session

Myc

5-17s

Mercury Young Company, or MYC, is our yearround ensemble of young people training to be the theatre-makers of tomorrow. Our groups meet weekly to explore playful new methods of storytelling and to create exciting pieces of theatre. Our fun, friendly classes focus on training young people to work together as an ensemble.

See website for term dates £95 per term*

MYC Musical Theatre

Run by West End professionals and experienced performers, this weekly dynamic class provides young people with an introduction to musical theatre.

Each term we explore songs and create ensemble numbers that explore how to integrate the singing, dance and acting techniques needed to perform on the West End stage.

See website for dates, Saturdays 2pm-4pm £136 per term*

18+

Delivered in partnership with Le Barre, Pilates is a low-impact workout that comprises a variety of stretches achieved through precise poses to help you achieve a lean physique while challenging you mentally, physically and spiritually. Pilates is an effective stress release and mood booster, as well as being a brilliant way to keep fit. Highly experienced Pilates/Ballet instructors with years of Pilates, Professional Dance, Fitness and wellness experience deliver our Pilates classes.

See website for dates, Wednesdays 1pm £7 per session

Zumba Gold ®

55+ Pilates

Join us for a fun and relaxed dance fitness class combining Latin and World rhythms. This class is perfect for active older adults or someone looking for a more relaxed class that recreates the original moves you love at a lower intensity.

The class introduces easy-to-follow choreography that aims to improve balance, range of motion and coordination. Come ready to sweat, have fun and prepare to leave confident and feeling strong!

See website for dates, Thursdays 10:15am £6 per session

MAC

Mercury Adult Company (MAC) is a weekly practical and innovative theatre group for anyone aged 18+ with a shared passion for creating exciting theatre – both on-stage and behind the scenes. The company makes bold work, championing unheard stories and undiscovered talent.

Whether you are a beginner or seasoned performer – if you want to express yourself, perform, laugh, meet new people or develop creative skills, we want to create with you in MAC!

See website for dates, Thursdays 7-9pm £80 for term

Twinkles & Stars

13-17s 4mths-3yrs

Interactive, multi-sensory classes for early years children and their grown-up friends.

Imagination and creativity are a vital part of a child’s early life and these 45-minute sessions are designed to stimulate both. Through storytelling, dance and music, Tots provides parents and carers an opportunity to explore creative play with nothing but home materials and a sprinkle of imagination.

Tuesday mornings, see website for dates £6.50 per session

Tots Twinkles 10:30am for babies and crawlers

Tots Stars 11:30am for walkers

Nights out at Mercury

Come and have a great night out with us. We host regular after-hours nights like Cocktail Cabaret, West End Live, Sing-a-longs and more!

All Lates are free!

Scan our QR code to join our Facebook group to keep up to date.