The summer of ’22 was hot, hot, hot and we’re determined to keep things sizzling with an exciting new programme of events to take us right through to spring!
Laughter is the best medicine and we can’t wait to welcome some of the biggest names in comedy including Sara Pascoe, Henning Wehn and Jim Davidson; and why not catch one of our regular Comedy Store nights to discover the stand-ups of tomorrow?
Music lovers will be spoilt for choice toolook out for unmissable shows from 10CC and Howard Jones Acoustic Trio coming to Colchester on their UK tours.
Christmas on your mind? This year get ready for Colchester’s biggest, brightest and best of festive flings. The city is set to sparkle with a launch event like no other - expect lights, entertainment, family fun and so much more!
Think you know what goes on in Colchester? There might be a few surprises here - head to page 17 for the full listings.
Monty Python
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on this solo tour with first-hand accounts of journeys through two countries on the dark side of history. Michael said: “‘From North Korea Into Iraq’ may take you out of your comfort zone but I hope that, once we’ve travelled together, your feelings about these two countries and the wider world we share will never be quite the same again.”
Come and meet local artists, craftspeople, growers, makers and producers at Colchester Town Hall for the festive Christmas Gift Market on 26 and 27 November. With everything sourced and made locally it’s sure to get you in the festive spirit as you browse the perfect gifts for your friends and family. It’s free entry and there’s no need to book – just come along and enjoy!
The legendary 10cc are coming to Charter Hall as part of a mammoth 25-date UK tour. Marking the 45th anniversary of the release of their mega-hit I’m Not In Love, the band will perform the songs which have singled them out as one of the most inventive and influential bands in the history of popular music.
This brand new event features the amazing R&B and dance singer, Jocelyn Brown along with two of the biggest groups in soul history Odyssey and Heatwave. With hits like Somebody Else’s Guy, Boogie Nights, and Going Back To My Roots to name a few this high energy show on Saturday 12 November at Charter Hall, will have you dancing from start to finish.
Scouse funny man Paul Smith is back at Charter Hall with a brand-new tour ‘Joker’ on 10 March where he’ll mix his trademark audience interaction with hilarious true stories from his everyday life. If you’ve seen Paul live before you’ll know to expect hysterics from the start. Get your tickets quick for one of the outstanding comedy tours of the year.
The star of BBC2 stand-up special Sara Pascoe: LadsLadsLads is coming to Charter Hall with a brand-new stand-up show, Success Story! The comedian, writer and actor gives us a glimpse of what to expect.
How do you define success? This is the question at the heart of Sara Pascoe’s new touring show, Success Story.
“What I want to explore is how we define success and when do we define it. Does it change with age, do we only want things we can’t have? When we attain our goals, do we become unsatisfied with what we’ve got and want something else instead? I’m 40 now and it’s a reflective time; it feels like a very adult age. Looking back on my life to when I was 14, I really wanted to be on television. That’s where I work now but is it what I imagined it to be?”
Sara will soon be entertaining fans who may have come to her through her earlier stand-up or from TV presenting roles in Comedians Giving Lectures or The Great British Sewing Bee. Those programmes have lifted her public profile as well as giving her a fresh perspective on her own life.
Sara is desperate to get back on tour. After the last couple of years when quite often the prospect of gigging across the country again might have seemed a very long way off, Sara is certainly not going to be complaining about the rigours of being on the road.
“Yes, it can be tiring but when you’re in the dressing room before a show and you hear the hubbub of a busy room, you feel very lucky that people will come and see you at all never mind in their hundreds or thousands.”
For now there’s not a chance in hell that she is letting any of her, yes, let’s call it success, go to her head. “No one likes to do a mediocre gig, or worse, a flat gig. The idea that audiences might come to see you for the first time and leave disappointed really keeps you going. At the end of a show, you want them to say ‘oh god, do you remember that bit?’ and ‘I must tell auntie Susan about this bit’. You want an audience to be engaged in what you’re saying. When I watch comedy and want to text my dad about something that was said during a show, I know it was brilliant.”
It’s not too long now until people leave Sara Pascoe’s Success Story, desperate to tell their family or friends about the show they’ve just witnessed.
Sara decided she wanted to be famous at 14 years old. Since then, she has auditioned for Barrymore, scared Pete Burns and ruined Hugh Grant’s birthday - but look at her now… (please look, she needs you to look. And clap. And laugh. And then clap again).
Sara wrote and starred in her recent BBC2 sitcom Out Of Her Mind, and is the celebrated host of BBC2’s The Great British Sewing Bee, BBC’s Last Woman On Earth, Dave’s Comedians Giving Lectures and Comedy Central’s Guessable.
Sara also wrote and performed in the BBC Radio 4 series Modern Monkey and the BBC2 short Sara Pascoe vs Monogamy, inspired by her first book Animal. Her second book, Sex Power Money, was a Sunday Times bestseller.
www.colchester-events.co.uk/ event/sara-pascoe
For his new tour, an unbiased look at a certain virus might be inevitable but Henning has no agenda; he just happens to be always spot on. It’s a curse!
We wanted to get to know Henning a little better and posed a few questions to him. It appears he’s clearly a fan of Essex and Charter Hall too! We hope you’ll join us in giving him a warm welcome (back) to Colchester! Have you got your tickets yet?
WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG?
Purple Turtle in east London back in 2003. In the corner of the pub. A handful of audience members and one barking dog in the pub corner got more attention than any of the acts.
An old busker woman who I saw back home outside a jewellers. She sang a really naff song (Alle Moepse Beissen) while smashing two wooden spoons together. Compared to that anyone else can just pack it in.
“My audiences tend to be well behaved so heckling is not a problem.” (Famous last words)
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST
The Russians.
WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST TIME IN COLCHESTER?
In the year 30BC as part of the Roman army. I hope you like the infrastructure we left behind.
Charter Hall in Colchester, obviously.
A tourist guide in my hometown of Hagen.
WHAT
A tourist guide in my hometown of Hagen.
Best is a bike ride followed by a nap.
WHAT
Essex is well proper. Love it!
www.colchester-events.co.uk
Hailed as an electronic music pioneer, Howard Jones first burst upon the contemporary music scene in 1983, with his very English song-writing and pioneering synthesizers.
His first album, Human’s Lib reached number 1 in the UK in 1984 and featured the hits New Song and What Is Love? In 1985, Jones released the follow-up, Dream into Action, which featured the smash hit singles Things Can Only Get Better, Life In One Day, No One Is To Blame and Like To Get To Know You Well.
Colchester Events is delighted to welcome the Howard Jones Acoustic Trio to Charter Hall. The show features Jones on electric piano, guitarist Robin Boult (Roger Daltrey, Dave Stewart, Fish) and Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo, Belinda Carlisle, John Paul Jones) on chapman stick. Together they’ll give a fresh take on Howard’s best-known hits and provide a rare and intimate opportunity to hear first-hand about the inspiration behind Howard’s music and recollections from his international touring career.
“I am really excited about the trio tour,” says Howard. “Nick and Robin are dear friends and world class musicians and I love performing with them. After touring the trio in America, I thought the time was right for us to bring the fun of this acoustic show back home. I will play a range of songs from the Hojo canon including the hits old and new as well as some deep cuts and fan favourites.”
Special guest Roxanne de Bastion is a pioneering DIY singer-songwriter who has performed an incredible run of over 500 gigs to date, including two USA tours and a slot at Glastonbury; and has released two albums Heirlooms and Hearsay (2017) and You & Me, We Are The Same (2021).
Why not become a VIP ticket holder and pick the best available seats? You’ll enjoy a meet and greet with Howard prior to the performance and receive a signed souvenir.
www.colchester-events.co.uk/ event/howard-jones
Think mulled wine, cosy restaurants, and festive activities for the whole family. Colchester is set to sparkle this year with a launch event like no other. Expect lights, entertainment, family activities, and so much more. Whether you’re bringing the kids or gearing up for a night of cocktails and dancing there are great activities to get that festive glow.
The Late Wednesday’s Christmas programme will also be back with a bang. Last year we saw three nights of great entertainment, including magicians, lost elves, the grinch, and even a reindeer roaming the city! Our aim is to make the lead up to Christmas in Colchester the most magical experience, and this year’s programme is already starting to look spectacular! Make sure to keep your eyes peeled on our social media to get sneak peeks at the acts and entertainment that will be coming to Colchester this year.
Not only will great family entertainment be coming to Colchester, there will also be the return of pop-up shop take overs like the North Pole Post Office, plus the Giving Tree Campaign in association with Colchester Food Bank will be back to help spread the Christmas cheer.
Find Christmas magic throughout the city centre with the Enlightened Outdoor Light Trail in Castle Park, interactive family trails and magical window displays. Make sure to check on christmasincolchester.co.uk for Christmas updates. It would be rude-olf to miss it. It’s going to be a Christmas you won’t want to fir-get!
We can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with you! - The InColchester team
1 October
6.30pm From £34 Charter Hall
Monty Python legend and intrepid globetrotter Michael Palin brings tales of two of the most extraordinary journeys he’s ever made to the stage this autumn in a new solo tour.
FITX
9 October 12 noon - 6pm From £25 Charter Hall
FITX is the UK’s newest, bodybuilding Federation. This event presents the federation’s last qualifier for the 2022 season.
14 October 7.30pm £30 Charter Hall
More outrageous than ever! In this brand-new show for 2022, Jim invites you to join him for another evening of rip-roaring grown-up comedy.
16 October 10am Varied Castle Park
Rise to the challenge and enjoy a family day out taking part in our 1km, 5km or 10km fun run routes to raise money for St Helena Hospice. Why not dress up as your comic hero?
20 October 7:30pm From £39.50
Charter Hall
The legendary 10CC celebrate the 45th anniversary of the release of their mega-hit ‘I’m Not In Love’. This inspirational live show features their timeless hits and more, and always with a surprise or two.
21 October 8pm From £30 Charter Hall
Europe’s biggest touring halloween show returns with its high octane mash up of circus, clubbing and carnival set to a blazing live soundtrack spanning rock, metal and the dark side of DnB and electronic music.
22 October 12 noon Varied Castle Park
Join us for oompah bands, live music, two pint steins, bench seating and all the fun and frolics of Oktoberfest! Fans should also check out Bingo Loco XXL in Castle Park on 21 October - over 18s only.
GARY MEIKLE –
28 October 7.30pm From £22.50 Charter Hall
FORBIDDEN NIGHTS
4 November 7.30pm From £24 Charter Hall
Get ready for your ultimate ‘Forbidden’ night out with two hours of breath-taking action, world class circus acts, seductive choreography and our comedian compere (plus a few men in uniform thrown in for good measure!)
Howard Jones, Nick Beggs and Robin Boult offer a fresh take on Howard’s best-known hits and reveal the inspiration behind Howard’s beloved material. With special guest Roxanne De Bastion.
After his meteoric rise through the ranks, Scottish Comedy Award winner and viral sensation Gary Meikle is back. His cheeky chappie nature will have you laughing at things you probably shouldn’t ! KING COEL’S KITTENS FIREWORKS 5 November 5:30pm Varied Castle Park
This annual fireworks spectacular is one of the biggest events in the town with thousands coming together to enjoy a breath-taking display from Dynamic Fireworks.
WEDDING OPEN DAY & EVENINGS 10 November, 15 and 22 January 10am - 3pm / 5pm - 9pm Free Town Hall
Our Wedding Open Day and Evenings are the perfect opportunity to meet Colchester Events’ experienced wedding team and learn more about our historic and unique wedding venues.
12 November 1pm - 5.30pm
From £15 Charter Hall
The Show Me Love team of DJs, vocalists, musicians and dancers take over Charter Hall with the biggest Club Classic & Dance Anthems, House & Garage, RnB & Dancehall; plus 5 massive headliners!
12 November 7.30 pm
From £25 Charter Hall
The amazing Jocelyn Brown will be joined by two of the biggest groups in soul history ‘Odyssey’ and ‘Heatwave’. Enjoy hits like Somebody Else’s Guy, Boogie Nights, Going Back To My Roots and more in this high energy show.
18 November 7.30pm From £26 Charter Hall
Cinema’s most magical music performed by the London Film Music Chamber Orchestra under the light of a giant moon!
19 November 7.30pm
From £27 Charter Hall
Celebrate the sound of a generation with one very special night of The Magic of Motown! Seen by over a million people, now in its 17th year. It’s a breath-taking live concert spectacular.
PSYCHOLOGY OF SERIAL KILLERS: WITH JENNIFER REES 24 November 7.30pm From £22 Charter Hall
Join expert forensics lecturer Jennifer Rees to explore one of forensic psychology’s most troubling topics.
THE COMEDY STORE 25 November 8:00pm From £17 Charter Hall
The likes of Eddie Izzard, John Bishop, Jimmy Carr and Sarah Millican, have all cut their comedy teeth with us. Simply the funniest show you’ll see all year!
26 - 27 November
10am-5pm
Free Town Hall
The Town Hall will be bursting with stalls to browse and buy cards, food and drink,jewellery, beauty products, ornaments and more, all sourced or made locally.
ENLIGHTENED COLCHESTER
2-31 December
First entry: 5:00pm Varied Castle Park Brand new for 2022, Enlightened will transform the grounds of Castle Park into a magical illuminated light trail for visitors to enjoy with all the family.
FASTLOVETHE TRIBUTE TO GEORGE MICHAEL
3 December 7:30pm From £26 Charter Hall
Direct from London’s West End, this is the world’s favourite George Michael celebration! It’s one for the fans: Wake Me Up, Too Funky, Father Figure, Freedom, Faith, Careless Whisper and many more.
3, 8, 9, 17 December 7:00pm Varied Town Hall
Celebrate in style this Christmas at the Town Hall’s ‘A Colchester Christmas Party’, ideal for your office party and team night out!
4 December 9:00am
Varied Castle Park
Join the jolliest run of the year! Our iconic annual Santa Fun Run returns to Colchester Castle Park. You can run, jog or walk the 5km or 3km routes around Colchester’s picture perfect Castle Park.
CALLING PLANET
EARTH 9 December 7:30pm From £26
Charter Hall
This New Romantic Symphony journeys through one of the greatest musical eras of all time – The Electrifying 80s with songs from Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Soft Cell, Ultravox, ABC and many more.
17 December 7:30pm From £34 Charter Hall
EAST 17 embark on the Christmas ‘must-see’ show of 2022. One of the most influential acts of their generation, they’ll be joined by special guests S Club All Stars, plus Blazin’ Squad.
27 January 8:00pm
From £17 Charter Hall
With nearly 40 years in the business and as the premier name in comedy, The Comedy Store is renowned as a breeding ground for new comedy talent and is the place to see tomorrow’s stars today.
DJ SET 28 January 7:30pm From £22.50 Charter Hall
By overwhelming popular demand, we welcome back Martin Kemp to Charter Hall to take audiences on another unforgettable journey through pop music’s greatest ever decade, the 1980s.
LIMIT
11 February 7:30pm From £29.50
Charter Hall
Jason Fox, star of TV’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, is on tour for the first time telling the remarkable story of his daring exploits in a distinguished career as an elite operator in the UK Special Forces.
15 February
10am - 1pm
Free Town Hall
Looking for a job in Colchester? At the Colchester Jobs Fair you can meet and chat with over 25 employers actively looking to recruit new staff.
26 February 11:00am - 4:00pm Free Town Hall
Looking for your perfect wedding? Come and see what Colchester Town Hall can offer for your big day. Chat with our experienced Events Team and meet inspirational suppliers with exclusive rates.
JOKER 10 March 7:30pm From £27 Charter Hall
Paul Smith’s brand new tour ‘Joker’ is his biggest and funniest show to date. The scouse funny man mixes his trade mark audience interaction with hilarious true stories from his everyday life.
11 March 8:00pm Varied Charter Hall
Watch German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn give everything a good rinse and wring sense out of the nonsensical. Henning has no agenda; he just happens to be always spot on.
E-tickets are sent out following booking; in some cases tickets can be posted or collected at the venue.
Some events offer family tickets or other discounts. Visit our website or social media channels for details.
ColchestersEvents
14 April 7:30pm Varied Charter Hall
The host of The Great British Sewing Bee and star of BBC2 stand-up special Sara Pascoe: LadsLadsLads, the comedian, writer and actor Sara is back with a brand-new stand-up show exploring the meaning of success!
We are unable to offer refunds and exchanges once tickets are purchased. However, if a show is postponed or cancelled due to Covid-19, customers will be offered a refund.
Some events charge a booking fee which will be indicated when purchasing tickets.
colchestersevents
When you buy your tickets from Colchester Events, you’re helping to generate income to support local council services. All listings and prices are correct at the time of going to print. Colchester Events reserves the right to make alterations where necessary.
Colchester Events is part of Colchester Amphora Trading Ltd (CATL) a company established and wholly owned by Colchester Borough Council. All profits are reinvested to support the delivery of council services to the borough’s residents.
CHARTER HALL, COWDRAY AVE, COLCHESTER CO1 1YH
Save time on the day and pre pay for parking when purchasing tickets through our website; 400 onsite spaces
For accessible seating and carer ticket options, please see individual event listings.
Visitors can enjoy a selection of beer, wine, spirits, hot drinks and light snacks. ID required and card payments only.
The closest car parks are located at Priory Street and Leisure World
Blue badge and disabled car parking is available in the High Street and Castle Street. Most areas of the Park are fully accessible on tarmac paths.
TOWN HALL – HIGH STREET, COLCHESTER CO1 1PJ
The closest car parks are located at Priory Street and St Mary’s.
The venue is fully accessible and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
This brand-new event for Christmas 2022 will transform Castle Park into a magical illuminated light trail for visitors to enjoy with all the family.
At this sparkling night-time event, organised by Enlightened Moments, you’ll be captivated by mesmerising light installations, enchanting wonderland areas and a magical soundscape as you stroll along a specially crafted route.
The Enlightened trail, which begins and ends at the entrance to Colchester Castle, is approximately 1.5km in length and follows existing paths around upper and lower Castle Park so it’s accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. It takes place daily between 2 and 31 December - first entry is 5pm with slots every 15 minutes until 8.30pm.
“Such a magical evening! Just got home and although chilly it was such a lovely musical and light show! Well done!”
“The trail was amazing! So pretty and definitely worth the money”
“Lovely walk around the enlightened light display…very magical”
On tour for the first time Jason Fox, ex-special forces soldier and star of TV’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, heads to Charter Hall on 11 February 2023.
Life At The Limit tells the breath-taking story of Special Forces soldiering; a chronicle of operational bravery, adventure and courage on and off the battlefield.
Former Royal Marine Commando and Special Forces Sergeant, Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox joined the services at just 16 and went on to pass the gruelling selection process for the Special Forces, serving with the Special Boat Service.
Foxy planned and led operations including hostage rescue, counterterrorism, surveillance, bodyguarding and counter-narcotics missions. He also trained as a combat swimmer, demolitions expert, Special Forces dog handler and expert in jungle survival.
In 2012 he moved into the TV and film industry, initially using his experience to support production crews working in hostile areas, such as jungles and deserts.
Foxy is perhaps best known for starring in Channel 4’s hit series SAS: Who Dares Wins where, along with former Special Forces team members, contenders battle through SAS selection in the ultimate test of physical and psychological resilience.
In 2018, he fronted his own groundbreaking series Meet The Drug Lords: Inside The Real Narcos where he was dubbed ‘the narcos whisperer’. Hailed as Channel 4’s flagship show of the year, it featured amazing scenes that had never before been seen on TV.
Now an author and Sunday Times Bestseller, his books Battle Scars and Life Under Fire, give a breath-taking account of his ‘rise, fall and recovery’ in the military and how to build inner strength and thrive under pressure.
www.colchester-events.co.uk/ event/jason-fox
Seen by over a million people, now in its 17th year touring the UK
It’s no surprise that this show is one of the biggest success stories in British theatre history.
Come celebrate our brand-new show for 2022 as we reach out and show you there ain’t no mountain high enough with the biggest Motown party of the year.
Get ready for all the hits, glittering costumes, dazzling dance routines and outstanding musicianship in this breath-taking live concert spectacular.
You will be going loco down in Acapulco as we take you back down memory lane with all the Motown classics from artists such as, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, and many more.
Celebrate the sound of a generation with one very special night of The Magic of Motown!
Few shows have reached the dizzy heights of Fastlove, now touring in 18 countries and selling over 250,000 tickets worldwide. Join us for one very special night as we celebrate the late great George Michael.
Our talented cast will recreate for you, a night like no other! It’s a brand-new show for 2022!
Make new memories whilst reliving old classics - this one is for the fans as we celebrate one of the greatest musicians the world has ever seen, and we say thank you!
Playing all the hits, from Wham! right through his glittering career, including, Wake Me Up, Too Funky, Father Figure, Freedom, Faith, Knew You Were Waiting, Careless Whisper and many more.
