What’s On Jan-Mar 2024
Hello! With the festive period just around the corner, we thought it was the perfect time to start looking ahead at what next year brings us. As we wave goodbye to our magical pantomime and adorable tots studio show, we’re delighted to bring you our first Mercury Production of 2024, The Importance of Being Earnest, offering you a Wilde night out! As well as a sneak peek at our next Mercury Original, Bindweed, which earnt writer Martha Loader the Judges Award at the prestigious Bruntwood Prize. We’re, of course, continuing with our jam-packed Taking Part programme, offering you the chance to try something new, whether that be staying active, getting creative or singing it out. That’s all until next time, so have a flick through these silky pages and get planning your first theatre trips of 2024, we can’t wait to see you again.
Our promise Times are tough and we’re here to help! As a community building we want to be there for those that might need a helping hand. We promise: • Every Wednesday is our Bargain Bites day where pensioners can get a hot meal and a drink for £5. • To offer savings when you book our hot desk workspaces regularly, or come and work in our Café Bar and make use of our free Wi-Fi if you prefer a busy environment. • Standby tickets will be available for Mercury Productions on the day, after 4pm. Also for all Mercury Productions, under 30s will receive £5 off their ticket. • We’ll continue to offer ticket discounts for Military personnel and Emergency Services employees through our partnership with the Blue Light Card. • Bursaries will continue to be available for Mercury Young Company. Please email taking.part@ mercurytheatre.co.uk to find out more. (Subject to availability) 2
Mercury For All Did you know… The Mercury is a not-for-profit, registered charity. We rely on audience donations and funders to continue the work we do in your community. If you are ever able to make a donation towards the Mercury’s future, we would be extremely grateful – oh yes we would!
We are here to help… We anticipate a lot of people have had to sacrifice theatre tickets and engagement activities to cover the rise in cost of living. We want to do everything we can to ensure that these families can still access these opportunities and that cost is not a barrier to theatre. All donations made to the Mercury will allow us to continue delivering vital work to our communities including offering bursaries, free family events, early careers support and more. Want more bang for your buck? Become a member and receive theatre goodies in exchange for your donation! Gift Aid can also be applied to all donations.
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Club £1200 Producers All Ambassador benefits plus recognition in the public areas per year
of the building, free car parking and two free tickets to every Mercury Production. 3
Theatre
Sat 25 Nov – Sun 14 Jan
Supported by
Panto
See website for times | Tickets from £10 | 5+ Award-winning duo Dale Superville and ‘best Dame in the country’ (British Theatre) Antony Stuart-Hicks return to the Mercury this Christmas, along with Panto favourite Sasha Latoya for a wintery adventure that will be one to remember! Princess Luna is tricked into pricking her finger on a spinning wheel needle, cursing her to everlasting sleep. Only true love’s kiss can wake the princess, so now it’s up to Fairy Fizz, Dame Maris Piper and Spud to defeat the evil Carabosse and save Luna! Will the curse be lifted? Will true love conquer all? Join us this Christmas on an unforgettable journey to find out! Directed by the Mercury’s Creative Director Ryan McBryde (Aladdin, Great Expectations, The Comedy of Errors), Sleeping Beauty jumps off the page in a side-splitting adaptation by Guy Unsworth (Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em). 4
Jump straight to the show page
A Little Angel Theatre production based on the book by Emma Dodd published by The Templar Company Limited
Studio
Me... Based on the book by Emma Dodd
Wed 13 Dec – Sun 7 Jan
Children’s
See website for times | Tickets from £10 | 2+ The world is a very big place, especially for a tiny baby penguin who is just finding his feet. The shimmering stars and glistening snow spin around our little hero, while the mountains tower high and the wind rushes to and fro. And although baby penguin may be small his family know he’s the biggest thing of all. Jump straight to the show page
This early year’s favourite is a lovely and touching story about a parent and their love for their child by much loved children’s author Emma Dodd. Ideal for toddlers aged 2-5 as their first theatre experience. ‘Obscenely adorable’ ★★★★ Time Out ‘A lovely Christmas treat for the little people in your life’ ★★★★ West-end Wilma 5
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Theatre
A Mercury Production
The Importance of Being Earnest Writer Oscar Wilde Director Ryan McBryde Designer Katie Lias Lighting Designer Lucía Sánchez Roldán Sound Designer Beth Duke
Fri 1 – Sat 16 Mar
Comedy
Jack Worthing is living a double life.
See website for times
To escape his dull country existence, he has invented a younger brother called Ernest, whose scandalous behaviour requires Jack to regularly travel to London. Once in the city, Jack becomes Ernest, a playboy with a decadent reputation. He is head over heels in love with Gwendolyn Fairfax, the daughter of the formidable Lady Bracknell. When his best friend Algernon discovers that Jack has a secret identity and a beautiful niece called Cecily, he heads down to the country posing as the delinquent brother Ernest.
Tickets from £15 Age guidance 12+
Jump straight to the show page
Widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever written, The Importance of Being Earnest zings with contemporary relevance, subversively satirising the snobbery and hypocrisy of extreme wealth and excess. Oscar Wilde’s dazzling wit gets a stylish makeover from our creative director Ryan McBryde, who last had us in stitches with the madcap farces They Don’t Pay? We Don’t Pay! and The Comedy of Errors. Sparkling with razor sharp quips and lush period design, this gold-standard comedy guarantees a Wilde night out!
Thu 7 Mar
2:30pm
Post-show Q&A
TT
Sat 9 Mar
1pm
Touch Tour
AD
Sat 9 Mar
2:30pm
Audio Described
CAP
Tue 12 Mar
7:30pm
Captioned
For more information on school group pricing and workshops head to our website! 7
Theatre
Tue 12 – Thu 14 Dec
Comedy
Thu 25 Jan – Sun 4 Feb
Musical
Jonathan Pie & Friends
My Fair Lady
7:30pm | £12 – £17 | 16+
See website for times | £15 – £26.50
Join Jonathan Pie as he road tests brand new material for his forthcoming national tour. Pie will also be joined number of the countries best stand-up comics for a night of cutting satire and silliness.
Join the award-winning Colchester Operatic Society as they tell the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young flower seller, who meets Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor determined to transform her into a “proper lady”.
Jonathan Pie: Hero or Villain? A question often asked and one that Pie hopes to answer in his brand-new live show. Join him as he celebrates the UK’s greatest heroes and takes a verbal blowtorch to its villains.
With a feel-good score, including timeless classics, this new production is not to be missed! This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International.
‘Mesmerising’ ★★★★★ Chortle
Thu 8 Feb
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Music
Fri 9 Feb
Comedy
ABBA Forever
Richard Herring
7:30pm | £29 – £35 | 12+
7:30pm | £22 | 14+
The unique ABBA look and sound is replicated with incredible attention to detail as the beautiful lyrics penned by Benny and Bjorn are sung in wonderful harmony by all seven performers on stage. Dynamic non-stop choreography, stunning visuals, top-class musicianship and an ALL-LIVE performance ensures that the ABBA Forever tribute show captivates audiences. This show will take you on a journey back to the 70’s; guaranteed to delight - from the opening refrain to the final sing-along chorus.
Richard Herring is taking his critically acclaimed podcast, RHLSTP, on a UK & Ireland tour in 2024! Richard has enjoyed phenomenal success as a writer and performer and is an innovator in the world of podcasts. Join the “Podfather” (Guardian), “King of the Internet” (Time Out) and “The UK’s online comedy pioneer” (The Times) as he chats with hilarious star guests at venues all over the country. ‘The best comedian of his generation’ GQ
Theatre
Sat 10 Feb
Variety
Viva Burlesque 7:30pm | £22 – £27 | 18+ Viva Burlesque – Funny Valentine promises bigger laughs than ever from your hosts Carli Norris (EastEnders & Hollyoaks) and Mercury Panto legend Antony Stuart-Hicks, while some of the best Burlesque dancers in Europe are guaranteed to set your hearts on fire. Get your tickets now for this riotous sequin drenched comedy cabaret spectacular that is guaranteed to send feathers flying – but be warned this show is strictly OVER 18s ONLY as it features naughty words, partial nudity and extremely funny bits.
Thu 15 – Fri 16 Feb Comedy Houdini’s Greatest Escape See website for times | £17.50 – £25 | 12+ Harry Houdini is the world’s greatest entertainer. Just as his death-defying escapology stunts have him, and his wife Bess, on the cusp of a career-defining performance for King Edward, he finds himself framed for murder by a gang of criminals in cahoots with the chief of police. Can Harry & Bess escape the plot and clear their names? And how is their rival, The Superstar Spiritualist medium, involved?
Wed 14 Feb
Music
Rave On: The Ultimate 50s and 60s Experience 7:30pm | £27 Charting the meteoric rise of Rock and Roll, Rave On is a thrilling tour through music’s most revolutionary decades. Prepare to be enthralled with an evening of back to back hits, vibrant vintage costumes, colourful staging and plenty of dancing in the aisles! Featuring note perfect renditions of the most loved songs from the 50s and 60s including hits from the likes of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, Lulu, Little Richard and many more.
All will be revealed in this hilarious 39 Stepsesque thriller, played out in New Old Friends’ (Crimes on Centre Court) inimitable, awardwinning style of physical comedy, sparkling wit and just a touch of chaos. Featuring a hard-working cast of four playing multiple roles on an almost harder-working set, this show will have you laughing and gasping throughout at the magic of theatre and the ‘real’ magic of illusions designed by TV’s Pete Firman (BBC One’s The Magicians).
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Theatre
Sat 17 Feb
Music
Dance
Country Superstars
Tap Factory
7:30pm | £29.50
7:30pm | £29 | All ages
The world’s biggest country music tribute show is coming - as seen in London’s West End.
After mesmerising audiences across five continents with over 700 shows, Tap Factory is thrilled to make its return to the UK with its 10th anniversary tour!
Endorsed by Dolly Parton and described by Kenny Rogers as “Europe’s leading Dolly and Kenny impersonators” TV and West End Dolly star Sarah Jayne and award-winning vocal impersonator Andy Crust lead this legendary show that features the music of country music icons. Prepare for an evening of hits that includes 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream, Ring of Fire, Jolene and many more.
Wed 21 Feb
Music
Brace yourself for an electrifying display of high-energy dance, explosive percussion, and jaw-dropping acrobatics, seamlessly woven together with live music and mesmerizing choreography. This mind-blowing experience will ignite your senses and make your toes tap.
Thu 22 Feb
Music
Pop Divas Live!
Lost in Music
2pm | £17.50 | All ages
7:30pm | £33
Pop Divas Live! is the UK’s number one pop concert experience meaning you can sing and dance along to all your favourite pop stars!
Get ready to get Lost in Music! Join us as we recreate the magical 70s and let us take you on a musical journey straight to the heart of disco! Relive some of the greatest songs of all time from artists such as Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge and Chic.
Featuring all their favourite female stars including: Little Mix, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, JoJo Siwa and many more, the hits just keep on coming. Whether you’re a mum or dad who listens on the radio or a little diva who watches on a tablet, we guarantee you’ll love every tune! 10
Tue 20 Feb
This show boasts a sensational live band, incredibly talented cast and stunning vocals and is sure to have you dancing in the aisles! So, come dressed to impress as we celebrate the golden age of disco!
Theatre
Fri 23 Feb Comedy
Sat 24 Feb
Comedy Club on the Road
Wild Boys
7:30pm | £23 – £28
7:30pm | £29 – £35 | 12+
The Comedy Club is one of the most recognised and respected names in the comedy industry and over the years has worked across the UK and abroad with the best of the best. For this show they’ve hand picked some of their favourite five-star laughter-makers in the UK and brought them together just for you.
Wild Boys are the ultimate LIVE 80s band. Having formed in the summer of 2009 they have established themselves to be the best 80’s tribute show in the UK, covering all the great artists from the best decade in music!
Buckle up and get ready for one of the funniest nights of your life!
Music
Expect to hear hits from Phil Collins, Duran Duran, Queen, Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode, Prince and Erasure to name a few. This show is packed full of energy and nostalgia and you won’t leave without a smile on your face!
Full line up can be seen at www.thecomedyclub.co.uk
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.
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Theatre
Thu 21 Mar Comedy
Fri 22 Mar
Reginald D. Hunter
Buffy Revamped
7:30pm | £26 | 18+
7:30pm | £22 – £27 | 14+
In these supercharged socio-political times the challenge is more and more becoming separating what’s true and what’s real. Lucille Hunter proudly proclaimed “It’s easy to see through sh*t, the hard part is pretending you haven’t.” Join Reginald D. Hunter for an hour of exploring this phenomena in this progressive work in a pre next-variant world.
This fast-paced gem brings you the entire 144 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out… Spike. Buffy Revamped tours the UK following its award-winning Edinburgh Fringe premiere in 2022 and two sold-out national tours.
As seen on Live at the Apollo, HIGNFY and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. ★★★★★ ‘Comedy of a rare scope’ The Times
Wed 27 Mar
Music
Funny, satirical and bursting with 90s popculture references, it’s the perfect parody for Buffy aficionados and those who never enrolled at Sunnydale High alike.
Thu 28 Mar
Comedy
Awake My Soul
Andy Parsons: Bafflingly Optimistic
7:30pm | £26.50
7:30pm | £19 | 14+
Awake My Soul is the incredible live concert celebrating Mumford and Sons, one of the most famous British folk-rock bands of the 21st century. You’ll be taken on the story of their musical journey from West London dive bars to sell-out stadium tours, multi-platinum albums and a private performance for Barack Obama.
‘For those who worry that we are going to hell in a handcart, Parsons will at least make you enjoy the ride’ The i
Featuring a spectacular live four-piece band bringing to the stage the band’s distinct sound with all their very best music including Little Lion Man, I Will Wait and Awake My Soul. 12
Variety
As seen on Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Live At The Apollo & Mock The Week. ‘Hysterical’ The Mirror ‘Very funny’ The Times ‘Punchline King’ The Guardian ‘Laugh Out Loud Funny’ Sunday Telegraph ★★★★★ The List, The Scotsman & The Herald ‘Surprisingly ripped’ Rob Beckett
Studio
Studio With 98 seats, the Studio is an intimate space where anyone can be entertained, it’s a space for all! It’s our home of new writing, inspiring adaptations and the best of theatre festivals. We encourage you to bring your little ones for the first time, or try something brand new!
Fri 16 Feb, Tue 26 Mar
Comedy
The Comedy Network 8pm | £13 | 18+ Save 10% when you book both dates Get ready to laugh out loud with an evening of great comedy as Avalon presents The Comedy Network. Our popular comedy clubs have been making people laugh all year, so why not grab a drink with us, sit back and enjoy some of the best stand-up comedians on the circuit. Avalon has an unrivalled reputation for finding new comedy talent and has many household names on their books, including Chris Addison, Rob Delaney, Jenny Eclair, Alex Horne, Chris Ramsey, Rosie Ramsey and Phil Wang - you never know, you might see the next big name in Colchester!
18+ Nights out at Mercury Pride Movie Nights Join us in the Studio for a series of iconic queer films back on the big screen. We’re delighted to host a diverse selection of film screenings in partnership with Colchester Pride as we line up cult films including But I’m a Cheerleader through to modern classics like Bros and The Way He Looks.
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!
Grab some popcorn and settle in for a great night out celebrating the LGBTQ+ community! See our website for the full schedule. 13
Studio
Fri 23 Feb
Cabaret
Illuminating Alice 8pm | £13.50 | 16+ Alice d’Lumiere chose her name, her gender and her wardrobe and now she is revisiting her childhood and exploring the fantastical tales which led to her real-life choices...In the parlance of the super hero genre - this is the origin story!
Fri 9 – Sat 10 Feb
Drama
Ruckus 8pm | £13.50 | 16+ In this award-winning one woman thriller, we see how a loving relationship can sometimes be anything but. Ruckus explores coercive control, an issue not widely recognised and yet its side effects kill up to three women every week in the UK. Each moment of the play has been inspired by real women and real stories. Through a visceral sound design, Ruckus will send a shiver down your spine and make you more conscious of the suppression caused by coercive control. ‘Important play which takes us inside the head, and life, of a trapped woman.’ ★★★★ The Guardian ‘It is a precise, pressure-cooker production of a thrilling and thoughtful one-woman play.’ ★★★★ The Stage ‘Rarely is there an account as raw and honest as Ruckus gives, and it’s a testament to the writing.’ ★★★★★ Lost in Theatreland 14
Illuminating Alice is a highly personal piece from an accomplished writer/performer; playfully analysing the narrative construction of the people we see in the mirror. Expect dynamic performance poetry, engaging comedy, voluminous frocks and definitely more than a touch of Lewis Carroll...
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.
Studio
Self-Raising Thu 7 – Sat 9 Mar Drama 8pm | £13.50 | 14+ ‘It starts with a secret. It’s a real secret and I had to keep it for a long time.’ Being Deaf in the 1970’s was not easy but Jenny made her own way battling with poor communication, unsupportive schools and ignorant assumptions. Through ballet and performance, she found power and independence. Award-winning, Artistic Director of Graeae theatre company, Jenny Sealey has spent a lifetime championing stories by Deaf and disabled artists. Now she takes to the stage to tell her own. Unravelling the past and facing the future, Self-Raising is a blisteringly honest, reflective, and often laugh-out-loud funny one-woman show. ‘..in this fully accessible show – she is a warm, captivating presence as she shares her secret.’ ★★★★ The Stage ‘It felt like a privilege having this life story shared with us’ ★★★★★ British Theatre 15
Studio
Tue 19 – Wed 20 Mar
Drama
See website for times | £13.50 | 13+ Feel Me is a new interactive theatre show from The Paper Birds, UK leaders in devised verbatim theatre. Feel Me asks, via your mobile phone, who and what you care about from the stories unfolding live on stage in front of you. A stunning mixture of live performance, film, projection, dance and music, Feel Me will explore the different lenses through which we are told, and connect to stories in the modern digital world. Worlds unfold from backpacks, and tents are constructed and dismantled again, each scene and location temporary, like a transient teenager in search of safety, acceptance and a new place to call home. An interrogation of empathy, Feel Me asks what makes us ‘feel’ for another person, as we journey through landscapes and across borders, through weather storms and paperwork, changing seasons, endless queues and interviews. Please note: All performances have integrated captions Feel Me is made by The Paper Birds in Partnership with Theatre Centre. A Co-Production with New Wolsey Theatre. Supported by Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja and The Point, Eastleigh. Funded by British Council International Collaboration & Arts Council England
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Studio
Gift of Theatre
Fri 22 Mar
Drama
Gamble 8pm | £12 | 16+ Gamble is a glittering, glamourous peek into the spectacular world of online gambling. A bittersweet multimedia show about addiction and its effect on families, friendships and communities. Gamble challenges the stereotypes attached to compulsive gamblers through a personal narrative and is informed by interviews with industry experts, health professionals, people in recovery and their loved ones.
If you’re looking for a brilliant birthday gift, or a last minute present for a special occasion, why not give the gift of theatre with a Mercury gift voucher. Buy a voucher online and send it via email immediately or on a special date as a gift for any amount you like! Vouchers can be redeemed online, over the phone or in person for any show or event at the Mercury. Visit mercurytheatre.co.uk/gift-vouchers
Theatre Tours Let us take you behind the scenes to explore the backstage secrets of what makes a spectacular Mercury production. Your guide will take you on a journey through our amazing spaces and you can even make the most of your trip by ending with a delicious afternoon tea in our Café Bar. Head to mercurytheatre.co.uk for more information.
Our successful new work festival will be back next summer! Join us in the Studio for Mercurial Takeover, a two-week festival of new writing from East-based artists that have taken part in our Mercury Playwrights, Producers & Directors programme. If you love supporting new theatre then stay tuned, we hope to announce the full line-up on our website in early 2024.
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Studio
Dear England See website for times | £13.50 | 15+ Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale) plays Gareth Southgate in James Graham’s (Sherwood) gripping examination of nation and game.
Tue 13 Feb, Sat 17 Feb
The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game? With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt, to take team and country back to the promised land. Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Rupert Goold (Judy) directs this spectacular new play.
Vanya See website for times | £13.50 | 15+ Andrew Scott (Fleabag) brings multiple characters to life in Simon Stephens’ (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) radical new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.
Sun 10 Mar, Thu 28 Mar
Hopes, dreams, and regrets are thrust into sharp focus in this one-man adaptation which explores the complexities of human emotions. Filmed live during its sold-out run in London’s West End, Vanya will be playing exclusively in cinemas in 2024.
Grab a fancy gin, locally brewed beer or a freshly cooked meal before the show!
Open all day before a show 10am-Late 18
Theatre Studio
A Mercury Original co-production with HighTide & New Wolsey Theatre in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre. Winner of the Judges Award at the 2022 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.
Thu 13 – Sat 22 Jun
Drama
Coming Soon | 16+ “Thursdays, curry night. Curry and a pint for a fiver. Go at five thirty, home by ten. Beat my mum up for a while. Bed by ten thirty.” Four men convicted of domestic abuse offences meet each week to undergo a perpetrator programme. But as Jen, the new group facilitator, starts to make progress with the men inside the room, their lives outside begin to buckle. A shattering and darkly funny new play about responsibility and rehabilitation, Bindweed looks at what can be done to tackle abuse at its root. Written by Martha Loader, Bindweed was first written as part of the Mercury Playwrights scheme and won the Judges Award at the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2022.
Martha Loader
Bindweed goes on priority sale to members at 10am on Tue 28 Nov and on general sale at 10am on Fri 1 Dec.
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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!
MYC 5-17s
MYC Musical Theatre 13-17s
Mercury Young Company, or MYC, is our yearround ensemble of young people training to be the theatre-makers of tomorrow.
Run by West End professionals and experienced performers, this weekly dynamic class provides young people with an introduction to musical theatre.
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*
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*
Twinkles & Stars
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 20
*A limited number of bursary places are available. Contact taking.part@mercurytheatre.co.uk for more info.
Crafternoons: Millinery 18+
Musical Theatre Dance 18+
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. 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!
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.
Fri 20 Jan, 2-4:30pm £30 per workshop
Staying active whilst dancing to your favourite show tunes – who could ask for anything more? Tuesdays, 6pm & 7pm £6 per session
Pilates 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. See website for dates, Wednesdays 1pm £7 per session
Drag Workshops with Tracey and Sugar Paper
18+
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. Sat 13 Jan, 7-9pm £15 per session
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Working with Schools and Teachers Our latest Schools’ Brochure is now available online, and for the first time includes our Pre-School and Early Years offer. At the Mercury we work with hundreds of children and young people from across Essex every year. Our workshops and projects are designed to support teachers in delivering the National Curriculum as well as fostering creativity, confidence and problem-solving skills and improving children’s empathy and resilience. Our workshops cover a wide range of subjects including Literacy, History, Science, Social Studies and, of course, Drama. We also work with schools to develop bespoke programmes to meet their students’ specific needs. All of our offers can be tailored for SEND pupils.
Scan here to download our Schools’ Brochure
Our Teachers’ Network and CPD workshops support educators to develop their professional and performance skills, with options including Unlocking Shakespeare, Physical Theatre, Cross-Curricular Development and Confidence in Delivery. Visit our website for a full overview of our educational offer or contact us on taking.part@mercurytheatre.co.uk
Supporters & Funders Corporate Supporters
Thank you to our Funders
We’re proud to partner with these outstanding local companies. With all eyes on our new building, there has never been a better time to join us. Visit mercurytheatre.co.uk/support to learn more.
Panto headline sponsor:
Premier Partners
Our Upstairs Bar is generously supported by:
We are grateful to the following for their support of the Mercury Theatre:
Limelight Partners
insurance brokers incorporating J GOSLING
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Active Essex Arts Council England Colchester City Council Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities D’Oyly Cart Charitable Trust Essex Community Foundation Essex County Council European Regional Development Fund FSJ Charities King Coel’s Kittens National Lottery Community Fund Sport England Theatres Trust The Wolfson Foundation
Your Visit Car Parking
Your Tickets
Car parking can be found at St Mary’s car park (CO3 3AA), a short walk from the theatre.
Tickets can be booked online, over the phone, or in person. We offer e-tickets which can be printed or saved on your mobile phone to show our friendly ushers.
When buying show tickets in advance of your visit, discounted parking tickets can be purchased for £2.75. Accessible parking spaces outside the theatre can be booked online by joining our Access for All scheme or via the Box Office.
Book Tickets mercurytheatre.co.uk tickets@mercurytheatre.co.uk 01206 573948
Café Bar We offer a warm friendly welcome to everyone – whether you’re coming in to book tickets, watch a show or visiting the town, our café bar caters for all. We serve a wide selection of cakes, pastries, snacks and light meals, alongside a range of teas, coffees, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Where possible, our ingredients are sourced locally, our coffee is Fairtrade and our takeaway cups are recyclable.
To find out more about your visit, view a seating plan, or for further booking information, please visit our website.
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If you’re watching a show don’t forget to preorder interval drinks and avoid the rush. We promise your ice cream will still be frozen and your drinks, chilled!
Our friendly team is available to assist you Tue to Sat 10am until 8pm. The box office will be open prior to performances on Sundays.
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MIDDLEBOROUGH CAR PARK
A12 IPSWICH
A133 CLACTON
TOWN STATION
SOUTH WAY
MAGDALEN ST
B1025 MERSEA
MERSEA ROAD
For a more detailed map please visit our website.
A12 LONDON
BALKERNE HILL
The Mercury Theatre is only one hour from London by car or train. Following the theatre mask symbols on the road signs will take you to St Mary’s car park (CO3 3AA) which is a short walk across the Balkerne Hill footbridge to the theatre.
NORTH IPS WIC HR OA D
How To Find Us
A134 SUDBURY
Disclaimer All details in this brochure are correct at the time of going to print. Colchester Mercury Theatre Ltd reserves the right to make alterations where necessary. Brochure design by Poulsen Selleck. Printed by Brightsea Printing. Registered Charity No. 232387. Company Registered in England No. 441035.
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