“A really terrific regional theatre” The Guardian 

In the heart of Colchester is the Mercury Theatre – a highly respected regional theatre and home to the critically acclaimed Mercury Theatre Company, which stages a broad mix of classic plays and new writing, and works extensively within the local community.

Described as ‘a really terrific regional theatre’ by The Guardian, the Mercury Theatre Company has produced a wide array of work, including most recently Dancing at Luhnasa, Roots, Absent Friends, The Winter’s Tale, The Grapes of Wrath, Under Milk Wood and Beauty and the Beast.

The Mercury Theatre Colchester also welcomes some of the best touring theatre and entertainment from the UK and overseas, and provides a platform for local performing arts groups and artists. The Mercury collaborates and co-produces with a number of companies, including Dialogue Productions, Real Circumstance, Tilted Productions, The New Wolsey Theatre, Soho Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre, Wildworks, Nabakov, Scamp Theatre and The Bush Theatre, as well as Ian Fricker, who’s previous co-productions The Hound of The Baskervilles and The Secret of Sherlock Holmes both transferred to the West End.

The Mercury International Programme has been presenting exciting new theatre from around the world since 2010, such as a co-production with Salida Productions of Romeo and Juliet featuring Astillero (South American Tango orchestra), the National Theatre of Macedonia’s production of Hamlet, a co-production of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin with the Marjanishvili Theatre, Tbilisi, and three new pieces created by artists from Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Georgia.

The Mercury Theatre Colchester has also played host to some of the UK’s leading comedians during their pre-tour feedback nights, including Lee Evans and Michael McIntyre. 

However eclectic your tastes, you are sure to find a production that will inspire and entertain; please call the Mercury Theatre Colchester Box Office on 01206 573 948. 

Community activities

It doesn’t matter if you’re 2 or 92; love the theatre or have never seen a play before; the Mercury would love you to get involved and take part in one of the theatre’s community activities.

Sessions and workshops include:

• Play and Sway for toddlers
• 3-5 Drama Club
• After School Drama for 5 to 11 year olds
• Youth Theatre Groups for 11 to 18 year olds
• Summer School for 12 to 16 year olds
• Act V – theatre-related activities for the over 50’s
• Community Acting for adults
• DIS:PLAY – a group for adults with physical and/or sensory disabilities
• Playwrights Surgery – a free service for adults with a serious interest in writing plays 

Access for all

The Mercury Theatre Colchester is proud to deliver the highest standards of care and service to every single visitor; not only did it receive the Colchester Business Award for Excellent Customer Service in 2010, but it has recently won the Essex Tourism Access for All award for the second consecutive year.

In addition to being wheelchair accessible throughout, the theatre has captioned performances for the hard of hearing and audio described performances for the visually impaired.

The Mercury also offers discounts on group bookings, making it the perfect option for a school trip. 

Find out more

Please call the Mercury Theatre Colchester’s box office on 01206 573 948 to book tickets.

Alternatively, for more information about community activities and to get involved, call 01206 245 503. 

Please remember to mention The Best of Colchester when contacting the Mercury Theatre Colchester – thank you. 

© The Best of Colchester