Mercury Theatre, Modern performing arts venue in Colchester, England
The Mercury Theatre is a performing arts venue in the centre of Colchester, with a main auditorium and a smaller studio space for more experimental productions. The two spaces allow the venue to run a wide range of shows at the same time, from large-scale productions to smaller, more focused performances.
The theatre traces its roots to the Colchester Repertory Company, founded in 1937, which performed in a different building in the town for several decades. The current building opened in 1972, after a public fundraising effort made the new construction possible.
The foyer of the Mercury Theatre regularly shows work by artists from the local area, displayed alongside the main performance programme. Visitors arriving early for a show can browse the exhibition before the doors open.
The theatre is in the centre of Colchester, within easy walking distance of the town centre and the train station. Arriving a little early gives you time to stop at the cafe-bar in the foyer before the show begins.
The Mercury Theatre produces a number of its own shows in-house rather than relying solely on touring productions coming in from elsewhere. These homegrown productions give the venue a voice of its own, which is less common for a regional theatre of this size.
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