About the Theatre
The Mercury Theatre is a highly respected regional theatre and home to the critically acclaimed Mercury Theatre Company, staging a broad mix of classics and new writing as well as working extensively within the local community. It is a venue for the best touring theatre and entertainment as well as providing a platform for local performing arts groups and artists.
The venue provides a relevant space for a diverse group of people, all of whom feel ownership over it and who engage with its spaces in a variety of ways, from attending performances to participating in outreach and education programmes. It is a centre for creativity and a space for creation. It is open and welcoming, working with a variety of voices and a diversity of communities, audiences, artists and staff.
The Colchester Repertory Company was formed in 1937 by Robert Digby and Beatrice Radley and mostly offered weekly productions at the Albert Hall in the High Street.
This continued until 1963 until the arrival of David Forder as Manager. The company then gained considerably in professional stature and theatre acquired a more significant role in Colchester’s arts provision.
In 1968, the Colchester New Theatre Trust was formed to identify a site for a new theatre and to oversee its constructions. The Mercury Theatre, designed by Norman Downie, was opened on 10th May 1972, after a successful fund-raising campaign, supported by a large grant from the Borough Council.
David Buxton, the first Artistic Director, was succeeded by Michael Winter in 1984. After David Forder’s retirement as Administrative Director in late 1990, Michael became Artistic Director and Chief Executive. In May 1994, Pat Trueman succeeded him in the joint role, until 1998. Adrian Stokes joined as Associate Director in 1995 and initiated the Community Education Programme. In 1998 Dee Evans arrived as Chief Executive and Gregory Floy as Artistic Producer. Together, in 1999, they formed the Mercury Theatre Company with Gregory as Artistic Director. The Company quickly achieved national recognition, and was the recipient of several awards. After Gregory left in 2003, Dee became both Chief Executive and Artistic Director.
Since 1998 the theatre has focussed on a new mission:
“Through the creation of work which enriches audiences intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, the Mercury aspires to become one of the leading centres of excellence in this country. A commitment to quality, innovation, diversity and accessiblity will result in larger, younger and broader audiences. The theatre and it’s work will actively contribute to the regeneration of producing Theatre in the Eastern Region, through working partnerships with Eastern Arts Board (now Arts Council England, East) and other regional organisations.”
The Mercury Theatre Company, formed in 1999, has gone from strength to strength, recently celebrating its tenth birthday.