Mercury Creatives Festival – Members (Aug 2025)

This booking link is exclusive to 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 cohorts of Mercury Creatives.

To book & claim your free ticket you must enter the code you have been provided with at the checkout.

Mercury Creatives Festival 2025
A celebration of creative beginnings and bold futures.

Mercury Creatives Festival is a one-day creative takeover at the Mercury Theatre, spotlighting the extraordinary talent emerging from the East of England — and welcoming everyone passionate about theatre, growing their creative business and making work that matters.

Join us for a full day of talks, workshops, masterclasses and panel events, as artists from Essex and beyond return to share their journeys, spark ideas, and support others starting out.

Whether you’re an early-career artist or simply curious about how theatre is made — this is your invitation to learn, connect and celebrate with some of the UK’s most exciting voices.

Plus, there will be practical workshops on tax, finance and self-promotion for creatives — giving you the tools to support your practice sustainably.

Come for the inspiration, stay for the connections. This is a festival for everyone who believes in the power of creativity — wherever you’re from, and wherever you’re headed.

The full line-up will include:

• In conversation with Amy Trigg and Waleed Akhtar – exploring performing and writing your own work.
• Take it to the Stage – In conversation with actor Thomas Coombes
• Let’s chat about Essex – Creating work rooted in Essex with Vickie Donoghue, Anne Odeke and Kenny Emson
• The Future of New Writing with Artistic Directors Natasha Rickman, Paula Garfield and Titilola Dawudu
• What’s next for musical theatre? with Michelle Payne, Alex Parker, Chi-San Howard and Frew
• Movement for the Stage and Screen with Myron Birch
• Creating Sound Design with Nicola T. Chang
• Starting your own company with The Paper Birds Theatre Company
• Building a career strategy with Tom Hobden
• Show me the money – tax for Creatives with Kate Sarley
• Building a personal brand with Fern Potter

Exact timings of each session can be found via the button below, along with biographies on each guest speaker. This information will also be emailed to ticket holders.

Download itinerary

Download guest speaker biographies

The festival aims to be as accessible as possible, with a relaxed environment and BSL interpretation.

The event runs from 9am – 7pm and your ticket includes a buffet lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

Please note: If you sign up after Tue 29 Jul, we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to meet complex dietary needs.

Upon arrival, please head to the box office to register for the event. You will then be met by a member of staff to take you through to the rooms you will be using.