Mercury Theatre to mark World AIDS Day on Wednesday 1 December with an evening event including a human library.
The Mercury Theatre Colchester in partnership with Terrence Higgins Trust, Metro, The Outhouse, Colchester Pride and Tackle HIV present an evening of participation, remembrance, inclusion, information, education & performance to mark World AIDS Day on Wednesday 1 December. The Mercury Theatre building, along with the Town Hall, Jumbo and Colchester Castle will also be lit in red to raise public awareness of the day.
The human library will consist of people living with HIV who despite the stigma and discrimination that prevents many disclosing their status, are prepared to act as books, as sources of information and experience. The audience will have opportunity throughout the evening to ask questions, encouraging participation & education. This year’s World AIDS Day theme is Stigma & Discrimination and the latest campaigns by THT & Metro showcase speakers mixed with poetry, prose, spoken word and live music.
The evening will be held in the newly refurbished Mercury Theatre Café Bar from 7pm, including information and film shorts, charity stalls, speakers, performances and the human library. In creating a safe space in which to gather, there will also be opportunity for reflection, remembrance and a candle-lit one-minute silence.
Steve Mannix, Mercury Theatre Executive Director said:
“We’re so pleased to be able support this event in our new café bar. World AIDS Day is as relevant and important as it ever was, and this year’s event will use performing arts to educate, inspire, inform and bring people together. It’s exactly what a theatre space is for.”
Dan Deller-Thompson, Chair of Trustees at Colchester Pride said:
“Showing our support and acknowledging World AIDS Day has been happening in the UK for 30 years. We at Colchester Pride now support this yearly event in the LGBTQ+ calendar by lighting venues in red across town and supporting however we can.”
Peter Greening, organiser said:
“We are proud to work in close partnership with some wonderful charities and community initiatives and this year we are especially proud to work with the Mercury Theatre to present an evening that includes performance elements and a human library”.
The event is free and open to all, no booking required. The café bar will be open with limited seating, arrive early to secure a table.
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