Mercury Theatre

The Mercury Theatre stands in Colchester, Essex, as the town’s principal professional theatre. It has two auditoria and presents original work under the banner ‘Mercury Originals’ alongside touring productions. The building was designed by Norman Downie and opened in May 1972 after a public fund-raising campaign supported by the Borough Council. It grew from the Colchester Repertory Company, founded in 1937, and was originally built to the same plan as the Salisbury Playhouse. The Digby Gallery once displayed local art before it closed. The theatre has long attracted leading figures in British theatre. John Cleese, Martin Clunes, Michael Grandage and Gwen Taylor have all appeared on its stage. Michael Grandage made his directorial debut there with The Last Yankee, and Trevor Howard began his career with the Colchester Repertory Company. More recently, Natasha Rickman took up the post of Artistic Director in 2025 under a leadership team led by Steve Mannix. Productions range from Shakespeare to family pantomimes and new writing, often in partnership with companies across the country. Inside, visitors find two auditoria where plays, musicals and community shows take place throughout the year. The theatre’s foyer and public areas display posters and programmes from past seasons. Outside, Colchester’s historic streets and Castle Park lie within a short walk, offering cafés and green space. The building itself remains a modern example of 1970s theatre design, functional yet welcoming to audiences of all ages.