We’ve already blogged about the brave move of the Mercury Theatre in publishing the main schedule for the next twelve months in advance. But what about the periphery events that also take place down at Balkerne Gate?
Good news then that the What’s On [snazzy] guide for the spring and summer season has also now been published separately. It’s the Little Brother to the main season of shows. It also contains some incredibly interesting ideas that deserve a blog post all of its own.
It covers drama, music, and comedy, as well as crossover with the ACE Essex Book Festival, plus some comedy collaboration with the Colchester Arts Centre.
As with The Chronic’s Art Centre preview pieces, it’s simply impossible to showcase the entire season. You need a plan; you need to pick out the hyperlocal highlights and then bash out a blog post before they pass you by.
Deep breath, Comrades…
An Evening of Burlesque [blimey] on 6th February caught our gaze. As did Sikes and Nancy, the Dickens spin off from 7th – 9th February.
Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen return to Britain’s Oldest Recorded on 8th February. A day later and Think Floyd [clever] will be adding a different sort of mind-altering experience.
Possibly.
We simply LOVE the juxtaposition [Ooooh] in the programme that puts The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist (18th – 19th February) next to Andy and Mike’s Tick Tock Time Machine (21st February).
Gilbert and Sullivan Abridged on 28th February is the Stars on 45 treatment for Mr G & S. Meanwhile Wasted (19th – 21st March) sounds ACE:
“A day go trip through the parks and raves and cafes of South London.”
T.Rextasy return to The Mercury on 12th April, as do The Colchester Operatic Society on 2nd June. Now there’s a Sunny Colch collaboration waiting to happen, Comrades.
And so that’s just a snapshot of what we can expect down at Balkerne Gate for the first half of the year. The new management team at The Mercury has wasted no time in making friends around the town and setting up an impressive first season schedule.
And we didn’t even mention the Made in Colchester season.
Another blog waiting to be bashed out, Comrades.
2 Comments
I think its excellent to see a 12 month programme come out..superb vision.
Dont forget to mention my new play, “A Star Danced` in the studio on May 1st and 2nd.
William Shakespeare is in his lodging in Bankside deep in the throes of literary creation – and getting nowhere fast. His landlady and confidante pries the true story of his life and his loves out of him, hinting about some of the moments that may have been an inspiration for his work.
Meanwhile, a troupe of modern-day actors, led by a slightly grumpy director and a put-upon Stage Manager are trying to devise a birthday tribute to the Bard. We are slowly led towards the Shakespearean universe, in which the actors’ personalities meet, clash and get together to
infuse blood, tears and laughter into the Bard’s words.
COLCHESTER MERCURY THEATRE STUDIO, MAY 1st and 2nd at 7.45. Tickets £9 / £7.00
There will be a 90 minute Shakespeare reading workshop, suitable for beginners and experienced actors alike on Thursday 2nd May at 3.00 pm . Tickets are needed – they are £1 to those purchasing tickets for either performance, or £4.00 on their own.