Mercury (Colchester)

• Theatre ID
  2198
• Built / Converted
  1972
• Dates of use
  • 1972: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PT, England

Details

The Mercury was built to rehouse the Colchester Repertory Company which was founded in 1937, and had occupied the theatre converted from the assembly rooms and art gallery in the High Street. Designed by Norman Downie, also architect of the Salisbury Playhouse, both externally and internally the Salisbury and Colchester theatres are almost identical, but the colours of the brickwork at Salisbury are softer, the wing and rear stage space larger and the foyers more spacious. Plain brick ground floor, recessed entrance under columns, above which is restaurant behind vertical windows around the public areas. Figure of Mercury on roof. The rear is brick with small windows where there are dressing rooms etc and imposing slate grey fly tower. The building virtually follows the contours of the hexagonal stage. The auditorium seating is stadium rising from three sides of the hexagon. The stage is adaptable for proscenium productions by means of towers, which can be moved to give variance. Forestage can be removed for orchestral space. There is a studio theatre, seating 75.

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• Events
  • 1972 Use: continuing
  • 1972 Design/Construction:
    • Norman Downie - Architect
  • 1998 Alteration: replacement of workshops after fire
    • Stanley Bragg Partnership - Architect
  • 1972 Design/Construction:
    • Christopher Morley - Consultant: Theatre
    • E Babbage & Co Ltd - Consultant: Auditorium And Fly Tower Screens
    • Rank Strand Electric Ltd - Consultant: Seating
    • Mole Richardson - Consultant: Stage And Moveable Screens
  • Owner/Management: Colchester New Theatre Trust
• Capacities
  • Original: 505 open, 410 proscenium
  • Current: 496
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Flat adaptable
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth 1972: 35ft plus 5ft forestage
  • Proscenium width: 1972: 29ft
  • Height to grid: 1972: 45ft