AND now for something completely different.

It's certainly looking that way as the Mercury Theatre announced a new spring season with a definite Python feel.

In what is a real coup for the Colchester theatre, the first in-house production of 2017 will be a collaboration with one of the country's most famous comedy actors and writers. John Cleese.

He has written a new adaption of Feydeau’s hysterical farce Band Bang, which tells the story of Leontine, a respectable lady of high society who is in danger of being hoodwinked by her husband Duchotel.

While Duchotel is out hunting ('bang bang!), back at home his lifelong friend comes calling – and he’s on the hunt too.

The two-week long production, which runs at the start of March, will be directed by veteran of theatre, television and radio, Nicky Henson, a founder member of the Young Vic Company who has worked extensively with the National Theatre, Young Vic, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

John Cleese says: “This all comes from an idea I had 40 years ago. I love farce because it’s a little bit wild. The play itself is a typical French farce which means almost always that it’s about infidelity, which leads to ludicrous situations where people are trying to hide things which are happening, and pretend that things which are happening aren’t happening.

“I think at the moment when everything is so bleak and there are so many crazies in charge of countries in this world, just to go and forget everything for two hours and laugh yourself silly is not just fun at the time – it actually does you good.”

And that's not the only Python-penned show at the Mercury next year with Eric Idle's ridiculously successful Spamalot taking to the stage in April and May.

Starring Mercury panto favourite Dale Superville, it's a homage to the Python's 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, in which misfit knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns and ferocious Frenchmen join King Arthur as he travels around the land gathering his Knights of the Round Table.

Other highlights in what looks set to be one of the most dynamic seasons ever at the Mercury include one of the UK's most celebrated theatre companies, Cheek by Jowl who return to Colchester with their production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, co-produced with the Barbican.

The Mercury's head of new talent and writing, Dan Sherer, also makes a more than welcome return to direct another hard hitting piece following his critically acclaimed production of Sandi Toksvig's Bully Boy last year.

Making-up the third Made in Colchester production of the season, The Events, is written by multi-ward-winning playwright David Greig, and follows the story of Claire, a priest who has survived a mass shooting.

Outside of its own productions, the Mercury also plays host to a huge variety of visiting companies.

As well as Cheek By Jowl, Les Petits Theatre are staging David Walliams' First Hippo on the Moon, while London Classic Theatre perform Terry Johnson's modern gem Hysteria, about the meeting between Sigmund Freud and Salvador Dali.

In the Studio there's more cutting edge drama courtesy of Tamasha with Made in India and In Search of England from Colchester-based Packing Shed Theatre, which has recently been set up to perform new writing in the eastern region. There's more new local writing with a staging of Nicola Werenowska's Hidden, which was shortlisted for this year's Essex Playwriting Competition.

And that's before the long line-up of one-nighters, which include satirical impressionist Rory Bremner and presenter Danny Baker with his debut live tour. There's also showbiz legend Des O’Connor, Fascinating Aida’s Dillie Keane presenting her first solo show in 58 years and opera star Lesley Garrett.

Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Wednesday, November 23. For more information, including performance times, prices and to purchase tickets, visit www.mercurytheatre.co.uk or call 01206 573948.