THE Mercury has been at the heart of Colchester's cultural scene since 1972.

The theatre was born out of the Colchester Repertory Company in 1937, which put on weekly productions at the Albert Hall in Colchester High Street, now the Co-op Bank.

In 1968, the Colchester New Theatre Trust was given the task of finding a suitable site for a new theatre in Colchester and the Balkerne Gate site was chosen.

The Mercury, with its iconic pointed roof, was designed by Norman Downie, and the theatre opened to the public on May 10, 1972.

The Company quickly gained national recognition and cemented its place in Colchester by creating highly acclaimed, original work which won numerous awards.

On September 9, 1996, a fire broke out at the theatre which severely damaged the workshops, stage and tower.

At the time of the fire, experts believed the design of the building saved the auditorium from greater damage.

After months of repairs, the theatre re-opened in time for the 1996 Christmas pantomime. 

Now, the Mercury is planning an £8.8million expansion which will include a complete re-build of the building to the back of the theatre, while a roof terrace would also be added to give customers a view of Jumbo. 

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