THE history of Colchester's Mercury Theatre will be on show to mark its 80th anniversary - thanks to grant funding.

Mercury Voices will exhibit costumes and memorabilia in the popular theatre's collection while members of the public will be asked for their own memories.

The aim of the project, which was launched yesterday, is to capture the theatre's history and to share it with future generations.

The exhibit will include news cuttings, set designs and scripts while history group Colchester Recalled will deliver a series of oral histories about the theatre from audience members and actors.

Steve Mannix, Executive Director at the theatre, said: "2017 marks the 80th anniversary year of the Mercury Repertory Company’s birth, and it is both exciting and fitting that we are able to delve into the Mercury’s history in this year – a project only made possible through partnership with Colchester Recalled and Essex Records Office, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Essex Heritage Trust.

"As we seek to celebrate our long and rich heritage in Colchester, through this exhibition and the project as a whole, we would love to hear from Colchester residents with memories of the Mercury to help us bring our shared history to light."

Robyn Llewellyn, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: "Made possible by National Lottery players, this exhibition comes at the perfect time to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Mercury Theatre.

"It’s been fantastic to see people of all ages in Colchester involved in delving into theatrical archives and creating an exciting narrative of the theatre’s place in the community."

Two public drop-in events for the public to add their stories are planned on Friday, April 21 between 10am and 3pm and on Thursday, May 4, between 10am and 3pm.

Anyone who wants to take part in the project should contact project managers Claire Driver and Laura Davison, on: mercuryvoices@mercurytheatre.co.uk.

NOSTALGIA: Old pictures of the Mercury Theatre

  • TRIBUTES have been paid to a respected theatre director who was instrumental in the creation of the Mercury Theatre in Colchester.

David Forder trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art alongside actors Albert Finney, Diana Rigg and Richard Briers.

He directed Sir Ian McKellen’s first professional performance and was also a former chairman of the Council of Regional Theatres, the drama panel of the Eastern Arts Assocation and the National Council for Drama Training as well as being a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Mr Forder, who was 87, was educated at Reading University and for the first five years of his working life taught English.

But his first love was always the theatre and he won a scholarship to RADA in 1955.

He became a professional director working in Scotland and Coventry before taking charge of the Colchester Repertory Theatre in 1963.

In an interview with the Essex County Standard in 2012, he said: "I went to see a performance the night before the interview.

“The old rep was in what is now the Co-op bank in Colchester High Street.

“The standard was pretty poor and the theatre was seedy.

“I decided I could not face it. I was rude at the interview and thought ‘They will not ask me now’.

"The bishop of Colchester was chairman of the board and he said: ‘I wanted someone much more exciting but the board has chosen you’."

On his first day, Mr Forder discovered half the actors did not have contracts and the other half had not been paid.

However, he changed the fortunes of the theatre and boosted audience figures by getting groups to book coach parties to the theatre in return for giving talks.

In 1967, a Government White Paper was published which allowed capital expenditure on the arts.

Hervey Benham, who was the editor and publisher of the Essex County Standard, decided Colchester needed a new theatre.

In 1968, the Colchester New Theatre Trust was set up with a target of £260,000.

The campaign was championed by Colchester MP Lord Alport and philanthropsit Bernard Mason and the new Mercury Theatre opened in 1972.

The theatre became highly respected and launched the careers of a range of actors including Martin Clunes and Hugh Bonneville.

Mr Forder remained as chief executive of the Mercury until he retired in 1990.

The following year, he was made an MBE in the New Year's Honours list.

Steve Mannix, the current executive director of the Mercury, said this year's carol service at the Mercury would be dedicated to Mr Forder's memory.

He said: "As theatre manager and later administrative director, David Forder was a driving force behind the construction of the Mercury building in 1972 and continually grew the theatre's audiences up until his retirement in 1990.

"He remained a regular visitor to the Mercury until recently, always stopping to chat to the staff. "We are all deeply saddened to learn of David's death."