WORK to redevelop Colchester’s Mercury Theatre could start in the spring after £5 million of funding has been confirmed.

Arts Council England has confirmed its £4 million contribution to the theatre, which will in turn unlock an additional £1 million of regional money from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund.

Mercury Theatre’s board members are set to approve progressing to stage two of the programme in January.

Artistic director Daniel Buckroyd said: “This project is about securing a theatre, accessible to all, for this and future generations.

“We’ll be able to throw open our doors like never before.

“I’m particularly excited about the opportunities for future theatre makers.

“We’ve been investing heavily in this area as we know theatre helps to bring communities together and can have an extremely positive economic impact too.”

While work takes place on the foyer, the Mercury will close for a year from February 2019.

Theatre bosses are in talks with Firstsite, Colchester Council and St Thomas More’s Catholic Primary School to lease part of Berryfield Lawn, a small field behind the gallery, to hold performances.

Audiences will still be able to visit the Mercury while the back of the theatre is demolished in the spring to make way for a new production block.

Two large rehearsal rooms, updated costume-making facilities and open plan office space will be built.

Forty extra seats will also be added to the main theatre auditorium as part of the development as well as a revamped foyer with all-day cafe bar and a creative learning and talent studio upstairs.

Tim Young (Lab), deputy leader of Colchester Council, which is pledging £1 million to Mercury Rising alongside Essex County Council, said: “The ambitious Mercury Rising project is not just bucking the national trend for supporting these kind of venues, but will help cement this borough’s reputation as being a vibrant centre for the arts.”

A total of £7.45 million has been confirmed for Mercury Rising, leaving the theatre to raise £1.5 million.