At the Mercury, we're committed to staging an engaging, exciting and challenging programme of shows and events, and we try to provide something for everyone.

This season, alongside Agatha Christie's the Mousetrap and Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, we have a new dark comedy from writer Torben Betts, Caroline's Kitchen, as well as our own Made in Colchester productions of a new adaptation of Malorie Blackman's confronting novel Noughts & Crosses and the Fats Waller musical, Ain't Misbehavin', a sultry revue of Harlem jazz.

As a theatre with fewer than 500 seats, it can be difficult to secure quality visiting drama when companies can tour to larger, more lucrative venues with more modern facilities.

One of the many issues we are hoping our Mercury Rising project will address is making the newly refurbished Mercury Theatre more attractive to companies with a national reputation.

Hosting tribute bands, talks and comedians alongside high quality drama is a way for us to reach a wide range of different audiences, and as a charity we do depend on income from a wide range of activities.

However, if there is anything in particular you'd like to see, we'd welcome your thoughts - please do get in touch.

In the meantime, we hope you will be able to find something in the programme for you.

Tracey Childs
Executive producer at Mercury Theatre