A FUNDRAISING campaign is to be launched to raise the final £500,000 needed to transform the Mercury Theatre.

The Mercury Rising project will see the theatre in Colchester renovated, improving and extending audience, production and workshop facilities.

The entire building will have full disabled access as well as an all-day café, a space to support creative talent from across the region, and a new home for all of the Mercury’s creative learning and community activities.

Just under £8 million has been put towards the project by Arts Council England, Colchester Council, Essex County Council, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and the European Regional Development Fund.

Other fundraising has been through private trusts and foundations, corporate and public donations.

A spokesman for the theatre said: “Our fundraising campaign for Mercury Rising is still going well.

“We now have £500,000 left to raise and planning a large public fundraising campaign in May to engage the community and ask for their help in supporting their local theatre getting us to that target.

“The main theatre will remain open until the end of May and continue to bring a wide variety of shows to our audiences.

Halstead Gazette:

“Our last Made In Colchester production in the building before we temporarily close will Ain’t Misbehavin’ running from March 15 to 30.

“In the meantime, work will start imminently on the new production block at the back of the theatre that will house our new rehearsal studio, dance studio, offices, wardrobe and production facilities.

“The construction work will be scheduled around our shows so no performances will be affected by noise.”

Colchester Archaeological Trust has completed its excavations.

Finds included a skeleton, dice, a candle holder and Roman floors.

The theatre is hoping some of the finds will be available to display in the new building when it reopens.

The main contractor is now on site. The tender was won by Clacton-based building firm Phelans.

For autumn and winter there will be a marquee-style theatre on Abbey Field, subject to planning permission being granted by Colchester Council.