SUPPORTERS of Colchester’s famous Mercury Theatre have helped raise more than £20,000 to ensure it is able to reopen.

Last month, the theatre joined forces with performing arts venues across the country as part of the national #SaveOurTheatres campaign.

Residents of Colchester and further afield responded in their droves, donating £18,490 to help ensure the theatre’s survival, whilst another £3,500 Gift Aid makes the total about £22,000.

The Mercury has also been selected as one of six recipients of the Theatres Trust Accessible Theatre Scheme to help make its new building more inclusive.

The facility will receive a £5,000 grant to help install hearing loops in public areas of the theatre ready for when the theatre reopens when its £9.8 million Mercury Rising project is complete.

This will mean those who use hearing devices can benefit from a better quality of sound and a better overall experience.

Steve Mannix, who is the executive director of the Mercury, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as a recipient of this grant.

“One of the fundamental aspects of our Mercury Rising redevelopment work has been to improve accessibility in a variety of ways throughout our entire building.

“Installing hearing loops in public areas will allows us to continue to support all of our guests, whether they are audience members, hirers or artists.

“We look forward to welcoming our audiences back to take full advantage of this as well as our many other additions to the building, just as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan, added: “Responding to the pandemic has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds this year, but it is important that theatres continue on the journey to being truly inclusive spaces and that accessibility does not fall by the wayside.

“We are, therefore, delighted to be able to support the Mercury Theatre with its project, which will make the venue more accessible.”

Due to its lockdown enforced closure the Mercury estimates it has lost about £2.9 million of projected income for 2020.

This year was meant to be one of the most exciting in the facilities’ history, with its long-awaited £9.8 million revamp set to be complete.

The Mercury Rising project will see a new larger foyer, box office and all-day cafe created, a new production block built and new dedicated space for educational workshops set up.

Funding has come from the likes of Arts Council England, Colchester Council and residents. Cash donated to the fundraising page will also help with the final stages of the project.

Works should be completed this autumn.