Keep Colchester Cool - Supporting the arts in Colchester

Review: Ghosts at the Headgate Theatre

In Ibsen’s 1882 classic, the sins of the father inherited by the son are explored [...]

25
Apr

Wilde About Alfie: A Man of No Importance

This beautiful, small-scale musical is given a perfectly judged staging by Headgate Theatre Productions. A [...]

28
Mar

Review: Snake in The Grass at The Headgate Theatre

For their first production of the year, Headgate Theatre Productions present a late Ayckbourn, written [...]

22
Feb

Review: My Fair Lady at The Mercury Theatre

Paul T. Davies reviews My Fair Lady at the Mercury Theatre, presented by Colchester Operatic [...]

30
Jan

Applauding a New Initiative: Treatment at Headgate Theatre

All credit to the Headgate Theatre for always seeking new ways to stage work and [...]

15
Jan

Paul T. Davies reviews Miss Mimple Meets the Ice Wolf at the Headgate

A firm favourite with audiences throughout East Anglia, Common Ground Theatre Company creates hilarious parodies [...]

10
Jan

Winnie Brady, age 4, gives ‘Me…’ at the Mercury a Big Two Thumbs Up review

A Little Angel Theatre production adapted from the book by Emma Dodd, “Me…” tells the [...]

20
Dec

Alexandra Barredo, Shelby Speed, Sasha Latoya & Panto Chorus - Photo by Pamela Raith.jpg

Sleeping Beauty at The Mercury Theatre ★★★★★

As traditional as the presents you politely receive and will regift as soon as you [...]

11
Dec

The Paulies – The Winners 2023

So here they are; I’ve made my decisions! The standard of so-called amateur theatre in [...]

11
Dec

The Paulies – 2023 Nominations Announced

It’s that time of the year again, the theatre awards that have no physical prize. [...]

04
Dec

Paul T. Davies reviews Funny Girl at The Headgate Theatre

Made famous by Barbra Streisand in the movie, Fanny Brice is a challenging role based [...]

23
Nov

Paul T. Davies reviews Vanya and Sonia and Marsha and Spike at Headgate Theatre

Christopher Durang’s play, presented by Headgate Theatre Productions and 3wishes, spoofs on the work of [...]

16
Nov

Murder, Margaret and Me reviewed by Paul T. Davies

Colchester Theatre Group present an intriguing play by Phillip Meeks concerning the meeting and growing [...]

10
Nov

School of Rock at the Mercury Theatre – reviewed by Paul T. Davies

Packed to the rafters with a hugely entertained audience with an incredible amount of talent [...]

07
Oct

The Haunting of Hill House – reviewed by Paul T. Davies

05
Oct

Paul T. Davies reviews The Mill On The Floss at The Headgate Theatre

George Elliot’s classic novel comes to life in this adaptation by Helen Edmundson, in a [...]

01
Sep

Paul T. Davies reviews The Addams Family Musical at the Headgate Theatre

The Addams Family are riding high at the moment, mainly due to the Netflix hit [...]

06
Aug

Paul T. Davies reviews A Midsummer Night’s Dream presented By Castle Park Theatre

09
Jul

Paul T. Davies reviews Peter Pan at Castle Park Theatre.

03
Jul

A Tale Of Two Cities Sally Parkinson Photography

Paul T. Davies reviews A Tale Of Two Cities, presented at The Headgate Theatre by Platform Musicals

21
May

About the author:
Dr. Paul T. Davies was awarded his PhD from the University of East Anglia for his research on AIDS, Queer Theory, and Theatrical Discourses 1983-94. He is a playwright, and among his plays are the two Colchester Fringe award winners, The Miner’s Crow and Living With Luke, Jacky, and Bury Me In Colchester Mud. He is also a theatre director (NETG Award for Best Production, Frankenstein) and occasional actor, most recently in Tartuffe, NETG Award for Best Supporting Actor as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, and Rupert in How We Love at the Vaults Festival 2020 and the revival at the Arcola Theatre in 2021. He is an active researcher, theatre reviewer, mentor, and teacher. He will be directing Dragging Your Heels, a new play with music by Terry Geo, at the New Wimbledon Theatre and the Camden Fringe in the summer of 2025, and is developing new scripts.

When reviewing for Keep Colchester Cool, we always aim to:

Provide a professional, fair assessment of the theatre we see, balanced in both praise and criticism.

Be sensitive to the non-professional aspect of community theatre when reviewing amateur productions.

Aim to post reviews within 48 hours of attending, or as close to as possible should circumstances prevent that.

Not review theatre we are personally involved in, but will ask a team member to review it.

Be accurate in terms of spelling names, respecting gender definitions, and providing information the reader may need, as long as the information is provided to the reviewers.