SWITCH Colchester
2026-02-28 19:00 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | Three Wise Monkeys Colchester
After a small hiatus Switch is back with a fresh new look and a new direction! Although Ipswich will always be our base we are spreading our wings with a new location.
We are very excited to share details of our next party in Colchester on 28th February 2026. As always we have an outstanding lineup of the very best Soulful House DJ’s and a ground-shaking sound system for your musical pleasure!
There is also a new ticket pricing structure that is time based, so be quick if you want to secure tickets at the best possible price!
Early Bird tickets: £8 (+bf) until midnight on 30th November 2025First Release tickets: £10 (+bf) until midnight on 31st January 2026Final Release tickets: £12 (+bf) until 6pm on 28th February 2026
We will be taking over the top floor at the Three Wise Monkeys venue in Colchester High Street, and we will be bringing our own unrivalled sound system!
So, if you want to experience what SWITCH is all about don’t hesitate, get your tickets via the link below, and we will see you on 28th February!
https://www.skiddle.com/e/41487561

Robbed Zombie, Dire Thorns and Six Sins Till Sunday
2026-02-28 19:00 - 22:00 | Coda Colchester, Coda Colchester
Just a month out from this absolute banger. Robbed Zombie – Rob Zombie Tribute band UK are joined by Nu Death Metallers Dire Thorns and the incredible Six Sins Till Sunday for a night of utter awesomeness!!! Tickets are available at We Got Tickets.https://wegottickets.com/event/680688

Save Middlewick fundraiser with The Delta Jacks
2026-02-28 19:30 - 22:30 | Queen St Brewhouse, 7 - 9 Queen Street, Colchester, CO1 2PG, GB
🎶 Join us for a special night of live Country, Bluegrass and Americana music as we help to raise funds to support the campaign to save Middlewick Ranges — one of the most ecologically important wildlife sites in Essex. Donations and proceeds from the night will help fund this vital effort.
🎸The Delta Jacks bring their authentic Country/Americana sound back to Colchester’s coolest brewpub for a foot‑stomping evening of original tunes and classic covers by the likes of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.
Free entry!!!

Save The Middlewick Fundraiser With The Delta Jacks
2026-02-28 20:00 - 23:00 | Queen St Brewhouse, 7 - 9 Queen Street, Colchester, CO1 2PG, GB

Live Music - Hoaxx
2026-02-28 20:45 - 23:45 | 55 The Cross, CO7 9QL Wivenhoe, United Kingdom, 55 The Cross, CO7 9QL Wivenhoe, United Kingdom
The fab four return to blow the cobwebs off your weekend with their loud and brilliantly good covers! Join in the fun from 8:45pm!

Willow Bird Feeder Workshop
2026-03-01 10:00 - 13:00 | Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre, Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre
Enjoy a peaceful and creative morning at Fingringhoe Nature Reserve learning how to weave your own willow bird feeder.
Guided step by step, you’ll be introduced to traditional willow weaving techniques and shown how to shape and secure a feeder that’s both practical and beautiful.
This workshop is suitable for beginners and those with a little experience. All materials are provided, including willow and fat balls, so you can hang your finished feeder straight away and support local wildlife at home.
Set within the tranquil surroundings of the reserve, this workshop is a lovely opportunity to slow down, work with natural materials, and enjoy time outdoors while learning a new skill. No prior knowledge needed – just come along and enjoy the process.
£32.50 per person (includes fat balls)
Spaces are limited early booking recommended.
Book here: https://www.thecreativeworkshopcompany.co.uk/event-details/willow-bird-feeder-workshop

Calm At The Castle
2026-03-01 15:00 - 17:00 | Colchester Castle, Colchester Castle
Join us on the first Sunday of the month for a little calm at Colchester Castle.
These sessions are suitable for visitors with ASD, providing an opportunity for them to explore the museum at a quieter time. We aim to minimise sensory stimulation on the galleries by turning off audio and visuals, whilst providing a sensory space off the main gallery.
Ear defenders, visual guides and twiddlemuffs are available from the Museum’s reception free of charge.
You can find out more about our autism friendly resources by visiting our Access page.
This event is included as part of Castle admission. There is no need to book; just purchase general admission tickets to the Castle, or consider a Museums Pass to enjoy unlimited visits during the exhibition!

Henshaw
2026-03-01 17:00 - 20:00 | 10 North Station Rd, Colchester
Sings songs, Plays guitar, Shouts a bit!!
Henshaw is back to entertain, if you know, you know!!
Musical Style: Folk-punk, acoustic, and heartfelt, often focusing on stories, memory, and raw, emotional performance.
Free gig but donations are encouraged.
let’s keep live music alive!!

Irish/Scottish Folk Jam
2026-03-01 19:00 - 22:00 | 1-2 Castle Road, Colchester, UK, 1-2 Castle Road, Colchester, UK
Everyone welcome to join in or listen.Traditional Folk Jam

TWM Colchester Film, TV & Music Quiz 60
2026-03-02 19:10 - 22:10 | Three Wise Monkeys Colchester
Test your knowledge of all things film, TV and music, all whilst raising money for an incredible cause!
Book by selecting the date of the quiz and choosing quiz booking: threewisemonkeyscolchester.com/book-a-table If you book and then decide not to attend, please CANCEL YOUR BOOKING
– £3 a head (cash only)– Maximum 6 to a team– Food served throughout
Please arrive at least twenty minutes before the quiz is due to start to place food and drink orders.

Mercury Reads: To Be You & Self Control
2026-03-03 15:30 - 18:00 | Mercury Theatre Colchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester
Join us for Mercury Reads a series of lively rehearsed readings celebrating local voices and fresh new writing. Each event spotlights an exciting playwright from our region, giving audiences the chance to see new stories take shape for the very first time.
In this session, join us in the Upstairs Bar on Tue 3 Mar from 3.30pm as we look at Mercury Reads: To Be You by Esohe Uwadiae and Self Control by Ted Marriott.
3.30pm: To Be You by Esohe UwadiaeShe’s dumped her fiancé, quit her job and packed her bags. Now what?
To Be You is a semi-autobiographical character study into black identity, chosen family and childhood. It follows an unnamed British Nigerian woman at the pivotal point of spontaneously moving to Nigeria to complete her youth service and how she got here.
While packing up her childhood room in preparation, our protagonist soon realises that secrets never lay dead. As photo albums and teenage memorabilia lead her down memory lane, something in the shadows won’t stay buried and she is forced to confront the worst thing she has ever done.
4.45pm: Self Control by Ted Marriott“I thought I should come here today, because I reached a point where I wasn’t sure if I was here anymore. Or I was here to begin with.”
Self Control is a one-man show that follows the story of Matthew, who is on a quest to win back his boyfriend, prove to everyone he’s got his shit together, bury years of self-loathing and grief, and throw his mum the best birthday party anyone has ever seen – easy. But with every step he takes forward, he finds himself back in time, in a club, the ceiling of his flat, his childhood bedroom, or his flooded bathroom. He must do all he can to maintain some self control and get back to a reality of stasis and comfort before he loses himself forever.
Self Control is a funny, heartbreaking and time-travelling tragicomedy, exploring the contradictions and connections between men’s mental health and queer identity, family, love, loss and how these are experienced physically and temporally.
Ted Marriott is the writer and performer of this piece.

The Mercury Sessions – How to Build a Budget that Works for You with Anthony Stuart-Hicks
2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Mercury Theatre Colchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester
The Mercury Sessions are monthly, business focused conversations for creatives offering practical insight, sector knowledge, and the change to connect with peers.
How to build a budget that works for you with Antony Stuart-Hicks takes place on Tue 3 Mar, 6-7pm in the Upstairs Bar at the Mercury Theatre.
Budgets don’t have to be intimidating. Antony Stuart-Hicks will show you how to build financial plans that support growth and long-term stability.
This session breaks down the essentials of financial clarity for creative enterprises, with plenty of space for questions along the way.
The session includes a Q&A and relaxed networking, plus a complimentary drink.

Evolution and Reinvention - Talk by Gillian Allard MA (RCA)
2026-03-03 19:30 - 22:00 | Ireton Road, CO3 3AT Colchester, United Kingdom, Ireton Road, CO3 3AT Colchester, United Kingdom
Gillian Allard, award-winning photographic artist and educator from Suffolk, brings her passion for storytelling to this special event. Winner of the prestigious 2017 Sky Arts Master of Photography competition in Rome, Gillian combines herbackground in photojournalism with a master’s degree from the Royal College of Art to create impactful and innovative works.This informal yet inspiring talk will delve into Gillian’s 25-year artistic journey, featuring physical examples of her diverse projects and an engaging discussion about her creative process, techniques, and evolution as an artist.
(Visitors £5.00) gillian-allard.com
Image: Dead in the Water

Victoria Inn Film, TV & Music Quiz 40
2026-03-04 19:00 - 22:00 | Victoria Inn Colchester, 10 North Station Rd, Colchester, CO1 1RB, GB
Test your knowledge of all things film, TV and music, and help raise money for an incredible cause!
– £3 a head (cash only)– Maximum 4 to a team– Outside food & dogs welcome – Book on 01206 514510
Please arrive at least twenty minutes before the quiz is due to start to place drink orders.
If you book and then decide not to attend, please cancel your booking.

Colchester Comedy Showcase
2026-03-04 19:00 - 22:00 | 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom, 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom
Prescribed Laughter: March Comedy ShowcaseWarning: Symptoms of severe boredom are best treated with immediate exposure to top-tier hilarity! Your doctor prescribes attending the Three Wise Monkeys Comedy Showcase this March. Prepare for a night you genuinely won’t forget, surgically hosted by the sharp and sensational Greg Edwards. We’re featuring a potent cocktail of comedy—from buzzing new faces ready to erupt, to established acts guaranteed to leave your sides splitting. This isn’t just a show; it’s essential therapy. Do not delay your dose!Make the smart choice and secure your treatment plan early: Tickets are only £10 if purchased before the evening of the show. Delaying your decision will cost you: it’s a steeper £15 on the door. Ditch the doom-scrolling and invest in a genuine, memorable night out. Mark your calendar, grab your tenner, and get ready for a powerful injection of pure comedic genius. This is the cure for the mundane—miss it and regret it!
📅 When: Wednesday, 4th March📍 Where: Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester (Top Floor)🕖 Doors Open: 7:00 PM🎟️ Tickets: Early Bird specials available for just £10 + booking fee!
Don’t wait until it’s sold out—grab your tickets now and join us for a night of craft beer and non-stop laughs.

MARCH COLCHESTER COMEDY SHOWCASE
2026-03-04 19:00 - 22:00 | Three Wise Monkeys Colchester
Prescribed Laughter: March Comedy Showcase
Warning: Symptoms of severe boredom are best treated with immediate exposure to top-tier hilarity! Your doctor prescribes attending the Three Wise Monkeys Comedy Showcase this March. Prepare for a night you genuinely won’t forget, surgically hosted by the sharp and sensational Greg Edwards. We’re featuring a potent cocktail of comedy—from buzzing new faces ready to erupt, to established acts guaranteed to leave your sides splitting. This isn’t just a show; it’s essential therapy. Do not delay your dose!
Make the smart choice and secure your treatment plan early: Tickets are only £10 if purchased before the evening of the show. Delaying your decision will cost you: it’s a steeper £15 on the door. Ditch the doom-scrolling and invest in a genuine, memorable night out. Mark your calendar, grab your tenner, and get ready for a powerful injection of pure comedic genius. This is the cure for the mundane—miss it and regret it!
📅 When: Wednesday, 4th March📍 Where: Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester (Top Floor)🕖 Doors Open: 7:00 PM🎟️ Tickets: Early Bird specials available for just £10 + booking fee! Don’t wait until it’s sold out—grab your tickets now and join us for a night of craft beer and non-stop laughs.

Magic The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pre-Release Event
2026-03-04 19:00 - 23:00 | ACE Comics, 42 Culver Street East, Colchester, CO1 1LE, GB
Whether you’re taking your first steps into Magic, finishing up your Standard deck, or diving deep into Modern, Commander, and more—Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is here, come play and pick up this set early.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Prerelease is coming and we will be running 3 pre-release events for this set new other universe set in the magic timeline.
What you get
For each event, you’ll receive a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Prerelease Kit which contains:6 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Packs1 year-stamped rare or mythic promo card in foil A Spindown D20 to track your life totalA handy deck box to help transport and store your deck
Aim of the day is to build a Minimum of a 40 card deck with the boosters you get and compete in swiss rounds to find a winner (Land boxes are provided so all you need to bring is you).
Every player will receive an extra booster at the end of the event for playing and another is put into the prize pot, 1 booster for each player in the pre-release event.
Start time: 7pmFinish Time 11pmCost £40.00
Please note all of these events have limited spaces of 50 people, so to avoid missing out please either click attend on this event, come in and speak to a member of staff of call us on 01206 561912 to make sure you don’t miss out.

OMB Film Quiz 20
2026-03-05 19:00 - 22:00 | Other Monkey Brewing – The Taproom, 5-6 St Nicholas St, Colchester, CO1 1LB, GB
Test your knowledge of films and help raise money for an incredible cause!
– Book via https://sevn.ly/xJWOHUhN (If you book and then decide not to attend, please cancel your booking) – £3 a head (cash only, all proceeds to charity)– Maximum 6 to a team – Food available throughout
Please try to arrive at least 15 minutes before the quiz is due to start to place food and drink orders.

Emotional Madness with MaryAnn & Mates
2026-03-05 19:30 - 22:30 | Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom
Tickets £3.Doors open 7.30pm, show starts 8pm.This show is for a seated audience.
An evening of spoken word and poetry hosted by Mary-Ann Ambrose.
A mixture of emotions, a roller coaster of fun and sadness.
Lineup to be announced!

Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute
2026-03-06 19:30 - 22:30 | 63 High street, Colchester, 63 High street, Colchester
Creedence Clearwater Revival was a highly influential American rock band formed in El Cerrito California. Their music was a definitive synthesis of swamp rock blues country and rockabilly.
Known for songs such as Fortunate son, Proud Mary, Have you ever seen the rain among many others.
Join Creedence rising as we celebrate this legendary band.
Doors 7:30pmMusic from 8pm until 10pm
Sadly as a Friday night ages 18+

The Comedy Store - Colchester
2026-03-06 20:00 - 23:00 | Colchester Charter Hall, Colchester Charter Hall
Sale Dates and Times:
Public Onsale : Fri, 28 Feb 2025 at 10:00 AM
Priority from O2 : Wed, 26 Feb 2025 at 10:00 AM
Ticketmaster Presale : Thu, 27 Feb 2025 at 10:00 AM
Live Nation Presale : Thu, 27 Feb 2025 at 10:00 AM

Colchester Rotary Festival of Music
2026-03-07 09:00 - 12:00 | St Botolph’s Church Walk, Colchester, CO2 7, United Kingdom, St Botolph's Church Walk, Colchester, CO2 7, United Kingdom
Register NOW!Closing date for registration looming! 21st February

East of England Disabled Creatives Meet-Up
2026-03-07 10:00 - 13:00 | Mercury Theatre Colchester, Mercury Theatre Colchester
The East of England Disabled Creatives Meet-Up is a free space for deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives to meet, share and create!
As artists, don’t ask for permission. Take up space. For yourself and your work. We aim to provide that space for you!
This is a monthly in-person meet-up at the Mercury Theatre in collaboration with Graeae Theatre Company.
We welcome artists at any experience level, the aim is to establish a relaxed space for people to turn up for however long they wish within the meet-up session time. The meet-up is from 10am-1pm, but you are welcome to drop-in anytime. It will be an opportunity to network, meet new artists in your area and develop your practice.
We will be meeting in the upstairs bar at the Mercury Theatre, if you do not know where this is, please ask a member of our Box Office or Front of House staff and they will guide you. The Mercury’s Graeae Associate, Christian Markham, will always be in attendance to facilitate and/or answer any questions you might have about the Mercury, Graeae, or wider disabled arts initiatives.
BSL Interpreters will be in attendance.

Etui Box Workshop
2026-03-07 10:00 - 13:00 | Love Local, Love Local
Join us for a calm and creative Etui Box Workshop, where you’ll learn how to make a traditional style etui box – a small, hinged box often used to store special items such as jewellery, letters, or art supplies.
This workshop is ideal for beginners and those who enjoy working with their hands. You’ll be guided step by step through the process, from constructing the box to finishing it neatly, with plenty of support throughout.
All materials are provided, and there’s no need for any prior experience.
The session is designed to be unhurried and welcoming, giving you time to enjoy the making process as well as good company.
Hot beverages and sweet treats are included, so you can relax and settle into a lovely creative morning.
£35.00 per person Spaces are limited, so book early to secure your place.
Get your tickets here – https://www.thecreativeworkshopcompany.co.uk/event-details/etui-box-workshop

Non-Fiction Author Richard Negus: Words From the Hedge
2026-03-07 11:00 - 14:00 | 125 High Street, CO1 1SZ Colchester, United Kingdom, 125 High Street, CO1 1SZ Colchester, United Kingdom
Author Talk by Richard Negus discussing non fiction book WORDS FROM THE HEDGE at Red Lion Books
Hedges are as old as civilisation and as emblematic of the British countryside as chalk streams, hay meadows and oak trees. But unlike woodland and rivers, farmland hedges remain on the periphery of the public consciousness, often going unnoticed and almost always underappreciated.
Join us for a morning of enlightening, engaging and entertaining conversation with professional hedgelayer, conservationist, writer and author, Richard Negus.
In his book ‘WORDS FROM THE HEDGE – A Hedgelayer’s View of the Countryside’, Richard takes us on a journey that reveals these ribbons of thorn and barb are so much more than mere decoration or boundary markers. They are essential for much-needed wildlife recovery. Each hedge is a testament to generations of human skill and labour, requiring ongoing maintenance to survive and thrive.
Richard has been heralded as “the hedgerow’s one true champion” by celebrated Countryside Writer John Lewis-Stempel, and his book praised for being “joyful and illuminating” and “an important, funny and passionate defence of the British countryside”.
Richard Negus is a former soldier and professional horseman. He now lays hedges for a living and is recognised as one of the country’s leading exponents and practitioners of hedgerow management and rejuvenation.
He lives in Suffolk, co-hosts a weekly podcast – Countryslide – covering British rural life and work, and writes for publications including The Daily Telegraph, The Critic and Scribehound.

Rang Barse - The Grand festival of Colours
2026-03-07 11:00 - 17:00 | Firstsite Colchester, Firstsite Colchester
🎉🌈 RANG BARSE 2026 – The Grand Festival of Colours! 🌈🎉
Get ready, Colchester! Join us for a vibrant Holi celebration filled with colours, music, food, and family fun.
✨ Experience:🎶 Live DJ🥁 Dhol Beats🔥 Holi Dahan🎨 Colour Stall🍛 Food Stalls🌿 Mehendi Stall
🎟️ Tickets:Early Bird (until 6 March) – – Members £4 • ⁠Non-members £6On the Door – • ⁠Members £6 • ⁠Non-members £8👕 Holi T-Shirt £7 (Pre-order by 14 Feb)🎨 Bag of Colours £3.50👶 Under 5s FREE ENTRY(All entry tickets include a bag of colour!)
Let’s celebrate colour, culture & community together! 💃🕺✨

Practically Imperfect: writer PL Travers is visited by her creation, Mary Poppins
2026-03-07 15:30 - 17:30 | Headgate Theatre, Headgate Theatre
“finds new terrain” – The Guardian on The Telling​
​​The very private PL Travers lives quietly in Chelsea. Out of the blue, her very own creation, Mary Poppins, suddenly appears in Travers’ study, asking difficult questions she would rather not answer. Rather than the Banks family, Mary Poppins has come to sort out the acerbic writer herself. But Travers is a force to be reckoned with too. So who will control the narrative and win the battle of wills?
The fun-filled chaos is soundtracked by Mary Poppins who performs the kind of music PL Travers REALLY wanted in the Mary Poppins film (Edwardian songs such as Lily of Laguna).
A collaboration project between The Telling and Blue Fire Theatre Company. A brand new play with music by award-winning writer Clare Norburn, directed by BAFTA-nominated BBC director, Nicholas Renton (Mrs Gaskell’s Wives and Daughters, Musketeers, Lewis). Starring acclaimed actor Lottie Walker as PL Travers and actor-musician Joanna Brown as Mary Poppins.
Each half will be approx 40-45mins with an interval.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1168916785221919/?event_time_id=1168918191888445

Milonguito at Passage House cafe Colchester
2026-03-07 18:00 - 22:00 | The Passage House, The Passage House
Enjoy this intimate milonga with friends at the beautiful Passage House cafe in Colchester. This place has a great hardwood floor! Delicious food, hot beverages and soft drinks are available and the cafe has a bar for us. £5 on the door, all welcome!
Traditional tango music in TTVTTM tandas with cortinas selected by Miriam Gita.
Parking is available at Colchester city centre’s many nearby car parks.

Drag Me To The 80s
2026-03-07 19:30 - 22:30 | Colchester Charter Hall, Colchester Charter Hall
DRAG ME TO THE80’S
Meet the cast of our 80’s Divas and join us on an unforgettable journey as this amazing production delivers a dazzling fusion of nostalgia, empowerment and a celebration of the extraordinary.
Get ready to dance, sing and be captivated by the powerhouse vocals of the queens who redefine the stage and bring the spirit of the 80’s roaring back to life.
The show features an incredible full live band and the music of Kylie, Madonna, Whitney, Bananarama , Queen, Abba, Rick Astley, Pet Shop Boys , Erasure,Duran Duran, Wham, Tina Turner and many more
Touring All Major Theatres 2024/25

Artificial Monkeys (Arctic Monkeys Tribute)
2026-03-07 19:30 - 22:30 | 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom, 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom
oin us for a night of Arctic Monkeys Tribute! Get ready for an unforgettable evening as the Artificial Monkeys take the stage! This talented quartet of experienced musicians is dedicated to bringing you the authentic sound and electrifying performance of the Arctic Monkeys. Known for their energetic shows, the Artificial Monkeys deliver a note-for-note reproduction of iconic hits like “Do I Wanna Know?”, “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” “When the Sun Goes Down,” and many more.Don’t miss your chance to experience the excitement of live music with a band that captures the essence of one of the UK’s most beloved rock groups!Doors Open: 7:30 PMLocation: Three Wise Monkeys Top FloorTickets: £10 + booking feeGrab your tickets now and get ready to dance the night away!Please note that access to the top floor of Three Wise Monkeys does not have a lift, but there are rest opportunities between each flight of stairs.Viewer discretion is advised: This show may potentially contain flashing and strobing lighting effects.We wanted to inform you of our refund policy regarding event tickets. Please note that we will be unable to process any ticket refunds within 7 days of the event. We understand that circumstances may arise that prevent you from attending the event, but unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate refund requests within this timeframe.
