Non-Fiction Author Richard Negus: Words From the Hedge
2026-03-07 11:00 - 14:00 (Europe/London) | 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.

Raz and Suzy Cramer at QSB
2026-03-07 19:30 - 22:30 | Queen St Brewhouse, 7 - 9 Queen Street, Colchester, CO1 2PG, GB
A fabulous night of original live music with @Raz RAZ -An almost entirely instrumental 3-piece band featuring Dan Goldstone on guitar, Pera Frank on bass, and George Krethlow-Shaw on drums. Raz’s original music is a blend of Jazz, Funk, Surf, Pop, Rock Fusion; with the mission of pushing musical boundaries.“Raz is one of the most unique fusion bands in Essex. With their constant changes through many genres in their songs, they express greatly and transition between them smoothly. Great band with superb connection between them all.”
Support by Colchester’s resident Goth Banjo Queen- Suzy Cramer-Alt pop/gothic folk singer songwriter- lyrically driven with sad, surreal or comedic songs about people, places and the ambiguity of life. Often velvet- clad and “ never knowingly underdressed”.
“A clever and highly emotive songwriter”“Brave and thought-provoking”“ The right mix of sweet and ever so slightly scary!”

Raz & Suzy Cramer @QSBH 7.3.2026
2026-03-07 19:30 - 23:30 | Queen St Brewhouse, 7 - 9 Queen Street, Colchester, CO1 2PG, GB
RAZ
An almost entirely instrumental 3-piece band featuring Dan Goldstone on guitar, Pera Frank on bass, and George Krethlow-Shaw on drums. Raz’s original music is a blend of Jazz, Funk, Surf, Pop, Rock Fusion; with the mission of pushing musical boundaries. “Raz is one of the most unique fusion bands in Essex. With their constant changes through many genres in their songs, they express greatly and transition between them smoothly. Great band with superb connection between them all.”
Support from:
SUZY CRAMER
Suzy is a Colchester based multi-instrumental Alt-Pop-Gothic-Folk Singer Songwriter with an eclectic range of influences including Balkan and European Folk Music, Pop and Rap- she is highly lyrically driven and writes about people, places and the ambiguity of life with a repertoire that can be funny, sad or surreal in equal measures!
She is quite often velvet-clad and describes herself as “never knowingly underdressed”…
In recent years she has fallen more in love with the banjo as her main solo instrument, which she is keen to promote as a non- traditional female banjo player.
Suzy is also the Vocalist and Mandola/Mandolin player with Balkan Band “Balkan Hill”, an Eastern European music trio, and a member of London Balkan community band “Balkan Village Band”. Suzy sings in many different languages and will often pop some other languages into her own lyrics….
Reviewer comments:
“A clever and highly emotive songwriter”
“I felt I knew the lady in the song”
“brave and thought provoking”
“the right mix of sweet but also slightly scary!”
**********************************************************************************************
https://www.facebook.com/musicallyhyperactive
https://www.instagram.com/cramersuzy/
https://www.grapevinelive.co.uk/listings/raz-and-suzy-cramer-at-qsb/

Sundays on the Square
2026-03-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Colchester
Sundays on the Square launches on Sunday 8th March 2026!
A brand-new Monthly Sunday market is coming to the city centre as Sundays on the Square launches in the newly built St Nicholas Square, with live music playing throughout the afternoon.
The market will feature a curated mix of independent local traders, including street food, drinks, crafts, gifts and locally made products, all set against a backdrop of live performances. From solo artists to small bands, music will create a lively, welcoming atmosphere — the perfect place to stop, eat, listen and enjoy the new square.
Sundays on the Square is free to attend, open to everyone, and celebrates local talent — both traders and musicians — while bringing energy and life to the town centre on a Sunday.
📅 Launch date: Sunday 8th March 2026📍 Location: St Nicholas Square🎟 Entry: Free🎶 Live music throughout the afternoon | Local traders | City-centre vibes
Come along and enjoy a Sunday filled with music, food and community spirit in the heart of the city.

Vinyl Sessions: The The - Soul Mining
2026-03-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom
Tickets £4Doors open 12pm, show starts at 12:30pmThis show is for a seated audience.
The bar will be open throughout.
The The / Soul Mining
Most of us will muddle through the emotional intensity of late adolescence before moving on with the rest of our lives – but if you’re Matt Johnson, you shut yourself away in the bedroom above the Stratford pub your parents run, and channel all that self-doubt and sense of isolation into what will eventually become the deeply introspective lyrics of your debut album. ‘The The’ was essentially a loose collective of mates and session musicians with Johnson at the centre calling the creative shots, and it was an approach that paid dividends on Soul Mining. Operating at a place where post-punk meets synthpop and landing somewhere neatly in the middle, Johnson’s sometimes despondent words (‘Another year over and what have I done? / My aspirations have shrivelled in the sun’) are brought to vivid life here, with walloping drums, sparkling guitar figures and even a piano solo from a certain Jools Holland at one point. You won’t find many albums that could accommodate the wistful, big-hearted warmth of a song like ‘This Is the Day’ AND the full-throttle, beat-driven closing track ‘Giant’ – but this one did, and went on to become an 80s cult classic that demands to be heard loud.
The album playback will be followed by a Q&A session.
After a short break, we’ll follow the album with our usual ‘Dead Wax’ session. Bring along a vinyl disc of your choice and hear a track from it played through the Arts Centre PA. This can be anything you like, for any reason – the more ‘out there’ the better.

Jake Cheek & Dean Frost
2026-03-08 17:00 - 20:00 | 10 North Station Rd, Colchester
Two of Colchesters finest singer/songwriters are joining forces to showcase their very best songs.
This Sunday afternoon gig is not to be missed and is a free, no ticket event, but donations are encouraged.
Let’s keep live music alive!!

Sam Carter *
2026-03-09 19:30 - 22:30 | Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom
Tickets £16.50.Doors open 7.30pm, starts 8pm.This gig is for a seated audience.
‘Sam Carter is a brilliant guitarist and songwriter who combines the observational with social comment and personal reflection’ Songlines
‘A singer who can hold the audience spellbound all by himself’ R2
‘Really wonderful’ Jools Holland
Midlands-born Sam Carter is a BBC Folk Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist renowned for his lyrical storytelling, which Uncut described as being “as penetrating as Richard Thompson’s best work”.
For over 15 years, he has been stirring audiences from Camden to Canada, from major festivals to intimate clubs. Carter’s expressive fingerpicking led Jon Boden of Bellowhead to call him “the finest English-style fingerpicking guitarist of his generation,” while Ivor Novello-winner Nitin Sawhney has praised his “killer voice.”
With a discography that spans six solo albums and two releases with the folk-rock band False Lights, Carter’s music reflects a blend of traditional English folk, shape-note singing, and rock. Notable highlights in his career include a spellbinding performance on Later… with Jools Holland, where he played songs from his shape-note-inspired album The No Testament alongside renowned fiddler Sam Sweeney.
Carter’s latest album release, the acclaimed Top 40 Folk Chart album Silver Horizon, has cemented his reputation as a skilful blender of ancient and modern. Produced by Andy Bell at the remote Red Kite Studios in Wales, the album’s 11 indie-folk songs create a dreamlike soundscape, with guitarist Stuart McCallum (The Breath) adding lush, reverb-soaked textures. Carter says of this work, “I’m still dealing with themes of love, loss, and change… but sketching events in an impressionistic way gives the songs more room to breathe.”
Sam Carter’s live performances are nothing short of captivating, filled with the raw honesty, humour, and skilled musicianship that underscore his standing as one of contemporary folk’s brightest talents.
Support: The Washed Up Folk BandThe Washed Up Folk band hail from the misty shores of Essex and Suffolk with a unique brand of traditional folk story-telling and modern arrangements. “They intelligently weave together dynamic arrangements with rich vocal harmonies and insightful emotional depth, creating a compelling listen.” – Folk and Honey.

Off the Beaten Track Wine & Food Taster Evening
2026-03-10 19:00 - 22:00 | 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom, 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom
Join us on Tuesday 10th March for our Off the Beaten Track Wine & Food Pairing Evening. Explore the wines of Austria & Hungry as we take you through four-courses of seasonally inspired food and wine at Three Wise Monkeys – in collaboration with independent and local wine merchants and suppliers, Street Wines.Hosted by Charlie Rogers and Founder of Street Wines, Neils Dubro. Together, they will draw on their knowledge and experience, taking you on a journey of the world through wine, investigating the new and old worlds of wine and discussing what it is that makes food and wine work so well together.Our Off the Beaten Track Wine & Food Pairing Evening begins at 7pm on our restaurant floorThis is a Premium Wine evening so tickets are priced slightly higher at £55. The wines tasted will be available to purchase and take home on the nightOver 18s only.Guests with specific dietary requirements or with allergies should contact the team via info@twmcolchester.comprior to ticket purchase.Access – There is no lift to access the restaurant floor of Three Wise Monkeys. There are two flights of stairs to reach the restaurant floor.

Desiree Burch: The Golden Wrath @ Colchester Arts Centre
2026-03-10 20:00 - 23:00 | Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester Arts Centre
Desiree Burch: The Golden Wrath Tour
There comes a day when you look around and wonder “is the world a raging bin fire, or is it perimenopause?” The answer, my friend, is “yes”.
Authentic, curious, and gleefully irascible, storyteller and comedian Desiree Burch leads a madcap voyage through the Middle Ages – AKA the mid-life crisis, and its mandatory metamorphosis – in her new standup hour. Desiree brings both childlike wonder and crone-like wit to the experiences of losing sleep, relevance, knee cartilage, oestrogen, youth, and illusions in a laugh-packed hour that celebrates the fury and freedom found when you’ve accepted that time has ruined your plans, but roll up your sleeves to fight it anyway.
Desiree Burch is an American comedian who has appeared across the UK’s biggest comedy shows, including Taskmaster, The Mash Report, Live At The Apollo, Travelman, The Last Leg, QI, and more. She’s also the wisecracking narrator of Netflix’s iconic guilty pleasure Too Hot to Handle.
★★★★★ “THAT DESIREE BURCH CAN HAVE AUDIENCES OF ALL DEMOGRAPHICS HOWLING OVER SOMETHING MANY WOULD STRUGGLE TO DEFINE IS TESTAMENT TO RARE COMIC CHOPS” The Age (Australia)
★★★★★ “SPECTACULAR AS IT GETS WITHOUT COSTUMES, PROPS AND FIREWORKS” Fest Mag
★★★★ “Near-perfect example of comedic storytelling” The Evening Standard
★★★★ The Guardian★★★★ The Scotsman
Tickets: https://colchesterartscentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173660903

Scratch Night
2026-03-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Lakeside Theatre, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, GB
Join us for our FREE monthly Scratch Night, at the Lakeside Theatre bar!
Whether you’re a performer or an audience member, join us for a lively evening with a café full of friendly people.
Our compère will be the amazing Alice K Stephens!
There’s no theme and work in all stages of development are welcome, think Open Mic Night, but with a more performative focus!
Everyone is welcome to attend, request your performance slot by emailing arts@essex.ac.uk or turn up to perform on the night!

Wednesday Night Open Mic @ The Victoria Inn
2026-03-11 19:30 - 22:45 | The Victoria Pub, The Victoria Pub
It’s Open Mic Night!Bring yourself… or send your friends in place of you…. or come with your friends and get involved.Bring your instruments or borrow mine (Guitar, Piano, Cajon & Mics provided).*We run a sign up board & work through the names in order & attendance prioritising those who arrive before 9.*The sign up board goes up around 7:30 & the mic goes live around 8:00. *We wrap up for 10:45.*Performers usually get 2-3 songs (up to 15 minutes in total) but this depends the number of participants on the night.

Much Ado About Nothing
2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:30, 2026-03-13 19:00 - 21:30 | Lakeside Theatre, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, GB
The Theatre Arts Society presents their Spring Show!
Written by William ShakespeareDirected by Lou Naïlo
Love. Deceit. Soirées. Shakespeare.
Step into the roaring ’20s filled with love, deceit, and soirées, for Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Against a backdrop of the 1920s highlife, follow four lovers and their blooming relationship as they try to overcome bitter rivalries and life-threatening gossip.
After returning from the war, Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, his host’s daughter. Meanwhile, Beatrice and Benedick exchange cutting words in a game of wit. While the former pair’s relationship grows, Beatrice and Benedick are duped into thinking the other loves them.
But Claudio and Hero’s relationship isn’t safe from deception either. A cunning plot by the nefarious Don John seeks to tear their budding romance apart, bringing Hero’s reputation down with it.
Dust off your masquerade masks and be our esteemed guest for this journey. With extravagant soirées, a host of quips and jabs, and a game of social deception, there’s something for everyone in this take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.
Age rating: 12+
Content warnings: Themes of child abuse, mild sexual content

Shar’s Drag Bingo
2026-03-12 19:00 - 22:00 | 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom, 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom
Shar invites you to Three Wise Monkeys Colchester, for an evening of songs, silliness and bingo.
Tickets £5, Doors 7pm, Restaurant floor
This gig takes place on the restaurant floor of Three Wise Monkeys Colchester
Access – There is no lift to access the restaurant floor of Three Wise Monkeys. There are two short flights of stairs to reach the top floor with rest opportunities between each flight.

Victoria Inn General Knowledge Quiz 5
2026-03-12 19:00 - 22:00 | Victoria Inn Colchester, 10 North Station Rd, Colchester, CO1 1RB, GB
Test your general knowledge at the Victoria Inn General Knowledge Quiz, and help raise money for an incredible cause!
– £3 a head entry (CASH ONLY)– Maximum 4 to a team– Outside food & dogs welcome – Book on 01206 514510
Please bring the number of people you book for, and if you book and decide not to attend, please cancel your booking.
Please arrive at least twenty minutes before the quiz is due to start to place drink orders.

Emma, the Playful Red Panda - Paint Evening in Colchester
2026-03-12 19:00 - 22:30 | Artsy Image, Artsy Image
A brand new painting comes to Colchester at Artsy Image.No experience necessary.Come along and have lots of fun creating something you didn’t think possible.

Jake Cheek
2026-03-12 19:30 - 22:30 | 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom, 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom
Jake Cheek performs live at Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester, with support from Jake Martin, George Gadd, and Daniel Stephen Turner.
Jake Cheek – Local legend Jake Cheek may be best known for his amazing bass tones his other project “Shed” but Jake is also a jaw dropping solo artist in his own right and a must see act!
Jake Martin – Known far and wide for his acoustic folk punk stylings Jake Martin is now a proud Colchester native! Fresh off supporting Pet Needs across Germany This will be Jake 1st show back in the UK and his last Colchester date for some time so don’t miss out!
George Gadd – Nottinghams finest! This guy is one of those acts you have to see before you die! If Weezer and Frank Turner had an overachieving child it would be George Gadd! This is his first trip to Colchester so get down early and make hime feel welcome!
Daniel Stephen Turner – Kicking off the evening is another Colchester legend in the making! Daniel is another act that always stands out! An amazing songwriter and a wonderful human!
Date: Thursday, 12 March 2026Venue: Three Wise Monkeys, ColchesterDoors: 7:30pmAges: 18+
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.
Refund policy: We are unable to process any ticket refunds within 7 days of the event.

Russell Hicks: This Time It's Personal *
2026-03-12 19:30 - 22:30 | Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom
Tickets £20.50.Doors open 7.30pm, show starts 8pm.
This show is for a seated audience.
American stand up comedian Russell Hicks is back on tour. It’s been a big year for Russell. He’s appeared in multiple feature films including Edgar Wright’s The Running Man (2025). You also may have seen his phenomenally successful ‘Dear Diary’ series on Instagram, which has gained millions of views. Last year’s show was about his life in the UK. This year is about…him. He’s back. And this time… it’s personal.
(As seen on ITV, BBC, Channel 4, Prime Video, and Paramount Pictures. 2x Leicester Festival Best Show Nominee and Winner of the 2024 Prague Fringe Festival)

Mo Gilligan: The Mo You Know
2026-03-12 20:00 - 23:00 | Colchester Charter Hall, Colchester Charter Hall
Sale Dates and Times:
Public Onsale : Fri, 26 Sep 2025 at 10:00 AM
Priority from O2 : Wed, 24 Sep 2025 at 10:00 AM
Live Nation Presale : Thu, 25 Sep 2025 at 10:00 AM

Open Your Hearts for Open Road featuring John Robins In Conversation*
2026-03-13 19:00 - 22:00 | Church St, CO1 1NF Colchester, United Kingdom
All Tickets £35.Doors open 7pm, show starts 7.30pm.This show is for a seated audience.
Open Road, the Essex-based drugs & alcohol support charity, invites you to a night of wondrous entertainment for the very best of causes, featuring JOHN ROBINS!
Join critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, Taskmaster champion, and award-winning broadcaster John Robins in conversation about alcohol addiction and the journey to sobriety. John will be talking about his beautifully written, moving and darkly funny forthcoming memoir Thirst. He will tell the story of his life through the lens of alcohol, the drinks that made him, and those that broke him. From his earliest drinking experiences – pretending to be drunk after a sip of champagne aged five, spraying aftershave into his mouth at the school play afterparty, and university nights spent downing red wine alone in his room – to his last drink in 2022 and the journey into sobriety that followed, John will explore our relationship with alcohol through reflections on decades of his own drinking.
Former Colchester Mayor Tim Young, will host the conversation, which will also include an audience Q&A.
John Robins is best known for his radio and podcast partnership with BBC Radio 5. Having completed numerous sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and picking up the Chortle Awards for Best Compere, one for Best Radio, and a Three Weeks Editors Choice Award, in 2017 he scooped the big one, winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award for his show “The Darkness of Robins”. A 68 UK tour followed, culminating in a sold out show at London’s hammersmith Eventin Apollo.
https://www.johnrobins.com/about/

CRFC Presents Big Jim's Pub Quiz
2026-03-13 19:30 - 22:15 | Colchester Rugby Club, Cuckoo Farm Way, Colchester, CO4 5YX, GB
Doors Open at 7pm Quiz starts at 8pm
Colchester Rugby Club in partnership with Big Jims Pub Quiz presents The Real 60 General knowledge quiz. The 2nd Friday of every Month.
“Get your phone’s or tablets charged and ready”
CRC presents a new way to quiz in a new Rugby Club in the heart of the new sports park in Colchester. Basket Meals avaiable on the night
Big Jim’s interactive quiz ditches the pens and papers and all your answers are put on your phone or any WiFi device.
60 general knowledge questions and the bonus game called the Quizzy 8.
So let’s get Quizzical without the need to scrum down all quizzes include both audio and picture questions.
Fun for all the family PG13 quiz fun. £2 per person
doors open at 7 quiz starts at 8.
quizzy quiz lovers

Samantics – One Guy / Two Sides
2026-03-13 19:30 - 22:30 | 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom, 60 High Street, CO1 1DN Colchester, United Kingdom
Samantics is back with ‘The Tour of One Guy With Two Sides’ which is almost as much a mouthful as his lyrics. Having hand-picked a selection of some of his favourite venues, each night will showcase the two contrasting sides of Samantics across two very different sets. Opening as his own support act, he will begin with an acoustic set each night, covering many songs from his ever-extending back catalogue, playing favourites in ways not heard before and stripping back the songs to what has always been at their core – the words, swapping beats, bass and keys for the instrument people love to hate – a ukulele. This will be Ukuliphop in it’s rawest form. After this and short break, he will return to stage (potentially in a different t-shirt for effect) for the full-beans, energy riddled, live-looped set that he has become known for. With two sets to fill, this ‘evening with Samantics’ will allow for more rarities and older songs that often get overlooked or kicked off the set list to make space for the inevitably requested Pop Song. With stories to tell and a lot more words to remember than usual, it will likely be a night filled with thought, laughter, honesty, emotion and some undoubtedly awkward moments where he forgets the lyrics and asks for help.These shows have 3 tiers of pricing. The full/suggested price is £12 but there is an option to pay a little less if it helps, or a little more if wish, and you feel you are in a position to do so.

MYSPACE OR YOURS? LIVE at CODA [COLCHESTER]
2026-03-13 21:00 - 2026-03-14 00:00 | Coda Colchester, Coda Colchester
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 [𝗖𝗢𝗗𝗔] 𝗕𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 🌎
𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 👥𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞!!𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 @codacolchester 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 🎀𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝘀, 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗲𝘀 👟 𝗔𝗻𝗱.. 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 🤳
𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗘𝗠𝗢 𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗘 & 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡-𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡 🖤
𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗨𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗢𝗗𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗢𝗦𝗢𝗻 𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗼’𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 13𝗧𝗛 ☂️🐈‍⬛️
𝗔𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗠𝗿 “𝗙𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗺𝗽” 👊✌🏼𝗮𝗻𝗱 “𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗨𝗽 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿” @dj_pressplay_uk 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝘁𝗶𝗹 2𝗔𝗠
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 13𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 [9𝗣𝗠]
#𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗮 #𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 #𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁#𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗼 #𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀

Willow Plant Support Workshop
2026-03-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Lexden, United Kingdom, Lexden, United Kingdom
Join us for a calm and creative afternoon learning the traditional skill of willow weaving while making your own plant support for the garden.
In this friendly, guided workshop, you’ll work with natural willow to create a sturdy and attractive plant support – ideal for climbing plants such as sweet peas, beans, clematis, or roses. You’ll be shown the techniques step by step, with plenty of support along the way, making this workshop suitable for complete beginners as well as those who’ve worked with willow before.
All materials and tools are provided, so you can simply turn up and enjoy the process. As always, the workshop is designed to be relaxed and sociable, giving you time to unwind, learn something new, and take home a finished piece you can proudly use in your garden.
No prior experience is needed, just come along and enjoy the process.
Tickets include your choice of refreshments:
£35.00pp including a hot drink & cake
£45.00pp including lunch: Thai vegetable curry & rice, Scampi & fries, or Chicken schnitzel & fries
Held in the warm and welcoming surroundings of The Lexden Crown, this workshop is a lovely way to spend a winter morning with friends, family, or simply for a little creative time to yourself.
Spaces are limited early booking recommended.
Book here: https://www.thecreativeworkshopcompany.co.uk/event-details/willow-plant-support-workshop

Living Wreath Workshop
2026-03-14 10:30 - 13:30 | The Lexden Crown, Bistro Pub – Colchester, The Lexden Crown, Bistro Pub - Colchester
Join us for a beautiful and relaxing morning creating your own Living Wreath – designed with bulbs, flowers, seeds and foliage to grow and evolve throughout spring.
All materials are provided, and no experience is needed. It’s a lovely hands-on workshop perfect for plant lovers, creatives, or anyone wanting to try something new.
Tickets include your choice of refreshments:
£39.50pp including a hot drink & cake
£49.50pp including lunch: Thai vegetable curry & rice, Scampi & fries, or Chicken schnitzel & fries
Spaces are limited early booking recommended.
https://www.thecreativeworkshopcompany.co.uk/event-details/living-wreath-workshop
