New shows announced: creatives wanted

October 1, 2023

We are excited to announce that CO2 will be producing Legally Blonde in Autumn 2024 and COS will be producing The Little Mermaid musical in Jan/Feb 2025 at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester.

We are proud of the award/winning standards our productions achieve, and the opportunity this provides for aspiring creative partners.

Would you like to get involved as a creative in either of these or any future COS/CO2 productions?

We are currently on the lookout for musical directors, directors and/or choreographers/assistant directors.

If you (or someone you know) would be interested in providing the creative expertise behind our high quality productions and would like more details then please contact us with your expression of interest and a CV of any similar work you have done before if applicable, on:

secretary@colchesteroperaticsociety.co.uk

More information about casting and getting involved backstage for these productions will be published on our website and social media platforms in due course.

Are you ready to rock? CO2’s School of Rock on stage soon!

September 13, 2023

Are you ready to rock?

CO2 presents School of Rock at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th October 2023

Don't miss your Chance to See School of Rock

Based on the hit movie, the show follows wannabe rock star Dewey Finn, as he poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious preparatory school. He makes it his mission to share his love of rock with his class of high achieving pupils, giving them an education they never knew they needed. Can he teach them what is required to get them to Battle of the Bands without the headmistress and their parents discovering the plan?

With numbers such as “You’re in the Band”, “Stick it to the Man” and “Teacher’s Pet”, this show is guaranteed to get your foot tapping!

Our diverse cast of young people aged 9 to 23 years old, from Colchester and surrounding areas, have been working hard in rehearsals and can’t wait to rock the Mercury stage!

You’re in the band!

Lana Cutmore as Katie on Bass, Connor Beattie as Freddie on Drums, Will Hackett as Dewey on guitar, Harvey Yu as Lawrence on Keys, and William Porter as Zach on Guitar , will all be playing their instruments live on stage themselves.

Photo Credit: Wild Bear Photograph

“I believe the children are our future”

We asked our future stars why people should come and watch School of Rock:

“It’s a nostalgic wave of classic rock”
[Theo, age 15 (Gabe Brown – Teacher)]
“It’s an incredible experience to be a part of and for audiences to come and see”
[India, age 14 (Miss Wagner – Teacher)]
“It’s a family show that’s high-energy and feel good”
[Molly, age 16 (Miss Hicks – Teacher)]
“It’s a mix of younger and older generations of CO2 and it’s exciting that the main characters are kids”
[Varvara, age 16 (Ms Macapugay – Teacher)]
“It’s audience inclusive as they can get involved”
[Anna, age 15 (Mrs Ward -parent of Mason Ward)]
“It’s performed by young people with a passion for theatre”
[Honor C, age 15 (Ms Hathaway – Teacher)]
“It’s a thrilling show that will get everyone clapping and joining in. You’ll LOVE IT!!”
[Lana, age 11 (Katie Travis – Student)]

Stick it to the man! and save 15% off

When you book both School of Rock and Colchester Operatic Society’s production of My Fair Lady (25th Jan – 4th Feb 2024), together in the same transaction, you’ll automatically save 15% off your order. There’s no need for a code, just add your favourite seats to the basket and the discount will be applied automatically!

Tickets available here

Photo Credit: Wild Bear Photograph

Teacher’s Pet

Meet our awesome creative team, who have been working the cast hard to create a fantastic show for our audiences:


Ashton Moore, Musical Director	Leah Scott & Laura Hicks, Co-directors
(Photo Credit: Wild Bears Photography)	(Photo Credit: Wild Bears Photography)

“You Did It” – My Fair Lady has been cast….

July 17, 2023

We are pleased to announce that, following audition on Sunday 16th July, we have cast our production of My Fair Lady. See the cast list here

We saw 73 auditionees and with such a high standard of singing, dancing and acting our panel had the unenviable and difficult task of casting only 45 of them. Whether cast or not we think everyone who auditioned should be proud of themselves.

We thank all of our audition panel, our readers, members of our committee and all who auditioned for their time and for helping the day run smoothly and enabling us to cast this show. We can’t wait to start rehearsals in September.

Don’t forget to get your tickets and that there is a 15% discount when you book both School of Rock and My Fair Lady together

My Fair Lady now open for auditions!

June 17, 2023

Details of My Fair Lady auditions can be found here.

Treading the boards…..

May 8, 2023

The cast of “ICONIC” will be treading the boards once again at the Headgate Theatre from Wednesday 14th to Saturday 17th June 2023

This wonderful concert showcases songs from artists such as Queen, ABBA, Carole King, The Kinks, Elton John, Jim Steinman, and many more. The concert combines the music and lyrics of the most iconic composers, songwriters and performers whose work or life stories have been used to inspire and create some of the most well-known and well-loved pieces of musical theatre and film in recent history.

Tickets are available from the Headgate Theatre website