Talent and New Work Producer

Talent and New Work Producer

February 2026

February 2026

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Welcome from the Chief Executive Officer

Thank you for your interest in the Mercury in Colchester and the role of Talent and New
Work Producer.

As one of the most ambitious producing houses in the East, we pride ourselves on the
high-quality,  relevant  and  inclusive  nature  of  all  of  our  work.  The  Mercury’s  artistic
programme aims to connect our audiences with a wide range of work across all genres
on both our stages in Colchester and on tour in the UK and internationally.

The  Mercury  is  the  only  full  time  producing  mid-scale  venue  in  Essex  funded  by  Arts
Council  England.  We  are  proud  to  be  able  to  continue  to  produce  at  least  seven
productions annually.

Our Mercury Creatives programme has an amazing track record of developing talent. Our
Alumni include Ava Picket and Martha Loader. Four alumni tell you about the programme
here

We are looking for a dynamic, experienced producer to join us as our Talent and New
Work Producer. You will have a proven record of producing new work and experience of
collaborating to curate a diverse and popular programme.

In this pack you will find:

•  Background information on the Mercury
•  Job description and person specification
Information about living in Colchester
•
Information about how to apply
•

Further information about the Mercury can be found on www.mercurytheatre.co.uk.

We are a family friendly organisation and were named as Colchester’s Business of the
Year in 2024 and Employer of the Year 2022. Come and join us! We are committed to
maintaining  and  building our  audiences,  delivering  artistic  excellence,  and  growing  the
Mercury’s reputation as a launchpad for talent and innovation in the East of England and
on tour across the UK.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Steve Mannix
Chief Executive Officer

February 2026

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Introduction

The Mercury Theatre, designed by Norman Downie, was opened on 10th May in 1972.
Since  its  foundation  the  Mercury  has  become  one  of  the  main  centres  of  artistic
excellence  in  the  East  of  England,  having  built  a  large  and  diverse  audience  for  its
critically  acclaimed  programme  of  drama,  musical  theatre,  family  theatre,  music  and
dance at home and on tour.

The Mercury reopened in June 2021 following capital investment of £14.2m with state of
the art facilities including a 532-seat theatre, a 98-seat studio, full on-site workshop and
wardrobe facilities, rehearsal rooms, dance studio, dedicated creative learning space and
a fully renovated café bar and front of house.

With an annual turnover of over £5m, the Mercury is a significant local employer and a
major driver of Colchester’s creative economy. The theatre plays a key leadership and
strategic role in the cultural life of Essex and the wider geographical area of East Anglia.
It  is  the  only  full-time  producing  venue  in  Essex  and  one  of  only  three  in  the  eastern
region.

In  the  City  of  Colchester,  we  are  a  placemaking  organisation  for  Essex.  We  seek  to
connect  with  and  support  artists,  freelancers,  performers  and  industry  professionals
across  the  Eastern  region  to  ensure  our  work  remains  as  accessible  and  inclusive  as
possible, reaching as many people as we can.

Mission

The  Mercury  creates  and  shares  stories  that  are  exhilarating,  revelatory  and  relevant.
Through the reinvention of classic texts and the creation of bold, new writing, we believe
that the transformative power of theatre can enrich the lives of our community.

The  Mercury  is  a  significant  regional  developer  of  new  talent,  working  with  a  range  of
partners across the arts, education and creative industries to deliver a studio programme
and a learning, participation and professional development programme aimed at nurturing
the next generation of theatre makers.

Everything we do is driven by our values of quality, innovation, diversity, and connection.

We are Colchester. We are for everyone.

February 2026

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Vision

Our vision is of the Mercury as a vibrant, welcoming artistic hub at the heart of the cultural
life of Colchester and Essex; a place where the diverse communities of the city and its
surrounding region can come together to experience exceptional live theatre and a rich
programme of other performing arts; a place where anyone, regardless of background,
can  get  involved  with  our  creative  processes  and  start  to  realise  their  own  creative
potential.

Our vision is of the Mercury as a strategically important part of the national theatre ecology
and the wider creative sector, providing an important regional pipeline for creative and
technical talent and contributing to the range and quality of mid-scale touring theatre, co-
producing  with  a  particular  focus  on  popular  genres,  musicals,  drama  and  work  for
children and families.

Mercury Governance, Staffing and Audience

The Mercury is a registered charity and operates a group of limited companies. As such,
we are overseen by a non-executive Board of Directors of 14 people which is chaired by
Mark Hoult-Allen. The Board delegate day-to-day management of the theatre to Steve
Mannix, the Chief Executive Officer, supported by the senior management team. We have
a talented and dedicated team of around 70
full-time  equivalent  staff,  and  we  employ
numerous freelance artists, practitioners and
casual staff.

The  theatre’s  market  penetration  is  strong,
to  have  good  reach
and  we  continue
throughout  Essex  and  the  Eastern  region.
Over  80%  of  our  visitors  come  from  within
the  Colchester  city  area.  For  the  2024-25
financial year, the average attendance to our
shows  reached  60%,  with  over  118,000
tickets sold.

February 2026

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Artistic Development and Programming

We believe that our vibrant and diverse programme and artistic delivery is the heart and
centre of the Mercury. We aim to span both popular, new and classical work within our
programme.  As  a  regional  theatre  we  fundamentally  believe  that  we  should  present
‘something for everyone’. Our audiences should be able to access a ‘good night out’ of
popular  titles,  comedy,  music  through  to  new  writing,  non-professional  work  and
contemporary forms.

Last  financial  year,  the  Mercury  benefited  from  a  loyal  audience  of  over  118,000
attendees  with  an  additional  24,800  children,  young  people  and  adults  involved  in  our
Creative Engagement Programme at the Mercury and throughout Essex. A further 28,000
people  attended  non  ticketed  events  in  our  Café/Bar,  on  our  piazza  or  within  the  city.
Moreover, we engaged with 632 local creatives through our Mercury Creatives sessions
and supported 15 week-long R&Ds.

We are proud to be a full time producing mid-scale regional venue presenting at least 7
Mercury Productions annually. This is possible due to our dedicated, in house, full time
professional  teams  across  producing,  workshop,  stage  management,  wardrobe  and
operations, finance and marketing.

We are delighted that we have a great relationship with a wide range of mid, large and
commercial theatre producers and venues who are eager to co-produce with us for a first,
second  and  third  time.  Last  year,  the  Mercury  moved  to  a  new  model  of  co-producing
some of our work over the next three years with our associate companies including Frantic
Assembly,  Graeae  Theatre  Company,  English  Touring  Theatre  and  Paines  Plough.
Together, we hope to draw on this nationally and internationally recognised artistic talent
to curate a range of work that is both contemporary, new and classical here in Essex and
on tour across the UK and internationally.

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Living in Colchester

Boasting  strong  commuter  links,  a  world  class  arts  and  cultural
scene and charming old rustic pubs serving up gastro delights, the
list of reasons to move to Colchester is endless.

Renowned for being Britain's first city and former capital of Roman
Britain,  its rich  history  dates  back over  2000  years and  is  ripe  for
exploring. Colchester Castle is one of the standout attractions as
one  of  England’s  most  significant  heritage  sites.  Colchester  was
recently  gifted modern  city  status,  confirming  that  we're not  all
about the past. 21st Century Colchester is also a thriving, modern
destination with first-class visitor attractions, and cultural sites.

For  a  city  steeped  in  so  much  history,  it  is  surprisingly
contemporary  in  its  outlook,  providing  residents  with  all  the
amenities we’ve come to appreciate from modern living. Foodies
will rejoice at the plethora of food options available - these range
from budget dining to world class Michelin star restaurants - and
shoppers are presented with a mixture niche independent shops
neighbouring the usual big name high street stores.

Colchester  is  home  to  an  enviable  range  of  attractions  which
provide a wide selection of things to do. Colchester Zoo is listed in
the top 2 zoos in the UK and the 11th best globally. Alongside the
Mercury,  there’s  also  Colchester  Castle,  the  Firstsite  gallery,
Colchester Arts Centre, new and emerging music venues the
Curzon cinema and a wide range of festivals and events.

Colchester is surrounded by the green pastures of the picturesque
Essex  and  Suffolk  countryside,  135  square  miles  of  coast  and
countryside. The idyllic villages of Wivenhoe and Dedham, famed
as Constable country, are a short drive away, and you’re less than
25  minutes  away  from  the  Essex  Coast  and  Mersea  Island,  a
postcard perfect seaside resort with a world-famous oyster bar.

Situated in the north east of Essex, Colchester has a population of
195,000  and  is  one  of  the  fastest  growing  cities  in  the  UK.  It  is
extremely  popular  with  commuters  with  excellent  train  links  to
London Liverpool Street - only 50 minutes away.  The A12 takes
you  straight  into  London  and  Stansted  airport  is  only  30  miles
away.

It is perhaps stating the obvious but the cost of living in Colchester
is cheaper than London. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment can
be approximately 50% cheaper than the capital.

With a balance of urban city lifestyle and a rural living, there are
many reasons why Colchester is so desirable. For more information about our wonderful
city check out https://www.visitcolchester.com

February 2026

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Job Description

Job Title
Department
Responsible to
Responsible for
Key working relationships   Senior Producer

Talent and New Work Producer
Producing
Artistic Director
Freelance mentors and theatre makers

Producer
Production Assistant
Executive Director
Marketing and Communications Director
Head of Development and Business Partnerships
Development Manager
Audience Development Officer
Head of Creative Engagement

Purpose of the Post

Working to the Artistic Director’s vision, to programme and deliver new work activities in
the studio, and the Mercury’s talent development programmes.

To support the Artistic Director in planning delivering a robust and innovative talent
development programme, produce our Mercury Originals and activities in the café bar,
whilst supporting the producing of visiting work in the studio as required.

You will be responsible for delivering a high-quality programme of talent development
activities for creative artists, developing early career and established artists in the East of
England. Working closely with the Senior Producer you will be responsible for preparing
and monitoring of contracting, budgets and settlements.

To build and maintain relationships with emerging and established artists and to advocate
for the Mercury.

Main Duties
Producing

•  Work with the Artistic Director to curate and programme Mercury Originals into the

studio.

•  Work with the Artistic Director and Senior Producer to programme visiting work into

the studio ensuring a wide cultural offer.

•  Produce Mercury Originals and café bar activities, exploring and delivering future

exploitation of the work.

•  Ensure that productions and activities deliver maximum impact, on budget and on

time.

•  Negotiate all fees and rights and issue contracts and agreements for work for

activities or productions as required to deliver the programme.

•  Working closely with the Senior Producer to prepare production expenditure and

income forecasts and monitor actual sales.

•  Create and adhere to production budgets for all Mercury Originals and talent

development activities.

•  With the Artistic Director, plan and produce scratch nights and rehearsed readings

in the Studio as part of the talent development programme

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•  Broker dramaturgical relationships for writers in development with the Mercury as

required

•  Manage seed commissions

Talent Development

•  Work with the Artistic Director, Senior Producer and Creative Engagement

colleagues to develop the vision, direction and expansion of the Mercury’s talent
development programmes.

•  Plan and deliver the Mercury’s talent development activities for emerging and

•

established artists within the vision of the Artistic Director.
In conjunction with the Artistic Director, support the associate artists programme in
the studio.

•  Broker dramaturgical relationships for writers in development with the Mercury as

required
Initiate, deliver and establish a new national playwriting competition
•
•  Produce any new writing festivals that may be programmed in future
•  Plan scratch nights and rehearsed readings in the Studio as part of the talent

development programme

•  Negotiate all fees and rights, create and issue contracts and agreements for work

•

for activities as required to deliver the programme.
In conjunction with the Artistic Director to set the tone of the Playwrights, Producers
and Directors programme and the masterclasses.

•  Assist with the management of local auditions

Evaluation

•  To instigate qualitative and quantitative evaluation to ascertain the impact of our

work

•  Participate in the analysis of evaluations and reports and making recommendations

for future programmes

General Duties

•  Contribute ideas to expand and develop the Mercury’s programme.
•  Ensure accurate records are kept in order to quantitatively evaluate the benefit of

the work delivered and to report to funders.

•  Work with the Development team on funding applications for future work and

reporting on existing productions for funders.

•  Provide regular updates contributing to reports to funders and the Mercury’s

executive team and Board of Directors as required.

•  Deputise for other members of the Producing department when necessary to

ensure the effective and efficient delivery of all the team’s activities.

•  Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the Theatre’s wider artistic programme,

including all of its creative learning and talent development activities.
•  Maintain positive and effective relationships with colleagues across the

organisation.

•  Participate actively as a member of the Producing team.
•  Adhere to all Mercury Theatre policies included Safeguarding, Health and Safety

and environmental policies.

•  Attend and contribute to staff meetings and/or training sessions.
•  Undertake any further duties as may be reasonably requested.

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This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required of this position. It is
neither wholly comprehensive nor restrictive and does not preclude change or
development that might be required in the future. It does not form part of the contract of
employment.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities
•  Self-disciplined, organised and self-motivated
•  Ability to work in a team, contributing ideas, supporting other team members
•  Taking on a lead role on projects as required, galvanising teams and providing clear

instructions and budgets for them to work from
•  Adaptable and receptive to new ideas and initiatives
•  Ability to work under pressure and manage competing deadlines
•  Creative flair
•  Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to listen, build rapport and communicate

with people at all levels

•  A strong team player and collaborator, who will work positively, supportively and in

partnership with others

•  An analyst who can identify individual issues whilst always being aware of

the big picture

•  Passion for theatre and new writing

Professional Competencies
Essential

•  Experience or knowledge of artists in the Essex and North Kent region
•  Track record of working with emerging and established artists
•  Track record of developing, delivering small scale production
•  Ability to manage freelance artists and practitioners
•  A strong understanding of and commitment to equality and diversity
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to create and

present reports

•  Excellent IT skills, including experience of using Microsoft Office software
•  Ability to establish and manage budgets with a track record of meeting financial

targets

•  Proven networking skills, demonstrating the development of good partnerships with

other individuals and organisations

•  A strong understanding of contemporary performing arts
•  Ability to think creatively and anticipate, negotiate and solve problems to ensure the

successful completion of projects.

•  Strong awareness of issues relating to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
•  Awareness of Health & Safety practice and procedures.

Desirable

•  Experience of using Artifax
•  Experience of dramaturgy
•  Full clean driving license
•  Experience of liaising with fundraising and development teams
•  Experience of contributing to funding applications

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Outline of Terms and Conditions

Salary:
Hours:

Annual Leave:

Probationary Period:
Notice Period:

DBS Check:
Pension:

Other Benefits

£32,000 - £35,000 per annum depending on experience
37.5 hours per week, although additional hours may be
necessary in order to fulfil the post’s requirements for which
time off in lieu is available. This post will require the successful
candidate to work unsocial hours including evening and
weekends on occasion. You are expected to take appropriate
meal and tea breaks which are unpaid.
Annual leave entitlement is 20 days for each holiday year plus
statutory Bank Holidays. When you complete one year’s
service, your holiday entitlement will increase by one day and
each year thereafter to a maximum of 25 days per annum.
Six months
Three months by either party in writing after an initial
probationary period during which time the notice period is one
month by either party
An enhanced DBS check will be required
The Theatre operates a pension scheme that meets the
government’s requirements under auto-enrolment.
Discount on drinks and meals in the Mercury’s bar including
access to the discounted staff menu
The company offers an interest free season ticket loan
The company encourages attendance at performances with an
allocation of tickets to employees (subject to availability and the
Mercury’s ticket policy
A discount on specific Creative Engagement activities.

How to apply

To apply for this post, please send

•  a  letter  of  no  more  than  2  sides  of  A4  or  a  video  of  no  more  than  4  minutes,
explaining what attracts you to this position, and evidence of your ability to meet the
job description and person specification. If you choose to apply via video, please
include the link to your video in a word or pdf document.

•  Your CV
•  Names and contact details for two employment/professional referees, however, we
shall not take up references unless candidates are invited to a second interview
•  A completed Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form (part of the application link)

Applications should be submitted to via this staffology link by 10:00am on Tuesday, 10
March 2026.

First round interviews will take place in person at the Mercury on Wednesday, 18 March
2026.

The Mercury Theatre is an equal opportunities employer and actively promotes diversity
in our staff team. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless
of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Please let us know if
you need this information in a different format by contacting the recruitment team on
recruitment@mercurytheatre.co.uk, or by calling 01206577006, ext. 204.

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