COLCHESTER’S Mercury Theatre is celebrating after reaching its funding target for a £580,000 revamp.

Arts Council England has given the theatre a one-off £400,000 grant and Colchester Council has donated £80,000. Two charitable trusts have given £25,000 and the Mercury has used £50,000 from its reserves.

The revamp is the largest investment in the theatre since it opened in 1972.

Daniel Buckroyd, artistic director, said: “This work will transform our ability to create new, smaller-scale theatre ourselves, and support new writers and emerging theatre companies. The new studio will increase the choice we offer, boosting our efforts to attract more people to theatre for the first time.”

The improvements will include increasing the number of seats in the studio from 65 to 103.

Sound-proofing will be installed so noise from the main stage cannot be heard in the studio, meaning both spaces can run all year round for the first time.

Air conditioning will be installed in the studio, which will also be equipped with digital filming equipment, and technical equipment will be upgraded.

A new hearing loop will be installed and audience members in wheelchairs will no longer have to sit on the same level as the performance space.

In the main theatre, a new heating and cooling system will be installed.

A new platform will provide more flexible, accessible seating for people of limited mobility.

LED lighting will be installed in both theatres, powered by solar panels donated by Colchester Council. Work will take place later this year.

Mr Buckroyd said: “Temperature in both of our spaces has been the most persistent audience complaint for years now.

“We are hopeful the installation of new heating and cooling equipment will make visiting the Mercury a more comfortable experience for all of our audiences.”