First Thursdays Festival

First Thursdays is a monthly festival with events throughout Colchester city centre! The festival celebrates the city’s vibrant and diverse cultural scene, seeing venues thrown open for the community, with fantastic performances, workshops and interactive experiences.  Many creatives featured responded to our Creative Commissions Fund where we seek exciting performance, workshop and installations from Colchester and Tendring creatives.

 

Our next festival is Aug 1st 2024 and is full of events suitable for families.  The full programme can be found below.

 

You can reserve your place at one of our events by booking your ticket in advance (most of which are FREE). Or, if there is capacity you can just turn up and enjoy.

 

What’s On This Month

 

A Jolly Holiday with Mary @ Vacay in Lion Walk Court Yard

Step into a pavement painting with Mary Poppins as she takes you on a Jolly Holiday at the Vacay Courtyard. Join Mary as she sings some classic songs and conjures some crafty activities from her carpet bag! Keep your eyes peeled for some Practically Perfect Penguins too. Come along… Best Foot Forward!

Find out more and book your FREE ticket

ATOM AND LUNA’s CREATIVE CAULDRONS @ The Minories Garden & Firstsite Studio

Join Funnelwick Limb to explore the wonderful world of Atom and Luna.  Drop in to see the beautiful story illustrations, have a go at our VR game and meet our show puppets (selfies encouraged!). Book onto workshops (for 6-11) in drawing, puppetry, foraging and theatre games.

11:00-11:30  Meet in the Minories Garden

11.30-12.30 – Foraging with Lora (The Minories Garden)

12.30-13.30 Puppetry with Siobhan (Firstsite Studio)

13.30-14.15 Foraging with Lora (The Minories Garden)

14.30-15.30 Drawing workshop with Ella (Firstsite Studio)

Find out more and book your FREE ticket

Lum’s Mum Workshop: Join author Josie Dom to enjoy an adventure with Lum, the cuddly fluffball, as he searches for his Mum. The workshop includes craft activities and storytime.

Animalympics: Whilst the Olympics are in progress in Paris, First Thursday brings you its very own Animalympics with children’s author Josie Dom. Find out the sports each animal has chosen in this fun rhyming story. The workshop includes storytime, crafts and a special Animalympics game!

Find out more and book your FREE ticket

Cirkus Zuzu @ Sir Isaac’s Walk (next to Subway)

Enter the world of the bizarre and fall in love with fun! Marvel at intoxicating theatrical delights within a tiny theatre. Celebrate both life, ….. and chaos! Intimate magic show which lasts 5mins

Find out more and book your FREE ticket

Daisy Diamond does Burlesque @ Headgate Theatre 

Unleash Your Inner Diva: A Body Confidence Burlesque Class

Time: 6:45pm – 7:45pm

(Direct message on instagram to register and sign up for classes)

 

Drop in Stop-Motion Animation @ Culver Square

Drop in for a fun-filled workshop learning stop motion animation. In this hands-on workshop you will create your own characters and bring them to life using our professional software. You will have the opportunity to explore different materials, props, and backdrops with the support of our expert tutors.

11am-2pm

FREE entry, just turn up on the day

Fun and Fantastical Fairytales @ Patch

Join Grethe aka Sandal Sticks Theatre, as she weaves her way through Story Land’s  many popular children’s stories, such as: The Gingerbread Man, The Three Little Pigs and The Hare and the Tortoise.

Find out more and book your FREE ticket

Makerspace Socials @ Colchester Makerspace

Thinking of becoming a member and want to know more? Already a member and want to catch up with the others? Makerspace Socials are free, include a short introduction, an opportunity to meet our members and associate artists and hear a short show-and-tell from our Maker of the Month.

Find out more and book your FREE ticket

Make Friends & Craft @ Curzon

Everyone is welcome to join us at Make Friends & Craft to make friends and craft!

At this drop-in workshop at Curzon Colchester there will be friendship bracelet making, paper and pens for doodling and lots of friendly people to get creative with.

Drop in anytime between 12 & 3pm!

Find out more and book your FREE ticket

THE HUB: Shut Up & Quiz Me @ Curzon

Grab your besties and think of a team name as this quiz at Curzon Colchester will be a ROM COM, BARBIE, MEAN GIRLS, MASH-UP! The winning team will receive a free cinema ticket each. We will also be collecting donations for Stonewall. On First Thursdays WE WEAR PINK!

Find out more and book your FREE ticket

The Thursday Jam @ CODA

Play an instrument? Fancy channelling your inner rockstar? Turn up and join other musicians in Colchester’s Jam Night! 

FREE entry, just turn up on the night

To get yourself in the First Thursdays mood, take a look at our brilliant May photo gallery, taken by Jonathan Dadds.