Arpita Shah: Nalini

13 June - 04 October 2026

Developed across India, East Africa and the UK, discover a photographic series that explores the connected histories of Arpita Shah, her mother, and grandmother.

National Cinema Weekend: Hunt For The Wilderpeople (Relaxed)

05 September 2026

11:00 am - 12:46 pm

A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who goes missing in the wild New Zealand bush.

National Cinema Weekend: The Odyssey

05 September 2026

7:00 pm - 10:07 pm

Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX® film technology.

Boozy Brushes – Paint Your Pal

25 September 2026

Multiple times available

Join Sirena Hart at Firstsite for Boozy Brushes a multi-art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza where you can your pal!

Simon Carter: From the Landscape

19 September 2026 - 17 January 2027

Lose yourself inside a giant painting as Simon Carter transforms our gallery into an immersive landscape inspired by the Essex coast.

National Cinema Weekend: Supergirl

05 September 2026

2:00 pm - 4:03 pm

Supergirl follows Kara Zor-El’s story and her darker origin before she finally made her way to Earth.

Duncan Grant: Worlds Through Desire: From Drawing to Cruising to DMs

11 July - 08 November 2026

Bringing together artworks, stories and poetry from three generations of voices, explore how LGBT+ people have sought desire, such as friendship, community, and intimacy, across changing times and technologies.

Exhibition on Screen: James McNeill Whistler

17 - 20 September 2026

Multiple times available

In an era of great change and great beauty emerged the character of James McNeill Whistler. Considered by some to be one of the great innovators of 19th century art, he was a contemporary of the Impressionists, much admired by Van Gogh and Manet.

Paint Like…

18 September 2026

Multiple times available

Learn how to recreate iconic artworks in a supportive and guided environment with our Paint Like… workshop.

National Cinema Weekend: Love Me Tender

06 September 2026

10:45 am - 1:14 pm

After coming out to her ex-husband, Clemence (Vicky Krieps) must fight a brutal custody battle to keep her son – and her right to love who she chooses.

Festival of Rice and Spice

12 September 2026

12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Celebrate Colchester’s diverse community through food, music and performances at the town’s annual festival of Rice and Spice – including children’s activities, workshops and a huge variety of food stalls.

Trust The Process: Observational Drawing

17 September 2026

Multiple times available

Our four-part Trust the Process: Observational Drawing workshop invites you to explore the foundations of observational art.

Mini Movers & Makers Toddler Group

10 September - 01 October 2026

Multiple times available

Artist-led toddler group provides a fun environment for children to explore sensory storytelling and experiment with a range of art activities.

Rewilding Imagination Labs

10 September - 12 November 2026

Multiple times available

A monthly gathering for artists, creatives, and the curious to explore the uncharted territories of imagination.

Life Drawing with Justine Moss – all levels

19 September 2026

Multiple times available

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, gain confidence in drawing the figure, with these tutored life drawing sessions.

Monoprint Day: Texture, Gesture & Etching Press

27 September 2026

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Discover the expressive world of monoprinting in this hands-on creative session exploring texture, movement and abstraction through drawing and printmaking techniques.

Boozy Brushes

16 October 2026

Multiple times available

Join Sirena Hart for Boozy Brushes at Firstsite – our New Multi-Art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza!

Boozy Brushes – Paint Your Pet

28 November 2026

Multiple times available

Join Sirena Hart at Firstsite for Boozy Brushes a multi-art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza where you can paint your pet!

Royal Ballet Live: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

28 March 2027

1:45 pm - 4:50 pm

At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit.

Watercolour Workshop

19 September 2026 - 07 February 2027

Multiple times available

Explore the materials, techniques and colour theory used to develop your watercolour paintings in this relaxed social session.

Build A Paper Animal Sculpture With Lino Printing (2-Part Workshop)

27 - 28 February 2027

10:30 am

Explore paper sculpture and lino printing in this two-part creative workshop inspired by vintage decorative art and handmade animal sculptures.

Fallen Angels by Noël Coward

22 - 25 October 2026

Multiple times available

Sparkling, dizzying, and deliciously potent, Fallen Angels, Noël Coward’s champagne-fresh comedy of bad manners, shocked and delighted audiences at its 1925 premiere.

GIANT The Play

19 - 22 November 2026

Multiple times available

GIANT, the 5-star critically acclaimed play starring John Lithgow (Killers of the Flower Moon, TheCrown) as Roald Dahl, comes to the big screen.

& Sons

18 - 23 September 2026

Multiple times available

A genre-defying, darkly comedic drama starring an A-list cast, including Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, George MacKay, Dominic West, Johnny Flynn, and Noah Jupe.

Coyote Vs. Acme (Relaxed)

19 September 2026

11:00 am - 12:46 pm

After enduring years of catastrophic product failures at the hands of ACME, Inc., a tenacious, unemployed coyote uncovers a corporate cover-up.

Holy Days (Parent &Baby)

17 September 2026

2:00 pm - 3:56 pm

A young boy finds refuge with three delightfully eccentric elderly nuns at a run-down convent facing shutdown. A road trip like no other, Holy Days is a joyful comedy packed with heart, humour, and high-speed hijinks. It’s a story…

National Cinema Weekend: Hunt For The Wilderpeople

06 September 2026

1:45 pm - 3:41 pm

A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who goes missing in the wild New Zealand bush.

Bitter Christmas (Captioned)

26 September 2026

8:00 pm - 10:06 pm

This screening will be shown with the addition of captions throughout the film. A hearing loop is also available in the Cinema.   Audio Description accessed via headphones and a body pack is available for this screening.   From…

Comic Strip Presents… + Q&A

31 October 2026

6:30 pm - 9:50 pm

Comic Strip… showcases a selection of classic films and highlights from the iconic comedy series, followed by a live Q&A with special guests.

Coyote Vs. Acme

18 - 22 September 2026

Multiple times available

After enduring years of catastrophic product failures at the hands of ACME, Inc., a tenacious, unemployed coyote uncovers a corporate cover-up.

Create an Expressive Landscape Painting Inspired by Van Gogh and Munch

25 October 2026

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Explore expressive landscape painting in this hands-on oil painting workshop inspired by the bold colour, movement and energetic brushwork of early Expressionism.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople (Parent & Baby)

10 September 2026

11:30 am - 1:26 pm

A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who goes missing in the wild New Zealand bush.

Lady

11 - 16 September 2026

Multiple times available

Lady is an off-beat comedy about a lonely, narcissistic aristocrat who dupes a struggling, opportunistic director into filming her every move.

National Cinema Weekend: Bouchra

05 September 2026

5:00 pm - 6:38 pm

Bouchra, a queer Moroccan coyote living in NYC, wrestling with writer’s block for her first film begins a series of difficult yet long overdue phone calls with her mother.

Make Your Own Willow Lantern

30 October 2026

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Create your own handcrafted willow lantern in this practical making workshop, where you’ll learn traditional willow construction techniques to design a unique lantern for your home or garden.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (4K Remaster) (Relaxed)

26 - 27 September 2026

Multiple times available

A resourceful young witch uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt.

National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope (Captioned)

11 October 2026

2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Award-winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) plays the title role in this razor-sharp reimagining of Molière’s classic dark comedy.