What’s On
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Exhibitions
Free
Tim Noble & Sue Webster: Love and Hate at Firstsite
Thursday 09 November 2023 - Tuesday 30 September 2025
In this presentation, seven light sculptures by Noble & Webster illuminate areas of the Firstsite building with pops of glimmering colour.
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Free
University Centre Colchester (UCC): Legacy
Saturday 08 March - Sunday 15 June 2025
In partnership with Colchester Institute, we’re proud to present the UCC: Legacy exhibition, featuring an exciting selection of multimedia works by second and third-year students from University Centre Colchester (UCC).
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Free
Elsa James: It Should Not Be Forgotten
Saturday 29 March - Sunday 06 July 2025
Join Essex artist Elsa James in examining the heart of Britain’s colonial past and its lasting impact on Black life today.
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Free
Acorn Village: 50 Years
Saturday 26 April - Sunday 07 September 2025
Discover the inspiring 50-year journey of Acorn Village, told through a rich collection of artworks created by artists with learning disabilities.
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Thunderbolts* (Captioned)
Friday 13 June 2025
5:00 pm
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, the Thunderbolts* embark on a dangerous mission forcing them to confront their pasts.
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Boozy Brushes
Friday 13 June 2025
7:30 pm
More times available
Join Sirena Hart for Boozy Brushes at Firstsite – our New Multi-Art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza!
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Two To One
Friday 13 June 2025
7:45 pm
More times available
After discovering East German banknotes stashed in underground tunnels three friends plan to bring the money into circulation in Two to One.
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All About Kids Colchester: Family Fest 2025
Saturday 14 June 2025
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
All About Kids Colchester: Family Fest 2025 returns to Firstsite with inflatables, live entertainment, princesses, reptiles, and more!
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Thunderbolts* (Relaxed)
Saturday 14 June 2025
11:00 am
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, the Thunderbolts* embark on a dangerous mission forcing them to confront their pasts.
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Life Drawing with Justine Moss – all levels
Saturday 14 June 2025
1:30 pm
More times available
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, gain confidence in drawing the figure, with these tutored life drawing sessions.
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Parthenope
Saturday 14 June 2025
2:00 pm
More times available
From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino comes a monumental and deeply romantic story of a lifetime, Parthenope.
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Parthenope (Captioned)
Saturday 14 June 2025
5:00 pm
From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino comes a monumental and deeply romantic story of a lifetime, Parthenope.
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Warfare
Saturday 14 June 2025
8:00 pm
Written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, Warfare reveals Mendoza’s real-life experiences.
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Getting Started with Drawing
Sunday 15 June 2025
10:00 am
More times available
Join us in Getting Started with Drawing, a relaxed drawing workshop, to explore different drawing techniques and materials.
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Jesus Christ Superstar Live
Sunday 15 June 2025
2:00 pm
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar Live returns to its roots with this sensational performance in the UK.
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TASAF Lecture Series: Visual Magic in the Musicals
Tuesday 17 June 2025
2:30 pm
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Christopher Budd in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
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Colchester Library Rhymetimes at Firstsite
Wednesday 18 June 2025
More times available
While Colchester Library is closed for refurbishment, weekly Baby & Toddler Rhymetimes are continuing at Firstsite.
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Free
MiniCLIP Colchester
Wednesday 18 June 2025
More times available
MiniCLIP – a free weekly music club for young people age 11 to 14 at Firstsite Colchester, on term time Wednesdays from 4 – 5pm.
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Free
YAK | Young Art Kommunity
Thursday 19 June 2025
More times available
Young Art Kommunity (YAK) is Firstsite’s young-people peer led group which organises events and activities within the gallery and in the wider community.
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Mini Movers & Makers Toddler Group
Thursday 19 June 2025
10:00 am
More times available
This brand new artist-led toddler group provides a safe and fun environment for children under 5 and parents/carers to be curious and explore interactive, sensory storytelling and experiment with a range of art activities and materials.
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Thunderbolts* (Parent & Baby)
Thursday 19 June 2025
11:30 am
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, the Thunderbolts* embark on a dangerous mission forcing them to confront their pasts.
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A New Kind of Wilderness (Parent & Baby)
Friday 20 June 2025
11:30 am
On a small farm in a Norwegian forest, the Paynes live a purposefully isolated life, aiming to be wild and free in A New Kind of Wilderness.
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A New Kind of Wilderness
Friday 20 June 2025
2:00 pm
More times available
On a small farm in a Norwegian forest, the Paynes live a purposefully isolated life, aiming to be wild and free in A New Kind of Wilderness.
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The Wedding Banquet
Friday 20 June 2025
5:00 pm
More times available
From Director Ahn comes a comedy of errors about a family navigating the disasters and delights of expectations at The Wedding Banquet.
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Watercolour and Wine
Friday 20 June 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
Celebrate watercolour with an evening of creativity, relaxation and wine at our Watercolour and Wine Workshop!
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The Surfer
Friday 20 June 2025
7:30 pm
More times available
When a man returns to his beach side hometown in Australia, he clashes with a local group of surfers, in The Surfer.
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Free
YAK: Culture of Curiosities
Saturday 21 June - Sunday 12 October 2025
YAK: Culture of Curiosities curated by our Young Art Kommunity (YAK) showcases how young people use the Internet to portray themselves and the world around them.
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Colchester Record Fair
Saturday 21 June 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
More times available
Browse the stalls and grab yourself a bargain – or perhaps something a little rarer at the Colchester Record Fair at Firstsite.
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Peppa Meets the Baby Cinema Experience (Relaxed)
Saturday 21 June 2025
11:00 am
Pig changes are coming in Peppa Meets the Baby Cinema Experience! Join Peppa and her family as they get ready to welcome a new baby!
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Billy Elliot The Musical Live (20th Anniversary)
Saturday 21 June 2025
7:00 pm
Billy Elliot The Musical shows Billy’s journey from the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance.
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Free
Art in the Community
Tuesday 24 June 2025
More times available
Art in the Community sessions are for people who use creativity to improve their well-being, and for recovery from mental and physical issues
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The Surfer (Captioned)
Tuesday 24 June 2025
2:00 pm
When a man returns to his beach side hometown in Australia, he clashes with a local group of surfers, in The Surfer.
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Peppa Meets the Baby Cinema Experience (Parent & Baby)
Thursday 26 June 2025
11:30 am
Pig changes are coming in Peppa Meets the Baby Cinema Experience! Join Peppa and her family as they get ready to welcome a new baby!
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Lilo & Stitch (Parent & Baby)
Friday 27 June 2025
11:30 am
More times available
Lilo & Stitch is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.
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The Ballad Of Wallis Island
Friday 27 June 2025
2:00 pm
More times available
Eccentric lottery winner Charles dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, back together in The Ballad of Wallis Island.
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The Salt Path
Friday 27 June 2025
4:30 pm
More times available
The Salt Path is the profound true story of husband and wife, Raynor and Moth Winn’s trek along the Cornish, Devon and Dorset coastline.
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Customise your Clothes with Posca Pens
Friday 27 June 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
Learn how to transform your old clothes into wearable vibrant art with Posca pens in our Customise your Clothes with Posca Pens workshop!
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EcoArt Collage and Craft
Friday 27 June 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
Join us for our EcoArt Collage and Craft workshop where creativity meets sustainability in this unique group experience!
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Firstsite Fabulous Fridays
Friday 27 June 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
Immerse yourself in a world of unlimited creativity at our monthly Fabulous Fridays with unique workshops, art, tasty treats and great films!
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Boozy Brushes – Paint in Pairs
Friday 27 June 2025
7:30 pm
More times available
Join Sirena Hart at Firstsite for Boozy Brushes a multi-art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza where you can paint in pairs!
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Lilo & Stitch (Relaxed)
Saturday 28 June 2025
11:00 am
Lilo & Stitch is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.
Find out moreCinema
Lilo & Stitch
Saturday 28 June 2025
4:30 pm
Lilo & Stitch is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.
Find out moreCinema
National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire (Captioned)
Saturday 28 June 2025
7:00 pm
Gillian Anderson, Vanessa Kirby, and Ben Foster lead the cast in Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire.
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Lilo & Stitch (Captioned)
Sunday 29 June 2025
11:00 am
Lilo & Stitch is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.
Find out moreCinema
The Salt Path (Relaxed)
Sunday 29 June 2025
2:00 pm
The Salt Path is the profound true story of husband and wife, Raynor and Moth Winn’s trek along the Cornish, Devon and Dorset coastline.
Find out moreCinema
The Salt Path (Captioned)
Wednesday 02 July 2025
2:00 pm
The Salt Path is the profound true story of husband and wife, Raynor and Moth Winn’s trek along the Cornish, Devon and Dorset coastline.
Find out moreCinema
The Ballad of Wallis Island (Relaxed)
Thursday 03 July 2025
2:00 pm
Eccentric lottery winner Charles dreams of getting his favourite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, back together in The Ballad of Wallis Island.
Find out moreCinema
The Ballad of Wallis Island (Captioned)
Thursday 03 July 2025
5:30 pm
Eccentric lottery winner Charles dreams of getting his favourite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer, back together in The Ballad of Wallis Island.
Find out moreTalks & Events
In Conversation: Elsa James and EMPIRE LINES Podcast
Friday 04 July 2025
7:00 pm
Join artist Elsa James and EMPIRE LINES for a live-recorded conversation on Britain’s colonial past and impact on Black lives today.
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Folk & Bespoke Artisan Craft Market
Saturday 05 July 2025
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
More times available
Have a handmade shopping day. The people in your life deserves something special and for a totally unique gift, you cannot beat handmade.
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BSFF Midsummer Scream: Video Dreams: A VHS Massarce Story
Saturday 05 July 2025
11:00 am
From Blockbuster Dreams to streaming screens, a filmmakers journey through a vanishing world is seen in Video Dreams: A VHS Massarce Story.
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BSFF Midsummer Scream: Vincent: A Story of Supernatural Friendship
Saturday 05 July 2025
1:30 pm
A bullied teenager meets a stranger from out of town and they form an unusual relationship in Vincent: A Story of Supernatural Friendship.
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BSFF Midsummer Scream: The Behemoth
Saturday 05 July 2025
4:00 pm
A couple on vacation encounters a dark cult set on bringing back a fearsome entity from the shadows in The Behemoth.
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Drag Life Drawing with Sirena Hart
Saturday 05 July 2025
6:00 pm
More times available
A one-of-a-kind life drawing class, where your tutor and model will offer multiple poses in fantastical settings.
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BSFF Midsummer Scream: Cult Film Secret Screening
Saturday 05 July 2025
6:30 pm
As is the Black Sunday tradition, the Midsummer Scream festival will close with a stone-cold cult classic in this Cult Film Secret Screening!
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Decorate a Wine Glass with Posca Pens
Friday 11 July 2025
7:00 pm
Learn how to decorate a wine or pint glass with Posca pens in our Decorate a Wine Glass with Posca Pens workshop!
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Origami Workshop
Friday 11 July 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
In our Origami Workshop, Lu Yu will guide you step by step through the creation of specific origami shapes in this ancient art form!
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Free
Opening Celebration | Voyager 2000: Worldbeing & Wonder?
Friday 18 July 2025
Be among the first to experience our new summer show – Voyager 2000: Worldbeing & Wonder?! Join us for a lively evening opening event and meet some of our artists, hear from our Programme team behind this special exhibition and enjoy the company of like-minded individuals.
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Free
Voyager 2000: Worldbeing & Wonder?
Saturday 19 July - Sunday 05 October 2025
What does it mean to grow up autistic in a digital world? Voyager 2000: Worldbeing & Wonder invites you on a sensory, emotional, and digital journey through art, technology, and the world we build online – shaped by the perspectives of autistic and disabled people.
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Watercolour Saturdays with Justine Moss
Saturday 19 July 2025
10:00 am
More times available
Explore the materials, techniques and colour theory used to develop your watercolour paintings in this relaxed social session.
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Decorate a Trinket Dish with Posca Pens
Saturday 02 August 2025
10:00 am
More times available
Come along with the kids to decorate a trinket dish with Posca Pens in our Firstsite Art Fair family workshop!
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Free
The Firstsite Art Fair
Saturday 02 August 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
More times available
The Firstsite Art Fair brings together a diverse range of artists, collectors, art lovers and all who are simply curios about art.
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Drawing with Charcoal
Saturday 02 August 2025
10:00 am
Join Jordan Cook in making quick and playful drawings with charcoal into ambitious and imaginative works of art.
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Portfolio Surgery – Morning Sessions
Saturday 02 August 2025
11:00 am
More times available
Book a one-on-one session at our free Artist Portfolio Surgery, where an industry expert will provide professional guidance.
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Portfolio Surgery – Afternoon Sessions
Saturday 02 August 2025
12:30 pm
More times available
Book a one-on-one session at our free Artist Portfolio Surgery, where an industry expert will provide professional guidance.
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André Rieu’s 2025 Maastricht Concert: Waltz the Night Away!
Saturday 30 August 2025
4:15 pm
More times available
Step into a night of music, romance, and celebration this summer from the stunning Vrijthof Square with André Rieu’s Waltz the Night Away!
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National Theatre Live: Inter Alia
Thursday 04 September 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Saltburn) is Jessica in the much-anticipated, Inter Alia, from the team behind Prima Facie.
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Introduction to Collage
Friday 12 September 2025
10:00 am
Sociable, creative and fun Introduction to Collage Workshop where you’ll learn new techniques, unwind and have a delicious lunch together.
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MET Opera Live: La Sonnambula
Saturday 18 October 2025
5:45 pm
Nadine Sierra summits another peak of the soprano repertoire, sleepwalking her way into audiences’ hearts in MET Opera Live: La Sonnambula.
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Exploring Watercolour with Simon Carter
Friday 24 October 2025
10:00 am
More times available
Explore the art of watercolour with internationally exhibited contemporary artist Simon Carter in Exploring Watercolour with Simon Carter!
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MET Opera Live: La Bohème
Saturday 08 November 2025
5:45 pm
With its enchanting setting and spellbinding score, the world’s most popular opera is timeless and heartbreaking in MET Opera Live: La Bohème.
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MET Opera Live: Andrea Chénier
Saturday 13 December 2025
5:45 pm
Giordano’s passionate tragedy, MET Opera Live: Andrea Chénier stars tenor Beczała as the poet who falls victim to the French Revolution.
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MET Opera Live: I Puritani
Saturday 10 January 2026
5:45 pm
Experience the first new Met production of Bellini’s final masterpiece in nearly 50 years, MET Opera Live: I Puritani.
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MET Opera Live: Tristan und Isolde
Saturday 21 March 2026
3:45 pm
The electrifying Davidsen tackles one of the ultimate roles: the Irish princess Isolde in MET Opera Live: Tristan und Isolde.
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MET Opera Live: Eugene Onegin
Saturday 02 May 2026
5:45 pm
After debuting in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Grigorian returns as Tatiana, the lovestruck young heroine in MET Opera Live: Eugene Onegin.
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MET Opera Live: El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego
Saturday 30 May 2026
5:45 pm
MET Opera Live: El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, a magical-realist portrait of Mexico’s painterly power couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
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