In 16th century Essex, hundreds of women were accused, condemned and executed for witchcraft. Three Wise Women resurrects the true stories of three of them: Agnes Waterhouse, Ursula Kemp and Elsa.
Through ritual, movement and spoken word, these women rise from history’s gallows to reclaim their names, their stories and their power. Their lives intertwine through evocative physical theatre and embodied storytelling, revealing three ordinary women shaped by extraordinary circumstances: a healer, a midwife, a barmaid. Women whose knowledge of the land, of birth, of illness and of survival was once essential to their communities, before it became feared.
Not condemned for evil, but for existing beyond control.
At its heart, Three Wise Women is a fierce feminist act of remembrance. Exploring sisterhood as resistance, community as protection and wisdom as inheritance, the work confronts the systems that criminalised female autonomy and silenced generations of women.
This is a story of persecution, survival and reclamation. Of women scapegoated in times of fear and social unrest. Of voices that refuse to be buried and legacies that refuse to burn.
In honouring Agnes, Ursula and Elsa, we honour the countless unnamed women whose wisdom was branded as witchcraft.
Three women. Three stories. One unbreakable voice.

Join members of local Rock Choir groups for an uplifting summer performance in the beautiful surroundings in the Garden of the Commons & The Minories

Featuring specially arranged pop and rock favourites from the 1960s right through to today's charts, this feel-good concert showcases the power, energy and joy of contemporary community singing. Expect big harmonies, familiar tunes and plenty of opportunities to smile, sing along and celebrate the soundtrack of the last six decades, from choir members across the region.

Rock Choir brings together thousands of singers across hundreds of local communities. Founded by award-winning musician Caroline Redman Lusher, it has helped pioneer the contemporary choir movement and inspired people of all musical backgrounds to discover the enjoyment and wellbeing benefits of singing together

Ticket £8, book via the link below

In 16th century Essex, hundreds of women were accused, condemned and executed for witchcraft. Three Wise Women resurrects the true stories of three of them: Agnes Waterhouse, Ursula Kemp and Elsa.
Through ritual, movement and spoken word, these women rise from history’s gallows to reclaim their names, their stories and their power. Their lives intertwine through evocative physical theatre and embodied storytelling, revealing three ordinary women shaped by extraordinary circumstances: a healer, a midwife, a barmaid. Women whose knowledge of the land, of birth, of illness and of survival was once essential to their communities, before it became feared.
Not condemned for evil, but for existing beyond control.
At its heart, Three Wise Women is a fierce feminist act of remembrance. Exploring sisterhood as resistance, community as protection and wisdom as inheritance, the work confronts the systems that criminalised female autonomy and silenced generations of women.
This is a story of persecution, survival and reclamation. Of women scapegoated in times of fear and social unrest. Of voices that refuse to be buried and legacies that refuse to burn.
In honouring Agnes, Ursula and Elsa, we honour the countless unnamed women whose wisdom was branded as witchcraft.
Three women. Three stories. One unbreakable voice.

In 16th century Essex, hundreds of women were accused, condemned and executed for witchcraft. Three Wise Women resurrects the true stories of three of them: Agnes Waterhouse, Ursula Kemp and Elsa.
Through ritual, movement and spoken word, these women rise from history’s gallows to reclaim their names, their stories and their power. Their lives intertwine through evocative physical theatre and embodied storytelling, revealing three ordinary women shaped by extraordinary circumstances: a healer, a midwife, a barmaid. Women whose knowledge of the land, of birth, of illness and of survival was once essential to their communities, before it became feared.
Not condemned for evil, but for existing beyond control.
At its heart, Three Wise Women is a fierce feminist act of remembrance. Exploring sisterhood as resistance, community as protection and wisdom as inheritance, the work confronts the systems that criminalised female autonomy and silenced generations of women.
This is a story of persecution, survival and reclamation. Of women scapegoated in times of fear and social unrest. Of voices that refuse to be buried and legacies that refuse to burn.
In honouring Agnes, Ursula and Elsa, we honour the countless unnamed women whose wisdom was branded as witchcraft.
Three women. Three stories. One unbreakable voice.

Groove Jazz in the Garden

Bread Making Workshop with Giovanni
Baking teacher and Ambassador for Real Bread Campaign

This class, Giovanni will be teaching you how to bake a range of German Breads

£70.50 per person, a 10% discount will be applied upon booking before the 16th of July

The Commons Cafe Late Night + Small Plates

Join us for a late night opening at the Commons

Chef Jamie will be serving up small plates, and the bar will be open with a range of soft, non alcoholic, craft beers and cocktails

Quiz takes place 7-9pm - doors open from 6pm

• Entry: £6 per person

• Maximum 4 people in a team

• Food and drink will be available to purchase on the night - open from 6pm for delicious grub!

• There will be a pub hamper prize for the winning team!

TO BOOK

Reserve your place here (please book per person)
Pay at The Commons Cafe to secure your place by 6.40pm on the night.

Please note that your ticket may be offered to someone else if you've not paid/secured your place by 6.40pm!

Join us for another magical evening with East Anglian Folklore Centre! This time we welcome Fools Errand; some fabulous storytellers and folky songsters all the way from the USA

The evening will come in two halves.. One half will be shaped around their fantastic performance and the other will be down to you! We will be hosting a singaround AND storytelling open mic.

Bring a song to sing or a story to tell with a transatlantic connection…or something that resonates with ideas of autonomy and independence!

Please note: Stories can be read as well as recited but must be no longer that 5 minutes. Singers and storytellers at any stage in their journey are welcome.

*We have dropped our prices slightly to help relieve things during the cost of living crisis. But if you are struggling to afford tickets and dot want to miss this opportunity to gather in community then please do get in touch with us!

Access will be via the garden gate entrance at the rear of The Minories (Opposite Firstsite)

The Ember Sessions

curated folk sessions; intimate; live drawing.

session # 3

Tickets £12

Join the ember mailing list for a discounted ticket price

Access will be via the garden gate entrance at the rear of The Minories (Opposite Firstsite)

Doors - 6pm

Booking Times - 6:30pm // 7pm // 7:30pm // 8pm

Ticket Options - £30 (with soft drink) or £33 (with alcoholic drink)

MENU

BURGERS

Nourish Classic Burger

House-made patty, melty cheeze, homemade burger sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles and grilled onions in a brioche bun.

BBQ Cheezeburger

House-made patty, melty cheeze, BBQ sauce, lettuce, pickles & grilled onions in a brioche bun.

Falafel Burger (gluten free)

House-made falafel patty, homemade mayo, sweet chilli sauce, lettuce, tomato & pickles in a gluten free brioche bun.

SIDES

Mac and Cheeze

Melty house-made cashew cheeze sauce poured over macaroni, topped with homemade parmesan, toasted seeds and spring onions.

Southern Potato Salad (gluten free)

Southern style creamy potato salad with house-made mayo, pickles, red onions and celery.

DESSERTS

Oreo Brownie and Ice Cream

Fudgey gooey brownies made with melted dark chocolate, coconut sugar, raw cacao and flax seeds, topped with oreos. Served with swedish glace vanilla ice cream.

Blondie and Ice Cream (gluten free)

Fudgey triple chocolate blondies made with oat and buckwheat flour, peanut butter, coconut sugar, and flax seeds. Served with swedish glace vanilla ice cream.

Double act with two band playing danceable groove jazz followed by a jam at the Common Café Ground Colchester.

6 - 6.45pm Another Day with vocalist Heather Cordell

7 - 8.30pm Fuzz quintet: Mike Owen/sax, Tony Gooderham | keys, Gareth George/g, Simon Wood/b, Elmer van der Hoek

8.30-10pm, the stage will opened for a jam session — all jazz / funk/ latin musicians and singers are welcome to join in.

Expect a relaxed, social evening where you can dance, chat, mingle, or just enjoy great live music.

The café is fully licensed and will serve snacks.

Come and join the party!

Entry is through the back door in the wall behind The Minories, opposite the Firstsite gallery. Doors open 5:30pm.

Tickets: £10 general / £7 for under-18s and students.

Available via the link below

Access will be via the garden gate entrance at the rear of The Minories (Opposite Firstsite)

Spelt was the most used cereal in ancient Rome, until the appearance of wheat ( soft and hard wheat ) more productive and easily cultivated. Bread was the basis of the ancient Roman diet from the 2nd century BC, that is, from when the use of yeast became widespread, which allowed the processing of ground spelt not only to cook puls, that is, spelt soup, but also to knead loaves and focaccias of various types, and bake them in the oven.

During this hands on baking workshop we will take a virtual journey, going back in time and kneading from scratch 3 types of dough with different shapes :

• Panis Picenus : made with Millet flour, Grapes juice , honey and Poppy seeds

• Panis Farreus : the ancient bread, made with spelt flour, milk, honey, oil, candied fruit and black pepper.

• Catone Libum : an ancient focaccia dough made with Spelt flour, yogurt, olive oil, mixed herbs, bay leaves and ricotta cheese.

Suitable for all abilities, hot drinks refreshments and recipes will be included..

Eventbrite link to book and find more information

Join us for this monthly lunch club at the Commons Café and community space at the Minories. This informal gathering takes place on the third Wednesday of the month and is an opportunity for casual networking and friendship. Bring friends, or come on your own as a way to meet new people – all welcome.

A variety of vegetarian food and drink will be available to buy at the café.

Drop in, no booking required.

As the summer solstice approaches and the veil between the human world and fairy realm is thinnest, Colchester Pride invites you to a Midsummer Night's Dream Ball! 

A pride event, produced alongside ourselves at Common Ground Colchester & The Minories , supported by the East Anglian Folklore Centre, this ball will offer a glimpse behind the ethereal curtain and into a realm that celebrates nature, community and the magic of the world around us. 

We'll have an opening ritual from the Folklore Centre, a craft market, our classic raffle and a best-dressed contest - there's lots to get involved with as we raise funds towards August's Pride Festival. 

Come as you are or get stuck in with our dress code: fairies, flora and fauna! Outfits inspired by the natural OR supernatural world around us! 

All tickets are £10, age restriction 16+  

Cabaret line up to include: Aria Close, Atomic, Laura Wyatt, Shar Cooterie 
Followed by chilled music and good vibes as we enjoy the sunset and dance the evening away.