A Special Free Family Event.

Step into the magical world of Snowy Joy – a heart-warming tale of migration, belonging, and hope, brought vividly to life as a stage production.

Following two sell-out runs at Colchester Arts Centre, this special event offers a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of Snowy Joy & The Toysavers! and discover how the story journeyed from page to stage.

Meet adult cast member Dee Lana, alongside the young cast from Colchester, Chelmsford and London, as they share what it’s like to be part of this exciting production: from rehearsals to live performances: especially as child actors.

Sharing exclusive insight into how this inspiring story was developed and brought to life for the stage is: Sade Fadipe (Author), Margaret Omoniyi (Director) and Colchester-based Julia Obasa (Choreographer).

❄️ The Q&A session with the Snowy Joy Cast is a rare chance to step inside the world of Snowy Joy and meet the adults (and children!) who bring its magic to life.

Tickets: Free (Donations Welcome). Places limited so booking essential

Book tickets: SnowyJoyToysaversBehindTheScenes.eventbrite.co.uk

Wise Ram workshop credit Lorna Powell

Get crafty and messy with our free, hands-on, drop-in workshops taking place in the enchanted garden at The Minories.

Use materials gathered from the Essex coast to create your very own Beached-Up Sea Monster.

Write a Letter to the Future which will become part of a county-wide children’s zine.

The Vanishing Lake with Wise Ram Theatre – Wise Ram Theatre will be running a free, family friendly drop-in activity at our Midsummer Madness day at The Minories. All are welcome for fun creative activities, from drawing characters, doing crafts and playing games. By taking part you will help create a new fantasy adventure show called ‘The Vanishing Lake’.

Wise Ram Theatre is a theatre company based in Harwich making theatre with humour, heart and nerve. In 2025 they delivered a Eco-Theatre workshop for Manifesto4Essex in Colchester and family workshops at Essex Green Weekend. Read more on their website wiseramtheatre.co.uk or follow on social media @wiseramtheatre.

Essex Libraries will be joining us for some super storytelling. Watch out for a strange creature in the garden with terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in terrible jaws; knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of a nose…

All ages welcome.

Tickets: Free, drop-in, no booking required
All taking place in The Minories Garden

Colchester Chamber Choir is a small vocal ensemble praised for imaginative programming and exceptional music making. Come and hear them sing some surprising songs in the delightful Minories Garden.