Part of the Roman River Festival 2024 - See all concerts here.

Bringing three giants of Colchester together - Jumbo, Colchester's iconic Grade II* listed water tower; Ant Roberts, Director of Colchester Arts Centre; and Orlando Jopling, Artistic Director of Wild Arts - we have joined with North Essex Heritage to offer a special opportunity to see the newly crowned city from the unique perspective of Jumbo's water tank while enjoying an intimate performance of poetry and music. 

At the start of lockdown, Ant Roberts, Director of Colchester Arts Centre, decided to read and share a different poem every day with the entire world on the Arts Centre’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. He also pledged he would not shave until the arts centre reopened. 523 poems and several hairy inches later, the project came to an end, having brought people all over the world together during a difficult time. 

In this show, Ant will be revisiting some of the best-received lockdown poems, and telling us a little about how they connected him with the outside world and his audience. Expect new poems, old poems, local poets, famous poets and a few surprises.

The poetry readings will be accompanied by and interspersed with a programme of music especially curated in response by conductor and cellist Orlando Jopling who has worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the Irish Chamber Orchestra among many others, both on the concert platform and in the recording studio. 

Thanks to National Lottery Players, the North Essex Heritage Trust has been developing its plans to restore and convert this unique Victorian landmark. The aim is to produce a commercially viable operation which pays for the building’s upkeep. The Jumbo Project would see the building run as a destination venue, visitor experience and historical interpretation space, and you will be among the first to experience it as such.

Duration: 45 minutes. There will be 3 performances at 10.45am, 12.15pm, and 1.45pm

Planning: Please allow ample time for parking and reaching the venue. We are allowing 45 minutes between each performance for audience members to enter and exit the water tower. Doors for each performance open 45 minutes before the event starts but please be aware that the audience for the prior performance will exit the tower before those for the next performance will be allowed in. 

The venue is as you might imagine - a little bit rough and ready with an industrial feel. Wear practical shoes and casual clothes, not your Sunday best! The event will take place in the main water tank. There will be folding chairs to sit on. **Please note that there are 157 steps up a reasonably narrow spiral staircase to the top: a 35.37 metres (116 ft) climb which is not for the physically challenged or anyone who suffers from vertigo.** Tickets are limited to 25 per performance.

Ant Roberts | books
Orlando Jopling | cello

Tickets £30  (no concessions)