COLCHESTER'S home of community theatre is going on-line.

From tomorrow when people book a show at the Headgate they can do it via the theatre's own website, and looking at the theatre's new season, there will be plenty of cracking productions to choose from.

"It's all down to customer demand really," David King, chairman for the Headgate, tells me. "We've been operating since 2002 and it's only been in recent years that people have been asking why they can't book on-line.

"Because of the cost of the service we've had to add 50 pence to each ticket, although that won't cover it entirely, and of course people can still come in to the box office and book in person if they want, which will not incur a booking fee.

"We realise the box office is the quite the social hub for some visitors so that will definitely remain in place."

There will certainly be lots of different shows to choose from this autumn season with stand-up comedy, cabaret, cutting edge drama and of course a spot of music or two.

As well as on-line booking also new for this season will be more Headgate productions than ever before with four taking to the stage.

"I'm really excited about this season," David adds, "especially with the amount of plays we are putting on under the Headgate Productions banner.

"It starts off with another bit of a coup for us with Anthony Roberts directorial debut in The Play What I Wrote."

The director of the Colchester Arts Centre has already demonstrated what a fine actor he is having starred in the Headgate's production of Moonlight and Magnolias back in 2014. Now he's taking on the play inspired by one of the country's most beloved comedy double acts, Morecombe and Wise, which was a smash hit in the West End.

The play is being put on as part of this year's Colchester Comedy Festival, which David is delighted the Headgate will be hosting the launch for.

"We're constantly looking at ways to increase our audience," he says, "and getting more involved with the festival has been one of my targets for a while.

"As well as the launch we're also putting on some stand-up comedy nights, which we're hoping will go down very well with audiences and should work well bearing in mind the intimate space we have at the Headgate."

That all takes place in October with the rest of the season made-up of familiar favourites such as the Colchester Theatre Group performing an interesting play written by Foyle's War author, Anthony Horowitz, and the ever popular Platform Musicals and Plays putting on another little known musical classic, On The Twentieth Century.

For more information either pop into the Chapel Street North box office for a brochure or go on-line at www.headgatetheatre.co.uk