MORE than 31,000 audience members cheered on the Mercury Theatre cast for another record-breaking year.

The theatre in Colchester has seen its third record-breaking year in a row for pantomime box office sales.

Thousands of people watched Cinderella over the Christmas period.

It was staged at the theatre’s temporary venue - the pop-up tent at Abbey Fields - while renovation works to the Balkerne Gate building are carried out.

A spokesman for the theatre said: “Feedback from customers was hugely positive both for the venue and the show, and we would like to thank the 31,864 audience members who came through our doors for Cinderella for making our festive season so jolly.

“Fun fact, over panto alone we sold 11,242 ice creams.”

The pop-up tent is now closed and the deconstruction process has already begun.

The tent should be down within a week and staff will then return the site back to its normal state.

The venue first opened at the end of September and it took five articulated lorries and two giant vans to get it all there and set up.

It was chosen as a temporary space while the Mercury Rising project continues at the Balkerne Gate site.

Mercury Rising is a £9.7 million extension and refurbishment of the Mercury Theatre - transforming and safeguarding the building for future generations.

Plans include creating a new café and foyer, a new production block, a new box office and space for educational workshops.

The theatre spokesman added: “The redevelopment of the theatre is going really well.

“We are on schedule to re-open to the public in September and plans are well under way for an exciting launch weekend the community and Mercury regulars alike can look forward to.

“We’ve also been listed in the Guardian as one of their Top 20 new attractions to visit in the UK in 2020, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors from across the country for our opening season in the new building.

“The support we have received both from the industry and the public, especially locally, for this redevelopment project continues to be amazingly positive.”

There is still £400,000 left to raise.

To find out more, visit www.mercurytheatre.co.uk.