Lord of the Rings, Love Actually, Downton Abbey, Doctor Who – these are just some of the classics whose stars have joined in protesting the closure of the Oldham Coliseum Theatre.
Emma Thompson, Vanessa Redgrave and Ian McKellen are among the internationally renowned actors who have put their signature to an open letter published in the Stage newspaper, alongside prominent local actors Jim Carter, Maxine Peake and Julie Hesmondhalgh.
It comes as the latest update in the saga surrounding the fate of the beleaguered theatre that served the community of Oldham for over 130 years.
The Coliseum closed its doors for good in March this year after its application for renewed Arts Council funding was rejected the previous November, to the dismay of the local community.
Oldham Council have attempted to assuage the public by announcing plans to construct a new theatre in the town centre, to the tune of £24 million – but campaigners say the current building has life in it yet.
The Oldham Coliseum Trust has commissioned an independent inspection of the building which apparently shows the theatre to be in good working order, stating “it could reopen with immediate effect at a capital cost of only £150,000”, representing “a fraction of the ring-fenced £24 million”.
Oldham Council said today: “Positive discussions continue between the new Coliseum Board, Arts Council England and Oldham Council to agree the future plans for the Oldham Coliseum Theatre and we will be considering all of the feedback received during the planning process as part of these discussions.”
The Coliseum first opened its doors in 1887 as a theatre but converted to a cinema in 1931 – before a first closure in 1932 due to the Great Recession.
It was renovated and reopened in 1939 by the Oldham Repertory Theatre Club (then the Oldham Playgoer’s Club, established to encourage live theatre and drama in the area) as a new home for their 2000-strong membership.
Defying the fate of so many provincial theatres and cinemas, it survived well into the 21st century after being purchased by Oldham Council in 1978. It was funding from Arts Council England (ACE) that helped keep it going – until it was cut last November.
ACE’s North Area Director Sarah Maxfield told the Oldham Times in February that the Coliseum’s application for renewed funding “didn’t make a strong case for investment of public money”, having been operating at a financial loss for some time, with audience numbers declining and the building reportedly in disrepair.
Oldham Council has since submitted plans for a new £24m theatre to house the Coliseum theatre group, slated for opening in 2026, and ACE has ringfenced £1.85m for arts funding in Oldham.
The open letter calls for a renewal in dialogue between the parties involved, saying: “There is a way we can save the historic auditorium, and expand and rebuild the foyer, backstage and café-bar area, create studio and rehearsal spaces fit for the next 138 years, and return the Coliseum to its former glory as a producing theatre … Is the fight to save Oldham Coliseum over? Oh no, it isn’t!”
Image credit: March 2023 © 2023 Google
