Oldham Theatre Workshop's exciting 50th year

The Oldham Theatre Workshop celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018.

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An exciting year of events and commemorations is in store throughout 2018 as the famous town centre-based Oldham Theatre Workshop celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Half a century ago Saddleworth-based David Johnson created the Theatre Workshop at a humble base on Harrison Street in Oldham, and the rest, as they say, is very much history.

Now, current Artistic Director James Atherton and his team at the Greaves Street home are planning to recognise the milestone with a clutch of inspiring initiatives and events.

‘Gold Dust’ events are generally ‘one-offs’, which begin with the ‘Illuminate’ festival across the town centre this weekend.

There’s also a Glitter Ball in March, a spectacular summer production of ‘When we built a rocketship’ in July, then a full week of special events during September.

‘Golden ticket’ events include creative workshops in the Spring and a special drama conference in the Autumn, while ‘Gold Mine’ events will be staged throughout the year, basically aimed at getting people inspired.

From humble beginnings the Oldham Theatre Workshop has grown into something of an institution in the world of drama.

Household names such as the late Anne Kirkbride, Suranne Jones, Anthony Cotton, Michael Le Vell, Sally Whittaker, Sally Ann Matthews, Anna Friel, Lisa Riley, Mallard, Sam Glenn and Olivia Cooke passed through the doors on their way to success, but it’s not just there to help make people famous.

Atherton said: “Of course it’s well known as being the birthplace of lots of people’s very successful careers, across the arts.

“It’s not internally defined itself as that, though. The Theatre Workshop has never tried to make people famous and we are proud of that particular aspect.

“It’s just always been a place for people to come to be creative and learn through theatre practise.

“Increasingly, though, it became known outside as a place you could go to and possibly have access to a world of professional theatre and film.

“We still get approximately 300 people per week through the doors.

“We have classes from one hour per week, to those for six or seven-year-olds, then we have one-off workshops, all the way through to really big, large scale, high quality youth productions.

“We welcome people from six to 25 years of age, and recently we’ve opened an adult theatre company which is already a force to be reckoned with.

“Fifty years we’re still bursting at the seams, we’re thriving, and we’re still achieving that balance where everybody can come and just have a go.

“We do also have a lot of people here who work professionally, and doing really well.”

These continue to be exciting times for Oldham and its brilliantly supported arts and cultural quarter.

The old library on Union Street is currently being renovated while the nationally famous Coliseum theatre is moving into a brand new home, also on Union Street.

Performing arts in Oldham is still ‘very special’ and continues to boost the town, according to Atherton.

Why not give drama a go yourself?

Atherton added: “We have workshops pretty much every day of the week, Monday through to Saturday.

“Ninety-per-cent of those are run by us, with the remainder run by our partners at Arts Development.

“Just get on our website, sign up, and there you’ll see everything that is open to anyone.

“A lot of our workshops are full, but we are more about trying to develop a recognition for what the organisation is about, beyond people who want to become famous actors.

“We just think taking part in theatre practise is a good and important way of learning about what it is to be someone else.

“That might be developing empathy, learning about certain issues or just signposting services.

“Of course there’s also learning to develop speaking, listening, discipline, teamwork. That’s really the bits we’re concerned with.

“People want to come in play roles in productions, but there is a whole other side of this profession that is really the root of why we exist, why we’re funded, and why it’s so important.

“All this why I feel the Theatre Workshop will continue for another 50 years.

“People will continue to come here and say amazing things, about dreams and what they want to do.”

Find out more about what’s on offer for all ages at the Oldham Theatre Workshop, and of course get involved with the 50th anniversary celebrations.

Log on to: www.oldhamtheatreworkshop.co.uk