Can the iconic Oldham Coliseum theatre be saved?

An online petition named 'Save Oldham Coliseum Theatre' continues to gather signatures, with almost 15,000 having already signed up as they bid to hopefully resurrect the iconic venue to its former glory.

The Fairbottom Street venue closed at the end of March, 2023, after the theatre was dropped from the Arts Council England funding portfolio despite a passionate campaign by actors, the union Equity and residents to keep it operational.

Oldham council later said that it had reached an agreement with the theatre ‘more than ten years ago’ that the building was ‘not fit for purpose’.

The Coliseum theatre company has been chosen as the ‘anchor’ tenant for a £26m new theatre in the town in the former Post Office and Quaker meeting house on Union Street.

However, the new venue in the emerging ‘cultural quarter’ of the town won’t be completed until 2026, leaving the Coliseum without a physical home until it opens.

Now, though, Charlotte Lister, who started the Change.org petition to save the old Coliseum building, reckons the new building will 'probably never happen'.

Charlotte is part of a group which is committed to getting the Fairbottom Street theatre reopened, 'Save Oldham Coliseum', which is headed by actor Julie Hesmondhalgh (of Coronation Street and Mr Bates vs The Post Office fame).

In a post on the petition page, Charlotte added: "Previous plans to build a new theatre have been shelved twice, most recently in 2018, due to funding issues.

"If there are enough objections to planning maybe Oldham Council might change their mind and decide to reopen the beautiful old building?

"It was fit for purpose, and structurally sound, as the latest surveys show.

"It just needs a bit of TLC."

When the Oldham Coliseum closed its doors at the end of March last year, the keys were handed back to Oldham Council who own the building, and all equipment and the seats, even the curtains, were removed and dispersed, mostly to other theatres.

Charlotte added: "It is a crushing end to a great theatre, which is a rare treasure and one of the oldest theatres in the country, from 1887."

Oldham Coliseum was the font of many fine actors, and nurtured young talent through its theatre productions, and by providing a stage for the Oldham Theatre Workshop.

Many famous names trod the boards, such as Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Minnie Driver, Maxine Peake, Ralph Fiennes, Dame Thora Hird, Anne Kirkbride, Eric Sykes, Suranne Jones, Anna Friel and Sarah Lancashire.

To sign the Change.org petition - 'Save Oldham Coliseum Theatre' - set up by Charlotte, please click here

A GoFundMe 'Save Our Oldham Coliseum Campaign Fund' page can be donated to by clicking here

The Save Oldham Coliseum website page can be accessed here 

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