Second Lockdown closes Oldham Coliseum until 2021

The theatre says it doesn't expect to reopen until early 2021.

Even for the second lockdown comes into effect on Thursday (5th November) its impact is already being felt in Oldham with one of the town’s flagship venues announcing it will not reopen again in 2020.

The Oldham Coliseum was less than two-weeks away from re-opening with a season of Covid-secure, socially distanced events when the Government announced further lockdown measures.

Theatres are among the venues who have been told to close until at least the 2nd December, however the Coliseum, which has already cancelled a number of events including their 2020 Christmas Panto, has decided it will not reopen again until early 2021.

In a statement, the Coliseum said: “We are devastated not to be reopening this November, following months of preparations to make the Coliseum Covid-secure, and having been so excited to welcome our audiences back for a season of which we were truly proud.”

“Over the past few weeks Oldham’s brilliant audiences and businesses have helped us to raise almost £40,000 for our #GetBehindUs crowdfunder. We have been truly heartened by the support we have received and we will ensure that this money is utilised to help secure the future of our beloved theatre, so that the Coliseum will still be here to support the people of Oldham for generations to come.”

The Coliseum has said festive offers for schools including the Panto Storytelling tour and Panto Box virtual workshop will still go ahead with the theatre focusing on digital and community work throughout the extended closure.

For those who have purchased tickets to shows which will now not take place, the Coliseum says: “Ticket holders for A Christmas Carol will be contacted as soon as possible, and for Drowning, Petrichor, My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored and Julie Likes to Draw Squirrels ticket holders will be contacted as soon as we have secured new dates for these shows.”

If you would like to donate to their #GetBehindUs campaign, you can do by following the link below:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/get-behind-us#start