Oldham Coliseum Theatre has joined a consortium of nine regional venues working with English Touring Theatre on The Regional Touring Network.
The Regional Touring Network is a three year project to tour top quality classic and contemporary work to audiences across the UK.
Facilitated by English Touring Theatre, the network will produce and tour high quality drama on the mid-scale to audiences throughout England, and by growing audiences through a comprehensive and effective audience development plan, will deliver a legacy of sustainable touring.
The launch of the network has been enabled by a one off award of £826,786 from Arts Council England and English Touring Theatre.
Executive Director of Oldham Coliseum Theatre David Martin commented: “We’re delighted to have English Touring Theatre join us as they have a magnificent reputation for producing high quality theatre with a real appeal to audiences. We’re looking forward to welcoming them to Oldham Coliseum Theatre to join our rich mix of theatre.”
Director of English Touring Theatre Rachel Tackley said: “It is clear that there is an appetite for brilliant and ambitious mid-scale work in regional theatres which is currently not being filled. This is a great opportunity for English Touring Theatre to work with these nine venues and make a real impact on theatregoing opportunities for a broad range of audiences across the country.”
Other venues in the consortium include: Northcott Theatre, Exeter; Cast, Doncaster; Warwick Arts Centre; Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham; Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield; Harrogate Theatre; Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple and Lighthouse, Poole.
The first tour will commence in autumn 2016.
