As a symbol of unwavering support and determination to preserve Oldham Coliseum, a flash mob event will take place in the heart of the town centre on Saturday, November 11th, coinciding with what would have been the opening night of the much-loved annual pantomime at the theatre.
Local citizens, and cherished members of the audience, are inviting the public to gather with them outside the Oldham Coliseum at 3.30pm to be part of an afternoon of solidarity and support to save the building. With its 138-year history Oldham Coliseum is an emblem of the town’s rich cultural and historic heritage.
The flash mob event will be a lively celebration of the theatre’s significance, with participants donning colourful costumes, brandishing banners, handing out badges and decorating the gathering with balloons. The event will see some attendees dressing up as beloved pantomime characters and dames, creating a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere. The objective is to send out a resounding message that Oldham Coliseum holds a special place in the hearts of many, both locally and in the artistic community at large.
The fate of Oldham Coliseum Theatre hangs in the balance, due to plans to construct a new theatre in the town centre, which ~ as well as being vastly expensive ~ raises concerns about practicality and sustainability as a business model. The proposed theatre features a smaller stage, significantly fewer seats, no fly tower, and limited wing space, which would compromise the viability of the Coliseum as a producing theatre. Crucially, it casts doubt on the future of the much-loved annual pantomime, which has consistently served as a major revenue source for the Coliseum. Additionally, concerns have been raised about access requirements, including limited lift space and the absence of an adult changing room which is a statutory necessity for public buildings.
The actor Julie Hesmondhalgh and writer Ian Kershaw have played a significant part in the campaign to save Oldham Coliseum. Other famous faces, who share the sentiment and cause, will be amongst the crowd of supporters on November 11th.
“Far from being over, the passion and enthusiasm to save the historic and wonderful Coliseum and reinstate it as a producing theatre – the jewel in Oldham’s crown – is growing in momentum,” commented Julie. “I feel very proud to be campaigning alongside artists and audiences to restart a conversation about saving the theatre, at a fraction of the millions of what the proposed new build would cost.”
The fight to save Oldham Coliseum remains unyielding, with backing from both the local community and the wider artistic fraternity. A fresh, positive conversation is being called for, involving local campaigners, artists, Oldham Council, Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd, and various funding bodies. The aim is to breathe new life into the auditorium, expand the foyer, backstage area, and café-bar space, and create modern studios and rehearsal spaces that will ensure the Coliseum thrives for the next 138 years. This vision would restore the Oldham Coliseum to its former glory as a vibrant producing theatre, breathing new life into the town and benefiting the artistic community at large.
The flash mob event will mark a milestone in the ongoing campaign to rejuvenate Oldham Coliseum and secure its place as a cultural cornerstone for generations to come.
