Update- There was a good turnout of 400+ at the meeting on 21/2/23 at the Coliseum, hosted by Equity the Actors union. Maxine Peake and several other Actors attended too, and spoke movingly. The CEO of the Coliseum Chris attended, but sadly no politicians, no one from Oldham Council, no one from the Art's Council (which has withdrawn all funding causing the Coliseum to close at the end of March). Equity and Chris will continue to petition the Arts Council to hopefully change their minds. Please do the same. Email them- enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk. Email your MP too. Email the new culture secretary Lucy Frazer- enquiries@dcms.gov.uk

The Arts Council's decision is very cruel. They have actually decided to give Oldham Council £1.845m for 3 years for 'the Arts', the money that would have been the Coliseum's, but with the stipulation it can't be used for the Coliseum!

There are fledgling plans from Oldham Council for a new theatre, but this will cost £24.5m, take many years to complete, and have about half the seating capacity. And will probably never happen. Several previous plans have been shelved. The only option is to keep the Oldham Coliseum open. Surely £24.5m could sort out any maintenance issues it has. If this was The Old Vic, The Palladium, The Royal Opera House etc in London, there is no chance they would be told by the Council that as historic buildings their upkeep is too expensive and they must be abandoned!

Oldham Coliseum theatre has cancelled upcoming shows, after March, due to a funding crisis, after being dropped from the Arts Council England portfolio.

They need to raise £1.6m to fund the next 3 years performances, this is the funding they have been denied by the Arts Council.

Please appeal to the Arts Council to reinstate the funding, and save the Oldham Coliseum, by signing this petition.

As well as signing, if you can, please be so kind as to go to their webpage and donate something, to keep this wonderful theatre going.

https://www.coliseum.org.uk/support-us/

Oldham Coliseum is the font of many fine actors, which is continuing to nurture young talent through its theatre productions, and by providing a stage for Oldham Theatre Workshop.

It is a rare treasure and one of the oldest theatres in the country, from 1887. It has constantly been in use as a theatre since then, and many famous names have trodden 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, Sarah Lancashire etc.

A refurbishment in 2012 left the venue looking fantastic, with new plush seats and a new box office. 

Please save the Coliseum, thousands in Oldham and beyond (pantomime attracts 35k a year) will be sickened if it closes.

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