Oldham Coliseum set for revival with £10m refurbishment, reopening by Panto 2025

Oldham Coliseum is set for a new lease of life as Oldham Council has named the contractor that will be responsible for revamping the venue, following recent preparatory work. D Hughes Demolition has completed initial preparations inside the theatre, paving the way for construction company Tilbury Douglas to undertake the main refurbishment throughout the next year.

The venue on Fairbottom Street has been unoccupied for nearly two years. Following a high-profile drive to save the venue, local authorities pledged £10m to make the building operational by Panto season 2025.

Council Leader Arooj Shah said: "Just a few months ago I stood outside the Coliseum and announced that I had listened to the community and decided we would invest in the building to get it re-opened in time for Panto 2025.

"Since then we've been hard at work preparing the theatre for its refurbishment.

"I'm delighted that our plans are now coming to life and by next Christmas, the Coliseum will be back. I'm sure many people, like me, can't wait to see the theatre come alive once again.", reports the Manchester Evening News.

The 139 year old theatre shut down in March last year after losing its support from Arts Council England. Original council proposals to replace the site with a smaller, modern theatre which would have been unable to host the celebrated Coliseum pantomimes faced fierce opposition from the local community.

The local council has agreed to cover the costs for extensive repairs, which include asbestos removal, structural fixes, and improvements to heating, lighting, and accessibility in the backstage area. The project is set to receive around £6m from the Towns Fund, with additional funding from the council's regeneration budget.

Julie Hesmondhalgh, who starred in 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' and was a key figure in the 'Save the Coliseum' campaign along with Oldham-born screenwriter Ian Kershaw, expressed her delight at the developments. She said: "This is amazing news which I know will bring huge excitement to people across the UK. That is the significance of Oldham Coliseum - it's not just a theatre in Oldham - it's a place of history, memories and huge pride.

"I'm over the moon that this amazing building will live on for future generations."