In order to safeguard the future of Oldham Coliseum Theatre and our vital role in the communities of Oldham and Greater Manchester, it is with heavy hearts that we announce that the Coliseum will remain closed to the public until early 2021.
The Coliseum was less than two weeks from reopening with a season of Covid-secure, socially distanced events when the Government announced that a further UK lockdown would commence from Thursday 5 November. We do not know for certain whether theatres will be permitted to reopen on Wednesday 2 December, what the Tier system will mean for the Coliseum, or if – as reported – the national lockdown is extended beyond that date.
We have cancelled our festive production of A Christmas Carol as we cannot guarantee at this stage that it can go ahead. To continue with the production would require significant financial investment that, if we had to cancel the show at a later date, would simply go to waste. This is not a risk the Coliseum is able to take. We are currently working to reschedule Drowning, Petrichor, My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored and Julie Likes To Draw Squirrels to 2021.
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.
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.
Our festive offers for schools, the Panto Storytelling tour and Panto Box virtual workshop, will still go ahead and we will continue our focus on digital and community work throughout our extended closure. We are already planning some fantastic opportunities audiences can look forward to, which will in turn continue to provide opportunities for freelance artists.
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. If you would like to, you can still contribute to our #GetBehindUs campaign at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/get-behind-us
Our Box Office phone line has closed and our team will return to mostly working from home. Throughout November, our Box Office will be open for phone enquiries only on Mondays from 10am – 3pm. Alternatively you can contact us by emailing boxoffice@coliseum.org.uk
Thank you all for your patience and support.
Chris Lawson (Artistic Director) and Susan Wildman (Chief Executive)