Oldham Coliseum to close in March

Oldham Coliseum has confirmed it is proposing to close its doors from 31 March.

There has been speculation over the future of the theatre since it announced it plans to 'go dark' and cease performances last month, following a 100% cut to its Arts Council England (ACE) funding.

In a statement released to Arts Professional, the theatre has said for the first time that it expects to close, explaining “the current financial situation is not sustainable for the running of a full-time theatre”.

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The statement adds the venue has entered a period of consultation with all staff and is working with ACE and Oldham Council “to ensure a smooth transition period for the company, including funding to enable support for our workforce and honouring commitments to artists”.

Last week, it was confirmed ACE had given the theatre over £358,000 of transition funding, which is available to unsuccessful NPO applicants to assist them with moving towards new operations or winding down activities.

An ACE spokesperson told Arts Professional the transition support is “to help give the company time and space to make decisions about its future”.

“We understand this must be a very difficult time and are working to support the company’s board and management who are leading this process,” the spokesperson said.

Oldham Coliseum’s statement added: “The Coliseum has been at the heart of theatre in Oldham for over 100 years, with a highly regarded history in the industry dating back to the Oldham Rep which launched the careers of many famous faces.”

“Many of the Coliseum’s staff have lived in Oldham all their lives and worked with the company for over a decade. They are the priority for the company at this time.”

All events at the Coliseum until 26 March will go ahead as planned, with ticket holders for all other events to be refunded over the coming weeks.