Oldham Coliseum: Review into state of building ordered

Reviews into the structural condition of Oldham Coliseum's building and the way the theatre company was governed are to take place, it has been announced.

Following the closure of the theatre company last month, the Chair of the board appointed to oversee its winding down said the small amount of funds still available will be used to "understand how this tragic situation was allowed to happen".

In a statement, Duncan Craig, who was appointed Chair of the board in March, said both reviews are scheduled to be completed by June.

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Craig said the new board’s initial priority was to try and keep the Fairbottom Street building open, but said that this is "highly unlikely to happen". 

"The long-held dream of a new purpose-built theatre in Oldham may have contributed to the decline of Fairbottom Street, and a visual survey identified long-term issues that would be difficult and enormously costly to rectify," he said.

"Following the unsuccessful bid made to Arts Council England (ACE), we have had to give notice on the building simply to allow the organisation to remain solvent.

"However, with the small amount of available funds, we are ordering an Independent Review into the state of the building to confirm it’s condition – and an Independent Report into the previous governance, which we hope will help us understand how this tragic situation was allowed to happen. 

"I feel strongly that the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester deserve full transparency about exactly how the theatre came to lose its ACE funding and how the building was allowed to degrade to such a degree. 

"We aim to complete these reviews before we return the keys to the Council in June and will publish all findings."

Future of theatre in Oldham

Craig added that while the Coliseum is "currently a theatre without a building or a team", the board is desperate to secure the future of theatre in Oldham and is hoping to play a key part in making it happen.

"I know that a lot of you – a lot of us – are still grieving and mourning for the loss of the old Coliseum – and, for that matter, angry at the previous leadership of the organisation," he said. 

"I also know, like us, that you care deeply about the amazing staff that remain and want to support them through this difficult period.

"But having sat in the audience at Encore, then stood in the foyer listening to people talk about their memories of the Coliseum, I am convinced that every single person wanted the same thing that we do – to ensure that Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd continues to commission, produce and present great theatre in Oldham. 

"As long as my fellow Board members and I are in place, we won’t stop working until a building-based producing theatre is once again thriving here."

Oldham Council recently "recommitted" to new £24.5m theatre, originally billed as a new home for Oldham Coliseum, which is due to be ready in 2026.