The countdown is on - the Coliseum Theatre reopens next week!
Date published: 18 June 2021
The first public show at the Coliseum since March 2020 will be ‘The Greatest Play in the History of the World...’ by Ian Kershaw
Despite the Government announcement of the extension of the last stage of unlocking to July 19, Oldham Coliseum Theatre chiefs have reassured audiences that all June and July events at the iconic venue will go ahead as planned.
That’s because the shows were planned with social distancing and thorough Covid-safety measures in place.
The first public show at the Coliseum since March 2020 will be ‘The Greatest Play in the History of the World...’ by Ian Kershaw and starring Julie Hesmondhalgh, which opens next Thursday, June 24.
The Greatest Play... is already sold out, but there is an eclectic mix of events coming up through the summer.
On Saturday, July 3, ‘Drowning’ is a semi-autobiographical one-man play following an intelligent but naïve 16-year-old with extreme views on mental health.
Josh claims that suicide is selfish. However, as his world crumbles around him, his life begins to spiral out of control.
In mid-July, The Oak Tree and Dinosaur Wine are two plays by Sorcha McCaffrey.
The Oak Tree is is a story about local legends, belonging, and how far we will go to prove what we believe in.
Dinosaur Wine is about four siblings who run a petrol station in the middle of nowhere welcoming lost souls and runaways
The Coliseum will then celebrate Oldham Pride with three events over the week commencing July 19 - a verbatim show exploring six decades of queer history; a cabaret evening featuring Cheddar Gorgeous and Jason Andrew Guest; and a vibrant outdoor dance performance.
Since its closure the theatre’s teams have been working remotely to create and share great art and opportunities to be creative, and making regular phone calls to participants at risk of experiencing loneliness due to lockdown.
The theatre’s previous work in lockdown included interactive murder mystery Whodunnit at the Coliseum?, the Advent Plays, Digital Panto Storytelling, the Mini-Podcast series, the Poetry Health Service – a Homemakers commission in partnership with HOME Manchester, streaming of hit musical The Hired Man and Coliseum Creates – a resource pack of fun activities for families and children of all ages.
Please visit: www.coliseum.org.uk/welcome-back to see the theatre’s Covid-secure procedures and policies.
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