Kenneth Alan Taylor set to make directorial return to Coliseum

Twice former Artistic Director/Chief Executive of Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Kenneth Alan Taylor, is set to return to his old stomping ground for one night only, presenting a section of a new work at Dare to Know Theatre Invites 2022 this July.

Kenneth has appeared in an astonishing 320-plus productions at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre since his first role there in 1959.

He became the Artistic Director from 1978 to 1982, and returned as Chief Executive of the theatre from 1996 to 2002, and is returning to direct a short section of his own new piece of writing, the ironically titled ’One Day I’ll Be Famous’.

Dare to Know Theatre was founded in 2020 by Oldhamers - director Miranda Parker and playwright Jake Talbot - to create work with and for the local Oldham community.

The theatre company’s Invites night is an annual evening of new work by the theatre company’s favourite local artists, playwrights and theatre companies, and is being presented as part of the Coliseum’s Cultivate Festival this year, on July 21.

Co-Founder of Dare to Know Theatre, Jake, said of the event and Taylor’s involvement: “Dare to Know Theatre Invites is one of our favourite events in our calendar.

"It’s a unique opportunity for local artists to test their work in front of a live audience and get valuable, no pressure feedback that can be used for development or those pesky Arts Council Bids.

"Every year the event seems to get bigger and bigger, more people applying, a larger venue, and Kenneth’s involvement this year just goes to show how much we as a theatre company have developed over the past three years.

"He is a true gentleman of theatre, and his knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to the other artists involved in the evening.”

Alongside Taylor’s ‘One Day I’ll Be Famous’, Manchester-based theatre company Blue Balloon Theatre will be presenting ‘See it, Say it, Sorted?’

This is a piece exploring online dating and sexual assault through musical storytelling, spoken work, comedy and original songs.

Salford-based, and writer in residence at Salford Arts Theatre, Libby Hall, will give a first staging to her new piece ‘413 Liverpool Street’.

Manchester-based playwright Nick Maynard will share his short monologue ‘Passing Time’ about ‘a grand dame’ in the twilight of their life.

New Oldham-based theatre company In Parallel will be testing a brand new piece of new writing ‘Makeup’ by Dan Costello.

Playwright and Mentor Paris Rogers, meanwhile, has been working with Grace Mair to put together The Train, a short female led comedy.

Urussa Malik is presenting ‘Make a Myth’ - a piece of dark speculative fiction looking into the selfishness of committing crime.

Also, and last but not least, in true Dare to Know Theatre style, the theatre company will be sharing the opening of their brand new community theatre play ‘Leap of Faith’, written by Jake and directed by Miranda, and created with and performed by members of the local Oldham community, many of whom have never stepped foot on stage before.

‘Leap of Faith will explore small town mentality and pose the question, why do people stay in Oldham and what makes people feel like they need to leave to succeed?

Dare to Know Theatre Invites 2022 will head to Oldham Coliseum Theatre main stage on July 21 at 7:30pm and is on sale now.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking here

You can find out more about the show, Dare to Know Theatre and their work at: www.daretoknowtheatre.com

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