Coliseum cancels ALL forthcoming events after March 26, including 2023/24 Christmas panto

Oldham's legendary Coliseum Theatre

The future of Oldham's iconic Coliseum Theatre has been thrown into doubt after the venue announced today (Tuesday) that all forthcoming events, after March 26, were to be cancelled.

A statement from the Coliseum read: "It is with great regret that Oldham Coliseum Theatre is cancelling all forthcoming events from Sunday, March 26, 2023, including the Spring-Summer programme and the 2023-24 pantomime Sleeping Beauty.

"Following the news on November 4, 2022, that the Coliseum will no longer be part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio from April 1, 2023, the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team have been working hard to find a solution to this reduction in funding.

"The theatre put the pantomime on sale in November and announced the Spring-Summer season in early December with the best possible intentions, while still exploring options that may have enabled the continuation of the programme.

"However, the current financial situation is not sustainable for the season as planned.

"We are working with Arts Council England and Oldham Council to honour agreements with artists and producing partners.

"All events at the Coliseum until March 26 will go ahead as planned.

"Ticket holders for all other events will be refunded over the coming weeks.  

"It has been an incredibly difficult decision to cancel the programme of events and we understand the disappointment this will undoubtedly cause. 

"The Coliseum asks audiences to be patient whilst staff work through each refund transaction manually."

The Coliseum has been at the heart of Oldham since 1885; it is the last surviving professional theatre in the borough and one of only 32 regularly producing theatres in England.

The theatre is an Arts and Educational charity supporting the communities of Oldham, artists and, of course, entertaining audiences.

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