Stage set for theatre move

JUST the ticket . . . Coliseum artistic director Kevin Shaw and council leader Jean Stretton

THE stage is set for a new Coliseum Theatre in Oldham's Cultural Quarter after plans were awarded a multi-million pound funding injection.

A successful Round 2 joint funding bid by Oldham Council and the theatre has seen Arts Council England approve a grant worth £7.1m towards the project.

Alongside a future fundraising contribution agreed with the theatre, this now triggers the green light for it to move from its Fairbottom Street home to a new state-of-the-art facility including a 550-seat main auditorium and a 170-seat studio theatre with improved front-of-house facilities.

The new-build project will be a central part of Oldham's Cultural Quarter and will be located on the current Southgate Street car park site, with a frontage on Union Street. This will connect the Coliseum Theatre with the other cultural jewels of a new Heritage and Arts Centre linked with Gallery Oldham, Library and Lifelong Learning centre. All are sited at a prominent town centre gateway and just yards from the Oldham Central Metrolink stop.

The new theatre will be adjacent to the Grade-II listed Victorian library building, which is to house the Heritage and Arts Centre, showcasing the story of Oldham's past from its time as the cotton spinning capital of the world to the present day.

The plans are part of an approach approved in September 2015 which commits Oldham Council and its partners to a phased delivery over ten years of a four-stage Cultural Regeneration Programme.

The first stage is a Heritage and Arts Centre in the old library building followed by the conversion and commercial development of the Local Studies and old Museum buildings for new uses, the new theatre and work to address the future of other heritage buildings on Union Street.

The wider Cultural Regeneration Programme is funded by a mix of public and private sector sources including contributions from Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Stoller Charitable Trust, and Oldham Council.

Oldham Council Leader Councillor Jean Stretton said: "We're delighted to be able to now get on with our plans to deliver a new Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

"The support and shared vision of Arts Council England has been vital in this and we're extremely grateful for this significant financial contribution which will help us to realise our ambitions for a fantastic Cultural Quarter.

"Arts, culture and heritage matter. They can inspire education across all ages and communities, boost the local economy, and attract tourism. Oldham Coliseum Theatre is a hugely-respected institution in the borough, and beyond. It's a major cultural asset that also delivers lots of important educational work. This relocation will widen its profile and ensure it has a bright future as part of our wider regeneration plans.

"You can see with developments like the Old Town Hall, Prince's Gate at Oldham Mumps and others that we are working to transform our town centre into one that gives our residents greater pride in better facilities and preserved heritage - and will also attract a new type of visitor with a great arts, culture and leisure offer."

Kevin Shaw, Oldham Coliseum Theatre's Artistic Director and Chief Executive, said: "We are immensely proud to be taking our place in Oldham's Cultural Quarter alongside the new Heritage and Arts Centre, as well as Gallery Oldham and Oldham Library.

"We are indebted to the vision of Oldham Council that places a real value on arts and culture for the borough, and for the support of Arts Council England in investing in that vision.

"The current board, staff, volunteers and audiences are all custodians of a proud tradition of theatre in the town, which in the Coliseum's case dates back to 1885. This is the second time in our history when we've moved location. Initially we were on Henshaw Street and then moved to Fairbottom Street in 1887 to make way for Tommyfield Market. It's our responsibility to make a theatre that's right for future generations, meaning in the years to come that theatre in Oldham continues to thrive, grow and develop.

"We are rightfully famous for the warmth of our welcome, and we will take that warmth with us, so future residents of Oldham will feel this is a theatre for absolutely everyone."

Alison Clark, Director North, Arts Council England, said: "We are delighted to have made such a major investment in the future of cultural life in Oldham.

"Our capital programme is intended to ensure that artistic activity is embedded in the heart of infrastructural development and this is an great example of how a regeneration programme can demonstrate that the arts are critical to the growth of healthy communities."

The Coliseum scheme got initial planning permission in March 2015.

Mecanoo, the project architects, are committed to prioritising the local supply chain throughout this project. In support of Oldham Council's 'Get Oldham Working' campaign, they are developing an employment and skills strategy to focus on young people within the borough, improving links with local education providers and exploring the opportunity to create apprenticeships.

Mecanoo are currently producing new designs in order to submit a new planning application by March 2017. Construction work is anticipated to start in April 2018 with the venue set to open in 2020.