Theatre is shortlisted for four top award

KEVIN SHAW

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OLDHAM Coliseum Theatre has been shortlisted for four prizes in the prestigious UK Theatre Awards.

The annual ceremony rewards the best shows produced outside London.

The Coliseum's nominations include artistic director and chief executive Kevin Shaw for Theatre Manager of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the Coliseum, both as an artist and as its chief executive since 2002.

He said: "I'm delighted to be nominated; it's a fantastic recognition of the work of all of the staff at the Coliseum. UK Theatre are Britain's leading theatre and performing arts organisation and it's fantastic to be recognised."

The Coliseum is also nominated for Promotion of Diversity for its work with urban, diverse schools across the Oldham and Rochdale boroughs in its Education Partnership Scheme, which was launched in September 2013 supported by The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

The scheme aims to make theatre more accessible to schoolchildren through learning, participation, affordable ticketing and through young people discovering careers available to them within the theatre industry.

In the last academic year the theatre engaged with a total of 486 students through formal education sessionss. In addition, a further 367 students visited the theatre.

Sarah Miller, charity executive, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, said: "The inter-school performances demonstrate that theatre can break down barriers, inspire new friendships and give young people the confidence to communicate across cultural divides."

The other two nominations are for the Clothworkers' Award, an annual award from the Clothworkers' Foundation to a regional producing theatre to be used for anything from capital works to sponsoring a touring production, and Most Welcoming Theatre, which provides audiences with the opportunity to celebrate their local theatre and will be decided by a public vote.

Set designer Robert Jones, who started his career at Oldham Coliseum, is up for best design for Strife, a Chichester Festival Theatre production.

Sir Ian McKellen will receive a special prize at this year's event for outstanding contribution to British theatre.

The awards will be presented on October 9.