History of the Coliseum
O
ldham Coliseum is a building-based producing theatre. It has a capacity in its main auditorium of 524 seats; in addition the theatre has a studio with a capacity of 50 seats. The company produces 8 shows a year on its main stage, offering a balanced programme of drama, comedy, musical, new writing and the annual pantomime. In addition to in-house produced work on the main stage the theatre also takes in 4 weeks of touring theatre as well as around 15 non-theatre performances including music dance and stand up. Coliseum@ an offshoot to the theatre’s building based productions promotes a programme of theatre at three community venues.
History:
The Coliseum Theatre dates back to 1885 and began life as a Grand American Theatre. Situated in the heart of Oldham and surrounded by almost a dozen other theatres, almost 125 years later, the award winning Coliseum is the only surviving theatre in the town.
Development:
The Oldham Coliseum Theatre has developed greatly since its humble beginnings and now offers not only a varied programme of productions but also an extensive selection of Education and Outreach activities for the local communities of Oldham and Greater Manchester.
Past performers include:
Judith Barker
Dora Bryan
Charlie Chaplin
Minnie Driver
Ralph Fiennes
Dame Thora Hird
Anne Kirkbride
William Roache
Kathy Staff
Eric Sykes
Claire Sweeney
Kenneth Alan Taylor
Backstage
Oldham Coliseum Theatre has a classic proscenium arch stage with a permanent fore stage. The orchestra pit is located underneath the fore stage but seats will need to be removed to accommodate it. The auditorium holds 524 people on three levels.
If you are interested in visiting the lesser seen backstage areas of the Coliseum then contact the Education Department on 0161 785 7007 or email education@coliseum.org.uk
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Technical Information
We also have a 60 seat studio theatre available for hire: Studio technical specification
More detailed equipment lists and CAD Drawings are available upon request from Production Manager Mark Alexander on 0161 785 7026 or at markalexander@coliseum.org.uk
Facilities and Access Information
Seating Plan
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Refreshments
We have two “Best Bar None” accredited fully air conditioned bars and two well stocked shops on each floor of the theatre. These are open on performances days from before the show until late. You are welcome to take your drink into the auditorium, simply ask our friendly bar staff who will supply you with a plastic glass.
Access
We have up to nine wheelchair spaces in our main auditorium and one in the studio with a free seat for an able-bodied accompanying adult. Please state that a wheelchair space is needed when booking your tickets.
We also have an accessible bar, shop and adapted toilets. If you have any other special requirements, please do not hesitate to discuss your needs with our staff, either whilst booking your tickets or during your visit.
Signed and Audio Described Performances
Each Coliseum production has one British Sign Language interpreted performance and one Audio Described.
British Sign Language performance for this season:
Sugar Daddies: Thursday 21 March
Blonde Bombshells of 1943: Thursday 25 April
Audio Described performances for this season:
Sugar Daddies: Wednesday 20 March
Blonde Bombshells of 1943: Wednesday 24 April
Ladies' Day: Wednesday 15 May
Hay Fever: Thursday 20 June
Please contact the Box Office directly on 0161 624 2829 if you require a headset
Touch tours are available before most Audio Described performances, and we offer infra-red headsets for the hearing impaired. Please book in advance when you purchase your ticket.
We also welcome Guide and Hearing Dogs.
Versions of the season brochure are available in large print, voice recorded and via email. Please contact the Box Office on 0161 624 2829 or at boxoffice@coliseum.org.uk for more information.
Staff and Departments
Directors
Chief Executive & Artistic Director: Kevin Shaw
Executive Director: David Martin
Board Members
Chairman: Colin Smith OBE
Kashif Ashraf
Martin Brooks
Jayne L Clarke
Peter Crowther
Lynne Farnell
David Gray
Cllr Roger Hindle
Michael Holt
Cllr Bernard Judge
Atul Patel
Gail Richards
Cllr John Sullivan
Simon Whitehead
Susan Wildman
Cllr Michael Young
Senior Management Team
Customer Services Manager: Liz Cunningham
Finance Manager: Peter Wakefield
Head of Participation: Richard Hall
Head of Marketing: Shelagh Bourke
Production Manager: Mark Alexander
Administration
Administration Manager: Natasha Kent
Administrator: Anne-Louise Jones
Finance Assistant: Marlene Winterbottom
Box Office
Box Office Manager: Kate Findlay
Deputy Box Office Manager: Ann-Marie Mason
Box Office Assistants:
Anna Hughes, Anne Mellor, Carol Moore and Glenda Totten
Education & Outreach
Freelance Teaching Theatre Practitioner: Liam Whittaker
Outreach Officer: Carly Henderson
Education and Outreach Co-Ordinator: Nicola Place
Education Associate: Philip Gibbons (St. Mary’s School Failsworth)
Electrics
Chief LX: Lorna Munden
Deputy Chief LX: Jane Barrek
Assistant LX: Adam Eastwood
Front of House
House Manager: David Rustidge
Deputy House Manager: Andrew Hughes
Bar and Events Manager: Brenda Lomas
Deputy Bar Manager: Jamie Sidebottom
Bar Staff:
John Benson, Emily Beswick, Rebecca Durkin, Tammy Garrod, Graeme Gibson, Tom Neild, Faye McLaughlin, Samantha Shaw, Jenny Thomas, Amy Yarwood and Felicity Wainwright
Housekeeping
Cleaning Manager: Frances Barber
Housekeepers: Sue Dalton and Margaret Barber
Marketing
Development Manager: John Edwards
Marketing and Digital Officer: Suzy Kennedy
Communications Officer: Ben Robinson
Marketing and Communications Officer: Sue Fletcher
Stage Department
Technical Stage Manager: Adam Gent
Stage Technician: Kevin Leach
Maintenance Technician: Mark Beswick
Stage Management
Stage Manager: Jane Newbury-Jones
Deputy Stage Manager: Jonathan Ennis
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Cook
Wardrobe
Wardrobe Supervisor: Bridget Bartley
Deputy Wardrobe Supervisor: Janet Weston
Cutter/Deputy Wardrobe Supervisor: Kathryn Ogden
Wardrobe Assistant: Katie Duxbury
Volunteers
Lateef Akanck
Jean Bailey
Vivenne Banks
Aileen Beesley
Joseph Bell
Michaela Bilynskyj
Lily Bimson
Brenda Brooks
Anthony Buckley
Doreen Buckley
Renee Burroughs
Eileen Cartner
Sheila Chalk
Julie Charlesworth
Helena Christodoulou
Michelle Derham
Andrew Fitton
Ann Freakley
Harrison Flemying
Jean Gamson
Tammy Garrod
Mary Grainger
David Gibbons
Sam Glen
Donna Greer
Barbara Grundy
Sonia Harrison
Doreen Hewson
Chris Hook
Marguerite Hough
Linda Jordan
Sheila Knight
Vicki Langfield
Alison Large
Miriam Makin
Mary Malone
Gary Marsh
Anne Meredith
Hazel Milne
Steve Norman
Alan Parker
Mary Pritchard
Leslin Simmons
Donna Simpson
Elaine Simpson
Frank Smith
Dee Suthers
Denise Swallow
Hazel Tetlow
Evelyn Thorp
Sue Thorp
Martin Tierney
Genna Tully
Marie Tweedale
Sheila Washington
Luke Welsh
Sheila White
Beryl Williamson
Theresa Wroe
Jo Young
How to Find Us
Oldham Coliseum Theatre
Fairbottom Street,
Oldham,
OL1 3SW
0161 624 2829 / boxoffice@coliseum.org.uk
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Travelling to Oldham
If you are travelling by bus please click here to plan your journey.
If you are travelling by tram the nearest station is Oldham Mumps. Click here for more information.
Metrolink works are taking place across Oldham town centre. To make sure your journey to the theatre isn’t disrupted please click here for the latest travel updates.
Box Office
Opening times:
Monday – Saturday
10:00am – 6.00pm (7.30pm when there is an evening show)
The Box Office will close at 4.30pm on Saturdays when there is no evening show.
Contact details:
0161 624 2829 or email boxoffice@coliseum.org.uk
Tickets can be bought and collected at each of our new venues 90 minutes before each performance.