Martina Murphy

She is overseeing the transformation of the Coliseum into a bold, future-facing civic theatre - rebuilding the organisation, shaping its artistic and business model, and working in partnership to ensure its role at the heart of Oldham’s cultural life.

Her work focuses on the relationship between theatre and place: how culture can support regeneration, reflect communities, and create new opportunities for artists and audiences. Alongside the reopening of the theatre, she is developing a wider Cultural Campus model for Oldham, connecting creative activity, skills and enterprise across the town.

Martina began her career as an actor and theatre-maker, going on to work across directing, producing and new work development. She brings this creative background into her leadership, with a focus on collaboration, care and building organisations that are resilient and rooted in the communities they serve.

She believes theatre has the power not only to tell stories, but to shape the future of the places it calls home.