The Coliseum's closure followed the loss of its Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status from 1 April 2023. 

In the early months of 2023 the Coliseum also lost a beloved friend and colleague, General Manager and former Head of Production Lesley Chenery. Her passing will now forever be entwined in memory with the closure of the company.

We know the theatre’s closure is deeply upsetting for our audiences and participants. The Coliseum has been at the heart of theatre in Oldham for over 100 years and has survived two World Wars and a global pandemic. The outpouring of love for the theatre over the past months has been overwhelming, demonstrating the Coliseum’s impact on the communities of Oldham and further afield.

To our audiences, industry colleagues, partners, sponsors, funders, patrons and friends – we cannot thank you enough for your support over more than a century of theatre.