Save Oldham Coliseum Event

It was a pleasure to attend the screening of a film produced by the Save Oldham Coliseum group in support of the much loved theatre.

The group have worked hard to ensure the town doesn’t lose the theatre, and explicitly that it should stay at its historic home on Fairbottom Street.

Over a number of months meetings have been taking place with the council, members of the group, and the current theatre board to bring together all interested parties to find a common ground.

It was a significant moment to take part in a walk around at Fairbottom Street in February where the sense of history was very deeply felt. It was sad to see it stripped bare with seating removed and almost everything else taken out, but it was obvious too that the building had more to give.

The gathering heard from Cllr Arooj Shah who spoke passionately about her commitment to reflect in the council the wishes of the people of Oldham, and that she doesn’t want to rule out a return to its historic home, but that it must go hand in hand with a secure and stable future. That was extremely well received by the group and it shows the council are listening and are willing to work in cooperation with the community.

There are many things to consider in comparing a redevelopment of Fairbottom Street against a new build on Union Street in a renewed ‘Old Post Office’ building, and the operating model, financing and governance which then supports it.

The work of Save Oldham Coliseum should be welcomed, as should the openness of the council, and the willingness of the other funding partners to consider all options.

I have been a long-standing supporter of a new theatre and centre for the arts in Oldham, and the funding provided during my tenure as leader of the council to resolve the building issues at Fairbottom Street a decade ago was to allow a new project to develop without losing the producing theatre in the process.

For various reasons of cost and the loss of significant Arts Council funding the new project had been adapted to its current proposal, but in doing so it has been scaled back and resulted in a reduction in seats, meaning the annual pantomime would need to be held elsewhere, which is the main connection many have with it. It also meant the loss of the ‘fly tower’ meaning narrower production options.

It is right therefore that a pause is taken to consider this against a redeveloped Fairbottom Street site which would retain 500 seats, the flytower and of course allow the historic home to be secured for the future too.

Coupled with a plan for Yorkshire Street and support for businesses it could grow the benefit further.

When put alongside the investment already seen in the Old Town Hall and new focus on the stunning Egyptian Room, new market hall and wider heritage buildings there is a lot to be positive about whatever the outcome of this.