Oldham Coliseum credit Oldham Council

It had been hoped that Oldham Coliseum would reopen in time for pantomime season

Photo: Oldham Council

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Oldham Coliseum reopening delayed

Historic venue had been due to reopen in time for this year’s pantomime season but has been pushed back because of ‘unexpected bumps in the road’.

Neil Puffett
2 min read

The reopening of Oldham Coliseum has been delayed after previously unidentified asbestos was discovered.

The theatre, which is more than 135 years old, closed in 2023 after Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd lost all its National Portfolio funding from Arts Council England in November 2022.

Oldham Council had planned to build a new theatre in the town at a cost of £24m but last year decided to invest £10m in the Coliseum building instead.

It had hoped it would reopen in time for this year’s pantomime season but The Oldham Times reports that, due to extensive work to remove previously unidentified asbestos in the walls and roof, the reopening has been postponed until next year.

Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: “It’s disappointing not to be reopening the Fairbottom Street building for panto 2025 as it’s such a special part of Oldham’s festive season, but unexpected bumps in the road often happen with a project of this scale.

“Rather than rush to open before the building is ready, our decision to extend the construction period gives us the time needed to get the details absolutely right. It was clear to us all that if we opened in 2025, the experience wouldn’t live up to the high standards our audience deserve.

“We owe it to everyone, the artists, staff, and most importantly our audiences, to get this right. This is about securing a bright and sustainable future for theatre in Oldham and building something that will serve our community for generations. I can’t wait to open the doors in 2026.”

‘Back with a bang’

Martina Murphy, CEO of Oldham Coliseum Theatre, said that while the company is “gutted about the delay”, it is confident it will reopen in 2026 “with a bang”.

“In the meantime, the spirit of the Coliseum lives on. As a company, Oldham Coliseum Theatre continues to produce exciting work across the Borough, bringing theatre to communities and keeping alive our connection with audiences. We’ve just wrapped up our spring programme and will be announcing our summer line-up soon.”