Stars both past and present have shared how Oldham Coliseum either kickstarted their careers or improved their confidence as the future of the theatre remains hanging in the balance.
Oldham Coliseum Theatre announced on Monday, January 31, that it is no longer "financially viable" after it was axed from vital Arts Council England (ACE) funds, which has forced it to cancel all of its shows for the rest of 2023.
Celebrities, MPs, Oldham councillors and residents have since backed calls to 'save' the Coliseum from any further tragedy with fears mounting for its possible closure if it fails to gather the cash.
Bolton-born actress, Maxine Peake, best known for her roles in Dinnerladies and Shameless, also backed the calls earlier this week and called on "the powers that be" to intervene.
READ MORE: 'It's a beacon': Maxine Peake on why she backs calls to save Oldham Coliseum
The actress said her own career was inspired by local theatre, having grown up in a satellite town in Greater Manchester, similar to Oldham.
The 48-year-old also said theatres are "beacons" and dubbed the Coliseum as a "training ground for future talent".
She added: "It's a real lifeline to people to have a creative outlet, whether or not that leads to a career.
"It feels like it's a huge blow to Oldham and I hope that the powers that be realise it.
"It's really devastating from the Arts Council but it's up to the council to invest in the theatre."
The theatre, which has seen stars and celebs grace its stage for more than 135 years, means just as much to those who have kickstarted their career there with many claiming they wouldn't be where they are today without it.
One such performer is Rachel Stockdale who said the Coliseum gave the actress her "first break" in 2016.
The 29-year-old said she had written a play in response to The Pitmen Painters called 'Coal Girls' and performed it in Wigan as part of her course at ALRA North.
The then Associate Director, Chris Lawson, spotted the student's efforts and invited her to reopen the studio with it and have it run alongside The Pitmen Painters in the main house.
Rachel said: "I was given dramaturgical advice and lots of support from Sue Fletcher, who was head of marketing and communications at the time, and a generous box office split.
"I was invited to work with a community group at the theatre who welcomed me with open arms and we sold out at the studio for the entirety of our run."
The actress said when she graduated from drama school, she was forced to sign on for benefits but the Coliseum was a "safe space" for her to continue developing and growing as a "benefit class, northern actor and theatre-maker".
Rachel has since been acting and directing, mainly in the North East, and has gone on to win awards such as Best Short Film award.
She has also been commissioned by Northern Stage and performed at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022.
Meanwhile, her show, 'Fat Chance', has received Arts Council England funding, amongst others.
"I would now have had the confidence in my work to move forward and do all of that if I hadn't of had Oldham Coliseum's support and the chance to grow as an artist in a supportive and safe environment.
"It really saddens me that my drama school and the theatre that gave me my first big break will potentially not exist in the six years I've been in the industry.
"I worry for anyone else like me who has a passion for the arts because I barely made it through.
"Working class, northern actors and creative shouldn't be a dying breed."
Although Judith Stenton hasn't gone on to work in theatre, she said she performed many times at the Coliseum - then called the Oldham Repertory Theatre or 'the Rep' - from the age of eight through to her teens.
Judith said: "I did my first stage show at the Rep 55 years ago.
"It was the King and I with Meg Johnson as Mrs Anna when I was 11.
"I went on in my teens to do the pantos for the next five years with other TV celebrities and loved every second.
"My memories have never faded", she added.
The mother of two said she continued dancing in her younger life but then "family life took over" with marriage and her two sons, who she said both now love musicals as young men.
"We go as often as possible - my eldest took me to The Lion King last Saturday which was out of this world and, in May, as my birthday treat, we are going to see The King and I.
"I have to promise not to sing out loud."
Meanwhile, the vice chair for outreach at LGBT Conservatives, Tom Hulme, said he was born and raised in Oldham until he was 18, during which he performed at the Coliseum as a member of the Judith Barker acting school.
Tom said: "It was such an honour to stand on a stage that has been the workplace to so many wonderful northern actors like Dama Thora Hird and Barbara Knox.
"My earliest memory of the Coliseum is from when I was a child and I had a crippling fear of pantomime dames which meant I had to stay at home while my class went to the panto at Christmas."
Tom said the Coliseum then arranged some time for him to visit backstage with the dame, to watch him put on his costume and makeup.
"This helped me realise that it was the same person underneath and cured my phobia instantly.
"I truly believe pantos are some of the most important things a theatre can host as for so many kids it will be the moment they look at the stage and think 'whatever they're doing, I want to do it too' and subsequently pursue a creative career.
"Performance art should be accessible to everyone, wherever they live in the UK, not just those who live on the doorstep of the West End", he added.
Meanwhile, Lauren-Nicole Mayes, who is an actress, writer and Oldham Coliseum associate from Manchester, said the theatre's cancelling of shows is a "travesty".
"The people I have met through the Oldham Coliseum and those who I am currently working with have been nothing short of wonderful.
"This is a space where people who have long been shut out finally feel safe, seen and heard.
"Something needs to change", she added.
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