Hundreds of people packed into the Oldham Coliseum Theatre on Tuesday night with a plea to save it from a tragic, untimely end.

Less than a week ago, the theatre announced that it may be forced to close its doors "for good" as of April after its bid for funds from the Arts Council, amounting to £1.85m over the next three years, was snubbed last November.

Following the devastating announcement, people from far and wide have joined the battle cry to "save" the Fairbottom Street theatre which has stood in Oldham for more than 135 years.

READ MORE: 'Working class, Northern actors could be a dying breed': Stars rally for Coliseum

READ MORE: 'Save Oldham Coliseum' campaign receives celebrity backing

READ MORE: 'It's a beacon': Maxine Peake on why she backs calls to save Oldham Coliseum

The Oldham Times: Save Oldham Coliseum posters were handed outSave Oldham Coliseum posters were handed out (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

The public meeting, organised by the trade union Equity, saw 400 Oldhamers cram into the Coliseum to hear from an impressive line-up of speakers - and to demand answers from decision-makers.

However, it was soon established that the council and the Arts Council declined the opportunity to attend.

An empty chair was left on stage to symbolise their absence, though Arts Council England (ACE) said it didn't have a representative available and has offered to arrange a separate meeting.

ACE also said it "does not give out detailed reasons in a public forum about why any organisation has not been funded".

The Oldham Times: The empty chair on stageThe empty chair on stage (Image: Equity UK)

While their absence was keenly felt, the meeting pressed on without them and many took to the stage to express what the theatre means to them.

Zoe Iqbal, an actress, talked about its strong links with marginalised communities, particularly how it supports members of the Roma community when, she argued, no one else would.

She also said local children in the borough get the unique opportunity to perform on the Coliseum stage, thanks to an inter-schools project.

Zoe said: "Can you imagine how magical that would be? They absolutely love it and now it's gone. 

"That's like going up to Santa, punching him in the face, headbutting Rudolph and burning the toys."

She also suggested private school children aren't the ones who miss out when local theatres are pulled.

"Art is not only for the privileged.

"Why do their kids deserve more than the kids around here?", she added.

The Oldham Times: Paul HiltonPaul Hilton (Image: Equity UK)

Najma Kahlid, the founder and director of the Oldham-based Women's CHAI project, which primarily works with South Asian women, also said the Coliseum has become a "community hub" for the women over the past 10 years.

For Paul Hilton, a Chadderton-born and raised actor, the Coliseum stage is where he found "his calling" at just 15 years old.

He said: "I cannot bear to see this place go.

"What will happen to 15, 14, and 13-year-olds in the next three years if they don't have this space?

"Isn't it cultural vandalism to take it away from them?

"This is the reason I'm here - for the next generation."

The Oldham Times: Maxine PeakeMaxine Peake (Image: Equity UK)

Famous actress Maxine Peake, who recently spoke to The Oldham Times in an exclusive interview, said local theatres are the "lifeblood" of communities and how actors from Oldham gave her the inspiration to perform.

Maxine also looked out at the 400-strong crowd and said: "I haven't seen theatres put on productions that have been this busy.

"We have got a massive fight on our hands so we're going to have to get weaponised.

"We're going to have to get tanks. And we're going to have to take it to the front doors because this is not good enough."

She suggested if Oldham's theatre falls, other places across the north west could be next.

The artistic director and chief executive of the Coliseum, Chris Lawson, then stood to answer questions from the public and explain the chain of events.

ACE said it rejected the Coliseum's application, having deemed it as "high risk" on factors ranging from its governance to its finances.

READ MORE: Why the Oldham Coliseum was refused funds - and its roadmap for the future

But Chris queried both of these claims, saying the Coliseum weathered through the pandemic, all the while protecting jobs, and immediately opened post-lockdown with performances that were hitting targets.

He also said the Arts Council's strategy 'Let's Create' is "Oldham Coliseum personified".

"The only thing that is deemed higher risk is no plan.

"I feel nothing but handcuffed by it", he added.

Instead of financially propping up the Coliseum, ACE said it has invested far more than it has ever done in Oldham.

The Oldham Times: Chris LawsonChris Lawson (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

It has ringfenced £1.85m - the same amount that would have been spent on the theatre - to go towards establishing a new arts and culture provision in the town.

On Tuesday, the council also unveiled fresh plans for a new £24m theatre, proposed to sit near Gallery Oldham, with a target opening date in 2026.

READ MORE: Plans for new £24m theatre in Oldham revealed after loss of Coliseum

But Chris said Oldham will be a "void of culture" in the next three years it takes to build it - and it still remains unclear whether the Coliseum company will move into the building.

Ian Kershaw, another Oldham-born creative and scriptwriter whose plays have been performed at the Coliseum, summarised the issue: "We don't want a polished shiny floor down the road called 'the new Coliseum'.

"We want the Oldham Coliseum and if this building is not fit for purpose then give the administration the money to make art."

The Oldham Times: Around 400 people packed into the ColiseumAround 400 people packed into the Coliseum (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge)

Meanwhile, Chris said he is also having to deal with the possibility of redundancies for 70 members of his staff and submitted a fresh proposal just days ago that could enable the company to survive.

"I will go down fighting if I have to", Chris added.

When asked about the "transition funds" the Arts Council have provided - a sum of £358,856 to support the theatre from March until October - Chris said the money can go one of two ways: either to transition to a completely different model, as he has proposed, or on "winding up".

Questions then came in thick and fast from members of the public who primarily voiced their dismay and anguish at the absent decision-makers.

However, it is worth noting that there were some local councillors in attendance - Liberal Democrat and Coliseum board member, Sam Al-Hamdani, sat on the stage while Royton North Conservative councillor, Dave Arnott, voiced his support.

Although he was initially met with boos and heckling from the crowd, Cllr Arnott said "I'm here, there's no-one else here" and said the Coliseum ought to receive financial support until the new theatre is built.

"I don't think Oldham needs a load of tinted glass - I think Oldham needs small, intimate, historical, family-friendly theatres like this", he added.

The Oldham Times: Equity head, Lynda RookeEquity head, Lynda Rooke (Image: Equity UK)

Meanwhile, a man from a sister trade union in the crowd described the funding cut as an "attack on the working class" from the Conservative government.

Another said the theatre is vital for youngsters in the community - which was later exemplified by the Coliseum's Young Rep Company, a group of 16-25-year-olds in theatre training, who said they felt their "future" had been ripped away and they would be forced out of their hometown for opportunities.

But most just wanted to know how they could support the Coliseum and mobilise against its closure with calls for a "sit in" and "shifts" to occupy the space.

The head of Equity, Lynda Rooke, said all 47,000 Equity members stand behind Oldham Coliseum.

And as the night drew to a close, the crowd erupted into a fitting chant while waving banners and posters, shouting "hands off Oldham".