The legacy of the Oldham Coliseum theatre will "live on" supporting other ventures across the region while the future of the now-empty building remains uncertain.

The 138-year-old theatre met its tragic end after being snubbed from Arts Council funding last November.

Losing £1.85m National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funds meant the theatre company has been forced to reconcile with closure and redundancies for an estimated 70 people.

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The Oldham Times: Plaques were returned to their owners before the seats were removedPlaques were returned to their owners before the seats were removed (Image: Oldham Coliseum)

Despite valiant efforts from staff and residents, who gathered to "save" the Fairbottom Street theatre and demanded answers from decision-makers, the final curtain closed on the cast and the public in a special finale in April.

Over the past four months, the council confirmed a new £24m theatre is in the works to be built on Union Street by 2026, which the Coliseum company has been given the green light to move into, while the Arts Council has ringfenced £1.85m to ensure theatre and art remains alive in the borough in the interim.

The Oldham Times: The seats have gone to new homes across the regionThe seats have gone to new homes across the region (Image: Facebook/Caroline Clegg)

A new board of directors are also steering the ship forward through the next three "challenging" years ahead as the company hopes to deliver performances without a physical home to operate in.

Meanwhile, fears have been mounting over the future of the Coliseum building itself now that the keys have been handed back to the council and its fixtures and fittings have been removed.

Speaking to The Oldham Times, Duncan Craig OBE, chair of trustees, said the team sprung into action to ensure the Coliseum's assets would be put to good use. 

Most of the Coliseum's seats have found a new home in a musical theatre in Bredbury, called the Drama Dept, while just two seats have gone to a Manchester-based arts charity, theatre and bar, 53two.

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In a post on social media, 53two said: "We now have a piece of the legendary Oldham Coliseum in the arches forever.

"These special seats from the beautiful auditorium were given to us so we can keep a piece of the old girl alive with us."

The Oldham Times: Plaques were returned to their owners before the seats were removedPlaques were returned to their owners before the seats were removed (Image: Oldham Coliseum/ 53two)

Innit for Young People, which helps youngsters to express themselves through the arts and is working on its own Coliseum Studio in Salford, will also benefit from Coliseum's "much loved" curtain.

Even the food and ice cream has been donated to Oldham Foodbank and local schools while its expansive wardrobe of costumes and props have gone to Bolton's Octagon Theatre.

Meanwhile, the Coliseum's "vast archive" has been donated to Oldham Local Studies and Archives on Union Street to preserve its "rich history of award-winning home-produced theatre".

The Oldham Times: The wardrobe was donated to the Bolton Octagon TheatreThe wardrobe was donated to the Bolton Octagon Theatre (Image: Oldham Coliseum)

Mr Craig added: "From the moment the board was in place at Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd it was clear this was going to be an incredibly difficult time for the whole team, but despite the fact that they were all going through redundancy, they never once stopped thinking about others."

He said the team identified the need to save the Coliseum's legacy and ensure as little as possible went to waste.

Mr Craig said: “We were able to identify local performing arts and theatre companies to give props and equipment to, ensuring that we continue to support theatre being made. 

“I’ll never forget that as they faced redundancy themselves, they thought of others… and that essence I will ensure remains at the heart of Oldham Coliseum Theatre as we step into our new future.”

The Oldham Times: Food and ice cream from the kiosk have gone to Oldham FoodbankFood and ice cream from the kiosk have gone to Oldham Foodbank (Image: Oldham Coliseum)

For the next three years and until the new building is ready, the company said it will deliver theatre in a different way - and can do so now it has been given a slice of the £1.85m ACE funds to the tune of £450,000 plus an annual grant of £138,000 for the next three years.

Mr Craig said: "This money is to specifically produce, commission, create, deliver, and develop our new business model towards the opening of the new building.

"We are extremely grateful to Oldham Council for this award as it will now allow us to continue as an organisation, focusing on our charitable objectives as a producing theatre."

However, he said it will be a "very different model" moving forward as the organisation no longer has a building and will need to deliver performances in non-theatre spaces - and with less income. 

The Oldham Times: The curtain has gone to a charity in SalfordThe curtain has gone to a charity in Salford (Image: Oldham Coliseum)

He added: "We'll have to present work less frequently to begin with.

"But, at the core of our work over the next three years, we have our eye on the development of a long-term plan to ensure we build a new, stronger and, very importantly, sustainable foundation as our tenancy in the new building begins."

On Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27, the company will be bringing its first performances since the closure to Alexandra Park and Dunwood Park.

Over the coming weeks, the chair also revealed two independent reviews that focus on revealing the facts of the status of Fairbottom Street, and its root causes of the unsuccessful bid to ACE, will also be published.

The Oldham Times: The new theatre won't be ready for another three yearsThe new theatre won't be ready for another three years (Image: Oldham Council)

It is believed the reports may hold some answers as to why the Coliseum lost out on the funds as they look at an independent building report and assess the prior Coliseum's board of trustees.

Back in February, the Arts Council revealed the Coliseum's application was deemed "very high risk" on a range of factors, ranging from its governance to financial viability.

ACE's North Area Director, Sarah Maxfield, told The Oldham Times that the application "didn't make a strong case for investment of public money" while annual returns published via the Charity Commission showed the theatre had been operating at a loss for some time.

As audience figures plummeted, the Coliseum suffered a high turnover of managers, trustees and chairs - not to mention the fact both the Arts Council and Oldham Council agreed the building was in "more than a mild state of disrepair" to justify spending taxpayers' money on repairing it.

The then leader of Oldham Council, Amanda Chadderton, said: "The building is no longer fit for purpose, it’s not compliant for accessibility, and it’s in a poor state of repair - audiences, performers and staff deserve better."

​The Oldham Times: Chair of Trustees, Duncan Craig OBE, has promised Oldham won't miss out on theatre moving forwardChair of Trustees, Duncan Craig OBE, has promised Oldham won't miss out on theatre moving forward (Image: Oldham Coliseum)

While the new reports will be hotly anticipated by those who are still mourning the loss of the theatre, many are still upset to see the building stand empty.

Charlotte Lister said it was a "real shame" to see the theatre "gutted" of its history.

Ms Lister added: "They should have stayed where they were, and one of the oldest British theatres should have been allowed to continue.

"I fear demolition is next, or just allowing it to decay.

"Like many I am heartbroken."

Caroline Clegg, who won the Horniman Award for services to theatre after she wrote and filmed a piece about Annie Horniman at the Coliseum in 2007, said she fears Oldham will become a "cultural wasteland".

Ms Clegg said: "In Greater Manchester now there is only Royal Exchange and Bolton producing repertory theatre.

"It's a disgrace.

"The redesign for a new build is a pathetic excuse for a theatre - no fly tower, no decent rehearsal space, but it doesn't matter because it's got a bigger cafe and bar.

"The north west was the heart of theatre and losing Oldham has nailed the coffin lid shut."

In a statement to The Oldham Times, the council said there are no plans for the empty building for the time being.

Cllr Elaine Taylor, cabinet member for housing and licensing at the council, said: “The building has been made safe and secure.

"Although there are no plans for the site at this stage, we will start soon start to explore options for its future.”

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