Construction Company Appointed for Victorian Theatre Restoration

A construction company has been appointed to oversee the renovation of a historic theatre, which is slated to reopen following its contentious closure in 2023. According to Council leader Arooj Shah, the engagement of Tilbury Douglas for the work at Oldham Coliseum represents “a huge milestone” as the establishment gets ready to open its doors for the 2025 Christmas pantomime season. The theatre, originally built in 1885, was compelled to close after Arts Council England ceased its funding due to management concerns, concurrently with Oldham Council’s declaration that the structure was “no longer fit for purpose.” The local authority had initially intended to replace the theatre with a new, smaller £24 million facility, but ultimately abandoned this plan in favor of renovating the current building, following a significant public campaign. Among those advocating for the preservation of the original structure were local residents and notable actors, such as Julie Hesmondhalgh, known for her role in the recent ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office. Martina Murphy, the theatre’s chairwoman, stated: “People living in our town deserve to see their stories reflected on and off the stage and we’re honoured to be working with such supportive partners and funders, as we continue to reimagine theatre in Oldham and its potential to help regenerate the town centre and reach more people than ever before.” The council has allocated £10 million to this initiative, comprising £6.1 million from the government’s Towns Fund and the remaining amount from the council’s regeneration budget. Tilbury Douglas, having previously transformed the historic Old Library in the town, will now lead the restoration efforts for the Fairbottom Street theatre, a venue that has hosted performers such as Charlie Chaplin, Ralph Fiennes, and Olivia Cooke from House of the Dragon.