Oldham Coliseum shares update on major refurbishment

Oldham Coliseum Theatre has shared an update on progress of its ongoing major refurbishment.

Contractors Tilbury Douglas says it is advancing a programme of improvements across the historic building.

Much of the work has already been completed, including the installation of a brand new roof, and redesign of the backstage area, featuring a wider, fully accessible route to the stage, along with modern changing rooms, showers and toilet facilities.

The building has been carefully stripped back, with outdated services taken out, preparing the theatre for its next phase while protecting its character.

During the work, a previously unknown basement was discovered beneath the entrance foyer, along with a Coliseum membership card dating back to 1953.

As refurbishment has developed, more detailed surveys have identified additional work required to ensure the theatre meets modern standards, including addressing structural elements and materials such as asbestos, which are commonly found in buildings of this age.

The revised timeline will ensure the Coliseum reopens as a safe, accessible and future-ready cultural landmark for Oldham. An extra £7m has been agreed by the council to fund these necessary works. The money is grant-funded, meaning no extra expense to Oldham Council taxpayers.

An Oldham Council spokesperson said: “Work is continuing to make good progress on the refurbishment of Oldham Coliseum Theatre. As these works have progressed, we have been able to do more detailed surveys on each part of the building. We have then discovered that more work is needed on areas like the staircase, where old buildings such as these can have issues with asbestos.

“The Coliseum is a historic venue, so making it fit to be the proper home of theatre in Oldham means we need more time to bring it back to life. We now anticipate a re-opening in 2027.

“Our focus remains on making sure the theatre reopens as a high-quality venue that will serve Oldham for generations to come. In the meantime, the Coliseum continues to produce fantastic work across the borough, presenting shows in venues including Whittles and George Street Chapel.”

Oldham Coliseum Theatre CEO Martina Murphy added: “The Oldham Coliseum is more than a building. It’s where generations of people have discovered theatre, laughed together and created lasting memories. Every decision being made is about creating a theatre that honours its remarkable history while giving future generations a place to imagine and belong. We want people to walk through those doors knowing we’ve built something that will serve Oldham for decades to come.

“While work on the building continues, the Coliseum has remained active, developing artists, engaging communities and bringing theatre to audiences across the borough. With a strengthened creative leadership team now in place, we’re building on that momentum with confidence and are preparing for the re-opening. The building may be under construction, but the Coliseum is very much alive.”