The Engagement Party brings immersive celebration of Greater Manchester to Oldham Coliseum

Oldham Coliseum welcomes a specially commissioned new production from up-and-coming Greater Manchester playwright afshan d’souza-lodhi this February.

The Engagement Party is set in and inspired by Oldham, and follows a relationship between nature-loving foodie Zack, and Sofia, a passionate lass who loves the bright lights of the big city and her vegan burger.

After crossing paths in a chicken shop, the pair’s romance begins to flourish…but so do their differences.

Fast-forward a little further down the line and guests are beginning to gather for their engagement party, though the couple are nowhere to be seen. As tensions rise, the crowd becomes restless.

Will a heated showdown between friends and family lead to disaster? Can love conquer all or will their differences in diets and ambitions be too much to overcome?

Upon arrival at the venue, audiences will be greeted by the party hosts, a group of Elders who are supporting the happy couple. After being seated, the immersive performance will unfold around them, as the room is flooded with live music from members of Manchester’s acclaimed Untold Orchestra and show-stopping performances played out by a wildly talented professional cast and Community company.

The creative team includes Creative Director Amanda Huxtable, Oldham writer Jake Talbot as script support, Designer Emma Williams and Musical Director Sam Davies.

Speaking about the show, Amanda Huxtable said: “I’m very proud to be the Creative Director of The Engagement Party by afshan d’souza lodhi, the brand new and latest production from Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd. It’s a big production and we are all going for it!

“It’s made with love in mind and all the heartache, questions and unity it can bring. Me and the team, including our talented cast joined by a special community cast, can’t wait for audiences to join in the fun and celebrations very soon.”

The production has been made with, for and by people in Oldham and Greater Manchester. As well as offering locals the chance to perform, 20% of the show’s tickets will be distributed via local community groups.

Chair of the Board of Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd Martina Murphy comments “We’re delighted to be producing new work and working with exciting theatre makers in Oldham. The Engagement Party is a special moment for us on our producing journey and we are thrilled to be working with the brilliantly talented Amanda Huxtable as the Creative Director.

“We’ve commissioned afshan d’souza lodhi, a writer from Greater Manchester, to create something truly special that reflects our dedication to offering opportunities to northern and working class voices; this is reflected in our creative team and our dedication to training, development and community engagement which is built into everything we do.”

The Engagement Party comes to Oldham Coliseum from Tue 18 Feb – Sat 22 Feb. Tickets are on sale now with on a Pay What You Choose basis, with prices starting from just £10. Book yours using the button below.