Oldham Coliseum Theatre sees classic comedies from three of Britain’s most prolific writers—Harold Pinter, John Godber and Alan Ayckbourn—combine with new dramas telling stories of society today in its forthcoming autumn and winter season.
The venue’s annual pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, is the only homegrown production in the remainder of 2019 although the season also sees the the return of the Coliseum’s Main House Takeover, which brings Greater Manchester’s independent companies to the Oldham stage.
The season opens with the first of two visits from London Classic Theatre with its production of Pinter’s dark comedy No Man’s Land.
LipService takes on train-related crime fiction in Strangers on a Train Set. Following the Coliseum’s production of John Godber’s Up ’N’ Under in 2017, The John Godber Company comes to Oldham with Gym & Tonic.
Inspired by and dedicated to the Black Men’s Walking group from Yorkshire, Black Men Walking is a journey through the Peak District and 2,000 years of black British history.
In the New Year, LUNG Theatre brings Trojan Horse to the Coliseum concerning a story that hit the national press, accusing ‘hardline’ Muslim teachers and governors of plotting extremism in Birmingham schools.
In February, the Coliseum presents James Fritz’s topical drama Four Minutes Twelve Seconds. How well do we actually know our children? And how far would we go to protect them? Nominated for an Olivier on its West End debut in 2015, it looks at how we see ourselves and others and highlights the dangers presented by modern technology.
London Classic Theatre returns in March with Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular.
The Coliseum’s Studio welcomes three independent productions that look at the society we live in and one that hurtles through time to meet historical characters.