Oldham Coliseum Theatre is reopening to 'socially distanced' audiences from next month with a programme of COVID-secure events including drama, virtual reality theatre, household names and a new promenade festive offering.
Oldham’s historic venue is still able to open under Greater Manchester’s current Tier 3 restrictions and will welcome audiences for the first time since March on November 12 for a sold-out performance of Dare to Know Theatre’s Drowning.
The Oldham-based company’s debut play had originally been scheduled for the Coliseum’s 50-capacity studio space and will now be presented 'socially distanced' in the 525-capacity main auditorium.
A second debut play follows on December 5 with My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored written by Coliseum supported artist Nana-Kofi Kufuor. Presented by Red Ladder in association with the Coliseum, it interrogates black identity and asks: if you see something you don’t agree with, do you intervene?
On December 21, the Coliseum presents Julie Likes To Draw Squirrels, a tale of a Lancashire childhood and adolescence written and performed by Julie Hesmondhalgh. It’s a fundraiser here and at The Edge Chorlton and will tour to both venues.
From December 11 to January 2, the Coliseum and Front Room Productions present a promenade production of A Christmas Carol for all the family.
Previously announced, ThickSkin brings virtual reality theatre Petrichor to the Coliseum on November 20–21.