Oldham is to build a new Coliseum Theatre in its budding Cultural Quarter after the plans were awarded a multi-million pound funding injection.
A successful funding bid by Oldham Council and Oldham Coliseum has seen Arts Council England approve a grant worth £7.1m towards the project.
This signals a green light for it to move from its Fairbottom Street home to a new facility including a 550-seat main auditorium and a 170-seat studio theatre with improved front-of-house facilities.
The new-build project will be a central part of Oldham's Cultural Quarter and will be located on the current Southgate Street car park site, with a frontage on Union Street.
All are sited at a prominent town centre gateway just yards from Oldham Central Metrolink stop.
The new theatre will also be adjacent to the Victorian library building, which is to house the Heritage and Arts Centre, showcasing the story of Oldham's past to the present day.
Construction work is anticipated to start in 2018 with the venue set to open in 2020.