'Hands off Oldham Coliseum' - Maxine Peake leads rallying cry to save iconic theatre at 400-strong public meeting
“Hands off Oldham,” proclaimed actor Maxine Peake as she led a packed crowd in a chant in support of the town’s Coliseum Theatre which faces permanent closure after more than a century of performances.
Actors, union members and Oldham residents delivered passionate speeches about what the Coliseum means to them, the local community and to arts in the north.Paul Hilton, an actor from Chadderton told the packed stalls: “I can’t bear to see this place go. I had no connection with the arts, the theatre, but I did a school play here when I was 15 and I found my calling – it was my touchpaper.
Zoe Iqbal, an actor who has recently worked for the Coliseum highlighted its work with Asian and Roma communities in Oldham, as well as young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Maxine Peake told the meeting that northern theatres provided inspiration for working class people like herself to get involved in the arts, and are the ‘lifeblood’ of towns. “There’s a saying, if you can’t see it you can’t be it,” she said.
The Arts Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it didn’t have a representative available, but regardless would not give detailed reasons in a public forum about why an organisation has not been funded. There was also scepticism that the plan, the third in the last two decades for a new performance space in Oldham, would actually be brought to fruition.
“At the moment with the process we’re going through the outcome is zero,” he said. “There would be zero staff and zero jobs and zero ability to make work in Oldham. “We are the major producing organisation in the town so if we don’t exist is art and culture just parachuted in from elsewhere? If we’re not doing it, who is doing it?”
It would also include enhanced back-stage facilities, and front of house areas such as a bar and a café. Education, event and rehearsal spaces would also be part of the designs, the council states. “Arts Council England is absolutely committed to supporting arts and culture for the people of Oldham, and we’re standing by our commitment to invest £1.85 million in performing arts in the town and overall our investment in the arts in Oldham will be higher than ever before.
In a statement, Oldham council said that Councillor Chadderton as well as other council colleagues had been regularly meeting with the Coliseum, the Arts Council and other partners throughout ‘this difficult period of time; and particularly since November when the loss of Arts Council funding was announced.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Sadness as closure looms for Oldham's Coliseum Theatre'Not everyone can afford to take their kids to Manchester shows': Sadness as closure looms for Oldham's Coliseum Theatre
Consulte Mais informação »
Vision for new £24m theatre to replace iconic Oldham Coliseum revealedIt comes a week after the Coliseum Theatre said it would close its doors permanently at the end of March
Consulte Mais informação »
Future of Oldham Coliseum discussed at public meeting - updatesLast week, bosses at the historic theatre announced that they were proposing to close the venue at the end of March
Consulte Mais informação »
Oldham Coliseum: Campaigners including actress Maxine Peake fight to save theatre as building is said to be 'reaching natural end'Oldham Coliseum, which was built in 1885, faces closure at the end of March after losing funding from Arts Council England. Oldham Council has announced plans for a new theatre, scheduled to open in 2026, but campaigners say this is not good enough.
Consulte Mais informação »
Police issue appeal after two women assaulted in OldhamPolice believe the assaults are connected
Consulte Mais informação »
Hands down, the very best curling wands and tongs for every type of curl imaginable'Coz curls will never go out of style.
Consulte Mais informação »