This week's news from the Coliseum...

In the last couple of weeks we’ve had the world premiere of A Fine Bright Day Today, announced our new season, popped up at the Oldham Carnival, I even looked over the first sketches of the costumes and set model for Dick Whittington (it’s June!).

I’ve been dying to talk about the new season, it’s great to finally get the new season announced. We know what the programme is months before season launch but we have to keep our lips. Now we can get all the information about the fantastic productions up on our website for you to look at.

After panto we’re temporarily moving out of the building due to it needing essential refurbishment. We’ll be producing Alan Ayckbourn’s hilarious Taking Steps at the Grange Arts Centre in February 2012 which is near Oldham College on Rochdale Road. The space seats 336 people, so it will feel the same size as the Coliseum but they’ll be an entirely different and exciting experience for audiences as it’s set in the round with the audience seated on all four sides of the stage.

While we’re operating away from Fairbottom Street you can still reach our box office on 0161 624 2829 or at boxoffice@coliseum.org.uk and we’ll find a venue in the town centre where you can pick up your tickets.



I’m thrilled with the reception of our current production A Fine Bright Day Today. There’s a great sense of achievement not just for me but for the whole company when a show gets such rave reviews from The Guardian, M.E.N. and the Chronicle. The audience also love it – there have been regular standing ovations which is a huge stamp of approval. If you haven’t seen it yet, there’s still another week to go.

In the meantime we’re knee deep in Coliseum t-shirts, pens, coasters, bags and balloons ready for Saturday’s Open Day. You’ll get a chance to walk behind the scenes of A Fine Bright Day Today, take a look at the set models and compare them to the real thing on our stage. Easy to read maps of where all the activities are taking place are being printed, the final rehearsals for our drama groups are happening as I type, the bar staff are getting their stirrers, shakers and straws ready for cocktail making and - most importantly - the glitter has been delivered ready to be used on the fairy rainbow wands that you can make on the day.

See you at the theatre.

Kevin Shaw
Artistic Director