Good progress is being made on the refurbishment of Oldham Coliseum Theatre, with the historic venue now set to reopen in 2027. Partners, including Oldham Council and contractors Tilbury Douglas, have reaffirmed their commitment to delivering a high-quality and safe theatre for the borough.

Work on site is advancing steadily. A new roof has been installed, protecting the building for decades to come. The backstage area has been redesigned to include a wider, fully accessible route to the stage, along with modern changing rooms, showers, and toilet facilities. The building has been carefully stripped back, with outdated services removed while preserving its historic character.

During the renovation, a previously unknown basement was discovered beneath the entrance foyer. A Coliseum membership card from 1953 was also found, adding another chapter to the theatre’s rich history.

As the refurbishment has progressed, detailed surveys have identified extra work needed to meet modern standards. This includes addressing structural elements and materials such as asbestos, which are common in older buildings. To fund these necessary works, Oldham Council has agreed an additional £7m. This money is grant-funded, meaning no extra cost to Council taxpayers.

Council Leader Cllr Arooj Shah said: “Work is continuing to make good progress on the refurbishment of Oldham Coliseum Theatre. As these works have progressed, we have been able to do more detailed surveys on each part of the building. We have then discovered that more work is needed on areas like the staircase, where old buildings such as these can have issues with asbestos.

“The Coliseum is a historic venue, so making it fit to be the proper home of theatre in Oldham means we need more time to bring it back to life. We now anticipate a re-opening in 2027.

“Our focus remains on making sure the theatre reopens as a high-quality venue that will serve Oldham for generations to come. In the meantime, the Coliseum continues to produce fantastic work across the borough, presenting shows in venues including Whittles and George Street Chapel.”

The theatre’s creative leadership added: “The Oldham Coliseum is more than a building. It’s where generations of people have discovered theatre, laughed together and created lasting memories. Every decision being made is about creating a theatre that honours its remarkable history while giving future generations a place to imagine and belong.

“While work on the building continues, the Coliseum has remained active, developing artists, engaging communities and bringing theatre to audiences across Oldham. With a strengthened creative leadership team now in place, we’re building on that momentum with confidence and are preparing for the re-opening. The building may be under construction, but the Coliseum is very much alive.”

Refurbishing a building of this heritage inherently carries risks of the unknown, and many issues only become clear once the structure is opened up. The programme has been resequenced to address these issues safely and properly. Tilbury Douglas remains committed to delivering a high-quality venue that respects the Coliseum’s heritage and serves Oldham for generations to come.