Rediscovered photos reveal the colourful history of the Oldham Coliseum

When the Coliseum announced its closure in April last year, archivists in Oldham embarked on a ‘rescue mission’ to save as much of the history of the beloved theatre as possible.

While the inside of the iconic building on Fairbottom Street was stripped, the team salvaged all the records they could.

Oldham Coliseum’s ‘records at risk’ project

Now Oldham’s archivists have completed a £5,000 ‘records at risk’ project – just as the council prepares a big renovation project to bring the theatre back into working use.

The project uncovered a series of forgotten photos and documents, revealing the colourful history of the Oldham Coliseum.

In a statement about the project, digital archivist Kate Wilson said the project “will serve as a testament to the impact that the Coliseum has – and will continue to have – on Oldham.

“A vast archive of stories and memories”

“Our vast archive honours the stories and memories of those who have graced the Coliseum’s stage, back of house, and audience. It celebrates the countless hours of hard work and dedication put forth by actors, directors, crew, and volunteers.

“This project, Capturing the Coliseum, ensures that the history of the Coliseum remains as bright and visible as its future.”

The material will become available to the public in autumn this year at the Oldham Local Studies and Archives website – and will likely become a part of an exhibition closer to the time of the theatre’s reopening.

It includes everything from old photographs of performances to show posters and programs, and behind the scenes insights like costume designs and show reports – where theatre management recorded incidents of ‘naughty behaviour’ by audience members.

£5,000 grant from the National Archives

The project was funded by a £5,000 grant from the National Archives.

Cllr Peter Dean, Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities and Culture, said: “We’re rightly very proud of Oldham’s heritage and we will always preserve it wherever we can.

“Our archives are packed with objects and documents that record our borough’s rich and varied past for generations to come.

“The Coliseum is a key part of Oldham’s history and we’re delighted to have launched this project to protect and celebrate the many things that make it special.

“The news that it will re-open in time for Panto 2025 is the perfect encore to what started as a project to capture the end of an era.

“With these many items now in public ownership, we look forward to sharing them with residents as we look ahead to the Coliseum’s long, bright future.”