Oldham Coliseum Theatre

• Theatre ID
  278
• Built / Converted
  1887
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Theatre
• Address
  Fairbottom Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL1 3SW, England
• Website
  • http://www.coliseum.org.uk

Details

Originally called the Colosseum, the wooden circus was built for Mr Myers, proprietor of Myers’ Grand American Hippodrome Circus. Myers, however, was unable to pay for the building on completion and, after a court judgement, Thomas Whittaker, the designer and builder, became the theatre owner. Sited on Henshaw Street, it opened with a Chinese Fair. After an equestrian season Whittaker converted the circus to a music hall and, soon after, stage plays were presented. The site in Henshaw Street then became untenable, with plans for the building of the Market Hall imminent, so the theatre was dismantled in 1887 and moved to the site of the disused Holebottom Colliery in Fairbottom Street, adjacent to the Theatre Royal. It was about this time that the name was changed to Coliseum. Various adaptations took place: all the timber was protected against fire, means of escape were greatly improved (capacity was over 3000), gas and coloured limelight illumination was introduced, as was a paint-frame. The auditorium floor could be raised for use as a ballroom or exhibition centre. An efficient ventilation system was also installed. An attempt to convert to a cinema in 1931 failed to obtain a licence. After further alterations it was reopened as a theatre club in 1939. The remaining original timber construction was replaced by masonry in the 1960s. The stage house and fly tower were added in 1974, with other backstage improvements. The auditorium seen today follows the original music hall form with balcony and gallery supported by pillars, the lower balcony front with gilded decorative roundels and simple decoration against deep red, continuing to the (1963) proscenium which is 9m (29ft 6in) wide. This is plain, but until recently was dressed with circus-style swagged curtains as a reminder of the theatre’s origins. Although replaced in 1963, the exterior retains its 1930s character, belying the charming auditorium with its traditional character and atmosphere.

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• Other names
  Colosseum
• Events
  • 1887 Design/Construction: relocated an existing building to present address
    • Thomas Whittaker - Architect
  • 1931 Alteration: projection box introduced & modifications to façade; stage house demolished
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1939 Alteration: circus auditorium divided; stage area reinstated; dressing rooms built from former circus stables; façade altered and simplified
    • Mr Armitage & James Fazakerly - Architect
  • 1964 - 1966 Alteration: Array old timbers replaced by masonry; safety curtain installed; bar and coffee lounge built; projection box removed
    • Tom Hayes & Son - Architect
  • 1974 Alteration: fly tower added and stage house enlarged
    • Unknown - Architect
  • Owner/Management: Thomas Whittaker, owner
  • 1885 - 1886 Owner/Management: Various short-term lessees
  • 1903 Owner/Management: Colosseum Theatre Co, Peter Yates (of Yates’s Wine Lodge) MD, owner
  • 1918 Owner/Management: Dobie’s Electric Theatres, owners
  • 1930 Owner/Management: William Bailey, owner
  • 1939 Owner/Management: Oldham Repertory Theatre Club, lessees
  • 1946 Owner/Management: Oldham Repertory Theatre Club, owners
  • 1977 Owner/Management: Acquired by Local Authority
• Capacities
  • Original: 3000
  • Later: 1912: 2100 1946: 660
  • Current: 580
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium since 1887
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth 1912: 36ft 1946: 22ft Width 1912: 75ft 1997: 19m
  • Proscenium width: 1912: 30ft 1946: 20ft 1997: 9m
  • Height to grid: 26ft
  • Orchestra pit: Originally none. From 1974: 16