Latest news with #JulieHesmondhalgh
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Historic theatre's reopening delayed until 2026
A historic theatre which is being refurbished after a long campaign to save it will not reopen in time for the 2025 panto season as planned, a council has confirmed. Oldham's Coliseum theatre is undergoing a £10m revamp and was due to throw open its doors again in December. Coronation Street actor Julie Hesmondhalgh was among those who joined the campaign to save the 135-year-old venue after the Arts Council withdrew funding in March 2023. But Oldham Council has now said unexpected extra work could delay the reopening until well into 2026. However, Hesmondhalgh, a member of the Friends of the Coliseum group, said the group was "relieved and happy" with the postponement as it would give them more chance to prepare. "Better to return with a beautiful, bold and glittering bang than do something half-baked in a building that isn't yet ready," she said. Arts Council England withdrew funding for the theatre on Fairbottom Street amid concerns over the theatre's management. But after the campaign it U-turned on its plans to replace it with a brand new building and pledged a £10m spend to reopen the Coliseum. Contractors Tilbury Douglas started work on the theatre earlier this year. More work to remove asbestos from the walls and roof has led to the postponement, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Council leader Arooj Shah said: "It's disappointing not to be reopening for Panto 2025 as it's such a special part of Oldham's festive season, but unexpected bumps in the road often happen with a project of this scale. "Rather than rush to open before the building is ready, our decision to extend the construction period gives us the time needed to get the details absolutely right." Martina Murphy, CEO of the the Coliseum production house, said she was "gutted" by the delay, but was confident the theatre would be "back with a bang" in 2026. Oldham Coliseum's production house will still be putting on shows around the area in the meantime. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Historic theatre finds way to keep show on the road Historic theatre saved after closure U-turn Oldham Council
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Oldham: Historic Coliseum theatre reopening delayed until 2026
A historic theatre which is being refurbished after a long campaign to save it will not reopen in time for the 2025 panto season as planned, a council has Coliseum theatre is undergoing a £10m revamp and was due to throw open its doors again in Street actor Julie Hesmondhalgh was among those who joined the campaign to save the 135-year-old venue after the Arts Council withdrew funding in March Oldham Council has now said unexpected extra work could delay the reopening until well into 2026. However, Hesmondhalgh, a member of the Friends of the Coliseum group, said the group was "relieved and happy" with the postponement as it would give them more chance to prepare."Better to return with a beautiful, bold and glittering bang than do something half-baked in a building that isn't yet ready," she said. Arts Council England withdrew funding for the theatre on Fairbottom Street amid concerns over the theatre's after the campaign it U-turned on its plans to replace it with a brand new building and pledged a £10m spend to reopen the Tilbury Douglas started work on the theatre earlier this year. More work to remove asbestos from the walls and roof has led to the postponement, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Council leader Arooj Shah said: "It's disappointing not to be reopening for Panto 2025 as it's such a special part of Oldham's festive season, but unexpected bumps in the road often happen with a project of this scale."Rather than rush to open before the building is ready, our decision to extend the construction period gives us the time needed to get the details absolutely right." Martina Murphy, CEO of the the Coliseum production house, said she was "gutted" by the delay, but was confident the theatre would be "back with a bang" in Coliseum's production house will still be putting on shows around the area in the meantime. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Guardian
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Engagement Party review – a disappointing love letter to Oldham
Seven months after the Oldham Coliseum's miraculous rescue from closure, after a campaign fronted by actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, it has invited audiences to a party. A celebratory atmosphere greets this comeback show at the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Coliseum's temporary home until it reopens for panto season. Seated at cabaret-style tables, we're here for an engagement party. But this production flatly fails to engage. It starts as it means to go on. After a punishingly long period of awkward stalling, groom-to-be Zack reports that fiancee Sofia has got cold feet. While we wait for her to come round, three 'elders', who narrate and manipulate the drama like the sprites from A Midsummer Night's Dream, rewind to the couple's first meeting in Oldham. afshan d'souza-lodhi's skimpy plot withholds information and plot development to the final stages, including the reason for Sofia's doubt, leaving the first half to plug the vacuum with laborious audience participation. Hesmondhalgh is even parachuted in via video, with a cloying speech about love conquering all. Lines sound plucked from the cheesiest wedding speeches. One character reflects: 'What changed? I found love.' Another opines: 'Don't listen to the same song on repeat; sometimes you've got to hit shuffle.' The script meanders through fate, family and legacy like a best man trying to lend his speech profound emotional ballast. Despite posing as a love letter to Oldham, and using a local community cast to stand in for wedding guests, the only sense of place comes from references to the town's chicken shops. The couple's attachment to the town is consequently unclear, although Connor Darren-James and Marucia Ferreira's naivety is endearing. Equally rudderless is Amanda Huxtable's direction, which relies on freeze frames and slo-mo. Intermittent pop love songs are soulfully performed by Zee Mehdizadeh and a live band in one corner, but leave the audience exchanging awkward glances across the tables. Not a day to remember. The Engagement Party is at Oldham Coliseum at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham until 22 February
