A high-profile campaign backed by Maxine Peake and Christopher Eccleston has saved a historic theatre from turning the lights off. A new chapter in the rich history of Oldham's 136-year-old 'crown jewel' has just begun as campaigners have revealed the boarded-up Coliseum will have a new lease of life as it prepares to reopen the doors once again. In a special announcement, the leader of Oldham Council, Arooj Shah, and avid campaigner at the forefront of the 'save Oldham Coliseum' campaign group, Coronation Street star, Julie Hesmondhalgh, said they are delighted to announce the beloved auditorium will be restored to its former glory - and right on time for pantomime season in 2025.
The doors to the Coliseum will reopen to the public next Christmas 2025 (Image: Newsquest, Olivia Bridge) Campaigners last held a panto flash mob outside the beloved theatre last year (Image: NQ) The pair summarised that they felt "excited" and "emotional" to see works begin on the theatre and also thanked the hundreds of people involved in the Save Oldham Coliseum group for keeping the campaign alive and for the power in their voices combined. In November, the group mobilised outside the auditorium in their panto gear on what would have been the return of the theatre's popular pantomime night, and paraded through the town centre with a reinvigorated cry to "save" the theatre. Famous faces joined the fight and held banners throughout the "panto flash mob", including Julie alongside her husband and .