BRAVE, contemporary and classic theatre join comedy and Christmas celebrations in Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s packed programme for the autumn and winter months.

Oldham’s award winning home-produced drama sits aside co-productions with, and tours from, prestigious companies from across the country.

The season opens on Monday, September 24 with a week that brings the new and often daring work seen in the studio theatre to the Coliseum’s main stage.

Highlights include the Coliseum’s pick of the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival; Manchester theatre company, Play With Fire; and Manchester Theatre Award winner The Narcissist in the Mirror by Rosie Fleeshman.

From Tuesday October 2 to Saturday 13 October the Coliseum presents Dishoom!, a new play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, in co-production with Rifco Theatre Company as part of a three-year partnership.

Set in the summer of 1978, Dishoom! follows teenagers, Simon and Baljit, who are inspired by the Bollywood classic film, Sholay.

With the National Front on the streets and Simon’s dad burying his head in the sand in the pub, Simon and Baljit set out to change their world forever. Rifco’s previous productions at the Coliseum include hits: Britain’s Got Bhangra and Happy Birthday Sunita.

Kevin Shaw, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Oldham Coliseum Theatre, commented: “The Coliseum sees a very strong artistic fit with Rifco as we share a vision and values and this relationship will enable both companies to develop and grow. This is the kind of initiative that will enable us to create exciting work for our stage, grow audiences, support pathways for emerging artists and leaders and create strong, vibrant and accessible British Asian productions.”

Manchester’s own award-winning comedy duo LipService is back with their cult Brontë spoof Withering Looks to mark the 200th anniversary year of Emily Brontë’s birth.

Withering Looks takes an authentic look at the lives and works of the Brontë sisters, well, two of them actually, Anne’s just popped out for a cup of sugar.

Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding just couldn’t resist the urge to dust off their crinolines, wear flattering bonnets and sit at rain-lashed windows in a pale and decorative manner. Withering Looks opens on Tuesday, October 16.

English Touring Theatre returns to Oldham from Tuesday, October 23 to Saturday October 27 with its production of Othello directed by Richard Twyman.

One of Shakespeare’s most startlingly contemporary plays, this is masterful depiction of a life torn apart by prejudice and manipulation. Newly-married Muslim general, Othello, is employed to lead the Venetian army against the impending Turkish invasion, but his life quickly unravels as he turns on everything he holds dear.

The highlight of the festive season is always the Coliseum’s nationally renowned traditional family pantomime, which this year is Cinderella.

Each year the Coliseum serves up the perfect panto recipe – excellent actors, singers, and dancers dishing out the very best in traditional fun for the whole family – and not a cheesy celebrity in sight.

Add some music and songs, slapstick and a sprinkling of fairy dust for the perfect festive celebration. The Christmas spectacular runs from Saturday 10 November - Saturday 12 January.

In the New Year the Coliseum presents a home-grown production of Martin McDonagh’s A Skull in Connemara.

Martin McDonagh is best known for feature films - In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (winner of three BAFTA Awards and two Golden Globe Awards).

A Skull in Connemara is the second of his Leenane Trilogy of plays, premiered in 1997 at Town Hall Theatre, Galway. Mick is a gravedigger whose wife died under mysterious circumstances some seven years ago. Rumour has it, it was murder.

When the time comes to exhume bodies from the Connemara graveyard he finds her bones are missing. A Skull in Connemara will be directed at the Coliseum by Associate Director, Chris Lawson, opening on Friday, February 22.

Opening on Tuesday, March 12, Middle Ground Theatre Company presents Barry Reed’s best-selling courtroom thriller The Verdict, which was made famous by the Oscar nominated film with Paul Newman and James Mason.

Washed up veteran lawyer, Frank, is given an open-and-shut medical malpractice case that no one thinks he can win.

Smelling a cover-up, he instead takes the case and the entire legal system to court. Middle Ground Theatre Company’s production features star casting which will be announced in the coming months.

Last, but certainly not least, hilarious stand-up comedy filters throughout the Coliseum this season. American-in-the-UK, Rich Hall, presents his Hoedown on Saturday, September 22; critically acclaimed Chris Ramsey comes to Oldham as part of his The Just Happy To Get Out of the House Tour on Saturday, September 29; Phoenix Nights’ Barbara Nice presents the playful and life-affirming Raffle on Monday, October 29 and Manchester’s Justin Moorhouse presents Northern Joker on Friday, February 15.

The Coliseum’s autumn/winter 2018-19 season ticket offer includes Dishoom!, Withering Looks, A Skull in Connemara and a choice of either Othello or The Verdict.