The cabinet will meet tonight to discuss controversial new theatre plans in line with the closure of Oldham Coliseum next month.

Oldham Council is due to meet at 6pm to discuss urgent business and take questions from the public with plans for a new £24m theatre being top of the agenda.

Last week, Oldham Council unveiled plans for a new theatre space, also called the Coliseum, to be built on Union Street with a target deadline of 2026.

A public meeting was also held in the Fairbottom Street theatre where Oldhamers raised concerns about the future of the Coliseum company - namely, how it will survive in the three years it will take to build the new space and the potential loss of 70 jobs as of April 1 when the Coliseum closes for the final time.

The cabinet will discuss the new theatre plans which will be introduced by the Council Leader and portfolio holder for regeneration and housing, Amanda Chadderton.

The report published ahead of the meeting reveals the Council gained funding for the 'new Coliseum' after a successful Towns Deal funding bid from the government.

While £24.4m has been secured for Oldham via the funds, £6m will go towards supporting the delivery of the new theatre.

However, the Council also has an additional £1.845m to play with from the Arts Council. 

This was the same amount the Arts Council would have given the Coliseum but, after deeming the theatre's application for funds too "high risk", has instead ringfenced the sum for an alternative arts and cultural provision in Oldham.

The Cabinet will be encouraged to formally approve the Arts Council's offering and to "recommit" to the development of a new theatre for Oldham.

The Council will hear how a new theatre is needed for the town as the current Coliseum is no longer fit for purpose.

In 2012, the Coliseum was granted ten more years of life with repairs amounting to £2m.

A subsequent survey this January revealed the building is still in need of numerous urgent health and safety compliance works, and is riddled with asbestos.

There are also problems over accessibility for disabled visitors and performers to the theatre, plus a lack of quality backstage and front-of-house facilities, suggesting the theatre has now come to its natural end.

Cllr Chadderton will also discuss how it has "always" been the plan for the Oldham Coliseum team to relocate into a new building.

She claims staff will perform in a range of different venues across the borough until the new theatre opens in three years' time.

The new theatre itself, set to be "in the heart" of Oldham's growing cultural quarter, is proposed to include a 300-350 seat auditorium, an intimate 120-seat studio and enhanced backstage facilities.

If approved, it will also have provision for education, events and rehearsals and more front-of-house facilities including bar and cafe areas. 

The plans draw inspiration from other producing theatres - such as Bolton Octagon (300-390 seats) and Stockport Garrick (151), amongst others.

The Council Leader claims the space will not only be a new home for the Coliseum but will be used by other local arts and community organisations.

The Cabinet will hear statements from key stakeholders in support of the proposals, including the Arts Council, Chris Lawson, artistic director and chief executive of Oldham Coliseum, and Fiona Gasper, the independent chair of the performance space partnership board.

Before the discussion commences, Oldham-based representatives from the Coliseum and the performing arts trade union, Equity, are hoping to have some of their questions answered.

Members submitted their questions last week ahead of the Cabinet meeting.

The secretary of Equity's Greater Manchester branch, Chris Clarkson, will also attend the meeting in person.

Meanwhile, members of the public and Equity members are meeting outside the Council's Civic Centre at 5.30pm with their banners and 'save Oldham Coliseum' placards.