Oldham Coliseum has confirmed its closure at the end of this month following a consultation with staff.

The news comes shortly after performing arts union Equity had called on Oldham Council to bid to use its Arts Council funding allocation to save the theatre.

The theatre was established in 1885.

Actors including Bernard Cribbins and Charlie Chaplin have performed at the Fairbottom Street theatre.

Oldham Council yesterday said it is in conversations with Oldham’s arts organisations on how to use the funding, worth more than £1.8 million over three years, which was allocated to the council rather than the Coliseum due to concerns over the Coliseum’s finance and governance.

Detailed reasons behind the failed National Portfolio bid have not been disclosed.

ALSO READ: Bernard Cribbins ‘would've been devastated’ at Coliseum fate.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the theatre company said: "It is with deep sadness that we confirm the forthcoming closure of Oldham Coliseum Theatre and the beginning of a redundancy process that will affect all staff.

"Doors to the historic venue will close to the public for the final time on 31 March 2023."

It said the loss of Arts Council England funding in November, which accounted for a third of its income, had made the financial situation "not sustainable" going forward.

The statement continued: "Having cancelled all events from 26 March 2023 onwards and refunded tickets for affected performances, the Coliseum entered a period of consultation with all staff on 10 February 2023.

"A thorough and meaningful consultation period concluded on 13 March 2023.

"Our staff remain our priority as we move into the redundancy process.

"The Coliseum is not the historic building so many have come to adore, it is the company that runs it and the people who fill its halls with memories.

"In recent weeks we have also lost a beloved friend and colleague, general manager and former head of production Lesley Chenery.

"Her passing will now forever be entwined in memory with the closure of the company."

It went on: "Many of our team have lived in Oldham all their lives and worked with the company for over a decade, bringing immense benefit to the town - not just in creating and presenting great theatre - but in offering opportunity and inspiration to all of Oldham’s communities.

"Coliseum staff benefit from generations of knowledge and skills passed down through departments."

@theoldhamtimes Trade union Equity has called on Arts Council England to save jobs at Oldham Coliseum. The theatre is set to close at the end of March after the Arts Council refused its bid for funding. Read more on our website. #theatre #Oldham #saveoldhamcoliseum #OldhamColiseum #culture #ArtsCouncil ♬ original sound - The Oldham Times

The statement added the Coliseum understood the theatre’s closure is "deeply upsetting" for audiences and participants "not least because of the joyful memories that hundreds of thousands of people from across the North West have of visiting the Coliseum to get involved in projects or to experience our home-produced plays, musicals and award-winning pantomimes".

It added: "The Coliseum has been at the heart of theatre in Oldham for over 100 years and has survived two World Wars and a global pandemic.

"Our theatre company has a highly regarded history in the industry dating back to the Oldham Rep, which launched the careers of many famous faces.

"This tradition has continued in recent years, actors from Coliseum productions of the past decade now regulars on our television screens.

"We would like to thank the unions Equity and BECTU for their vocal and passionate support and for highlighting the importance of producing theatre for actors and theatre workers as well as audiences and communities."

The theatre said the closure is supported by Arts Council England’s Transition Fund, which was applied for and granted to honour contracts with affected artists and support staff redundancy.

In addition, an enhanced redundancy package has been made available for all Coliseum staff from savings derived from the UK-producing theatre network.

The Coliseum added the "outpouring of love for the theatre over the past weeks has been overwhelming" and demonstrated the theatre's impact on the communities of Oldham and further afield. 

An Art Council England spokesperson said: "Oldham Coliseum Ltd’s closure is upsetting news for many and devastating for its staff.

"We are providing funding to ensure the company can pay full redundancies to its employed and freelance staff and that it can honour any outstanding contracts and agreements.

"Whilst recognising the current difficulties, we are supportive of Oldham Council’s plans for a new performing space which will carry forward Oldham Coliseum’s cultural legacy.

"We will be investing £1.85 million in the borough so that the people of Oldham will still have the opportunity to enjoy and take part in arts and culture.”