The Coliseum in the news

Throughout our campaign journey we have been blessed to have the support of local and national press, in print, online, radio and TV!

Last Monday, BBC and ITV were on site as the announcement was made that the Oldham Coliseum had been saved and that the beloved Fairbottom Street Theatre would reopen for panto 2025.

BBC National News took a look around the Coliseum with Julie Hesmondhalgh and Ian Kershaw. The auditorium was in surprisingly good condition to say she had been boarded up for the last year. They also wandered over to Valentino's, where our fortnightly meetings were held, with Jane Barker.

Olivia Bridge at The Oldham Times - our local paper - has been following the story from the start, before the famous theatre closed its doors for the final time. She was at the street party to capture the moment when Julie and Arooj Shah announced the plans to reopen the theatre.

This feature in the Weekender by Nigel Skinner really captured the occasion - the smiles, the colour, the performances, the community spirit of Oldham and those in the arts. Thanks to The Oldham Reporter for their coverage.

Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News spoke to some locals who were delighted by the news of the reopening next year.

Granada Reports joined us live from our street party and showed the journey the campaign group has been on from the flash mob to the film 'Our Sleeping Beauty'. They also spoke to Arooj about the decision to reopen the beloved theatre.

The Stage has been a huge supporter of Oldham Coliseum, publishing a letter signed by some of Britain's most prolific actors early on in the campaign to save the iconic building. They were one of the first to break our good news!

National papers, The Guardian and The Independent reported on the council's u-turn as Arooj Shah pledged £10m to aid the restoration of the theatre.

BBC North West Tonight also came to the street party and took a peek inside the Coliseum with Julie.

Julie and Ian appeared on the sofa on BBC Breakfast the next day to discuss the success of the campaign and the Coli's reopening next year.

Thank you to the media for following the campaign's journey and coming to the street party to celebrate the future of theatre in Oldham!

More to follow.