BRAVE, contemporary and classic theatre join comedy and Christmas celebration in Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s packed programme for the Autumn/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 2 – Saturday 13 October the Coliseum presents ‘Dishoom!’, a new play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, in co-production with Rifco Theatre Company.
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.
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 are back with their cult Brontë spoof ‘Withering Looks’ to mark the 200th anniversary year of Emily Brontë’s birth.
‘Withering Looks’, which opens on Tuesday, October 16, 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.
English Touring Theatre returns to Oldham from Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 October with their production of Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ directed by Richard Twyman.
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, 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’, opening on Friday, February 22.
Martin McDonagh is best known for feature films: In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
‘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.
Thenopening on Tuesday, March 12, Middle Ground Theatre Company present 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.
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 22 September; critically acclaimed Chris Ramsey comes to Oldham as part of his ‘The Just Happy To Get Out of the House Tour’ on Saturday 29 September; Phoenix Nights’ Barbara Nice presents the playful and life-affirming ‘Raffle’ on Monday 29 October and Manchester’s Justin Moorhouse presents ‘Northern Joker’ on Friday 15 February.
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.
Find out more and book tickets for any of the performances online: www.coliseum.org.uk or call the Oldham Coliseum box office: 0161 624 2829.
Autumn/Winter 2018-19 performance runs:
| Dishoom!
Presented by Rifco Theatre Company, Watford Palace Theatre and Oldham Coliseum Theatre |
Tuesday 2 – Saturday 13 October 2018 | |
| Withering Looks
Presented by LipService Theatre |
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 October 2018 | |
| Othello
Presented by English Touring Theatre, Oxford Playhouse and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory |
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 October 2018 | |
| Cinderella
An Oldham Coliseum Theatre traditional pantomime |
Saturday 10 November 2018 –
Saturday 12 January 2019 |
|
| A Skull in Connemara
An Oldham Coliseum Theatre production |
Friday 22 February –
Saturday 9 March 2019 |
|
| The Verdict
Presented by Middle Ground Theatre Company |
Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 March 2019 |