A £15 donation could help someone who has never been able to afford a theatre ticket experience Shakespeare in Oldham this autumn.
That is the idea behind a new “Pay It Forward” campaign launched by local actor Julie Hesmondhalgh, with more than £1,000 raised in its first 24 hours.
The initiative will help people who could not otherwise afford to see Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s new production of Macbeth, which will be staged at Liquid & Envy in the town centre.
Working with the Friends of the Coliseum, Julie is inviting audiences who can afford a ticket to “bring someone with you” by paying for another person’s seat.
A concessionary ticket costs £15, with donations being used to provide free and pay-what-you-can tickets through community groups across Oldham.
Julie, who is the Coliseum’s new Guest Curator, said: “As we launch our new production of Macbeth, we are hoping to enable audience members who cannot afford a ticket to come along. A concessionary ticket is £15, but we are hoping to be able to provide a number of free and pay-what-you-can tickets per performance via community groups within the town.
“So, if you can ‘bring someone with you’ by donating £15, or even throw a couple of quid in, it would be hugely appreciated.”
The campaign follows Julie’s involvement in the “Save the Coliseum” campaign three years ago, alongside her husband, screenwriter Ian Kershaw, after the Arts Council withdrew its funding.
The Coliseum is now producing shows at temporary and site-specific venues around Oldham while restoration continues on its historic home on Fairbottom Street.
Directed by Creative Director Nick Bagnall, Macbeth will run from Friday, October 23 to Saturday, November 7, with press night on Tuesday, October 27.
The 150-seat production will transform the working nightclub into the world of Shakespeare’s tragedy, starring Andrew Sheridan as Macbeth and Erin Shanagher as Lady Macbeth.
People can donate to the Pay It Forward Macbeth campaign here or sign up for free Pay It Forward tickets.
Julie will also return to TV screens this autumn as a contestant on the second series of the BBC’s The Celebrity Traitors.
She will appear in person at a special “Behind the Scenes of The Traitors with Julie Hesmondhalgh” event at a top-secret Oldham venue on Sunday, December 13. Limited tickets are available here.