Actors’ union Equity is staging a public meeting at Oldham Coliseum next Tuesday night as the fightback against the venue’s closure gets under way.
Maxine Peake—one of many actors whose careers owe much to the Coliseum—is among guest speakers, along with Chris Lawson (the theatre’s chief executive), Victoria Brazier (performer and Equity North West councillor) and Paul Liversey (the union’s North West regional official).
Arts Council England, whose decision to withdraw financial support for the theatre is forcing its closure at the end of March, has been invited to attend, along with the town’s council and politicians.
The Writers Guild of Great Britain also supports the initiative since it believes this overhaul to arts funding poses an existential threat to new playwriting commissions.
A spokesperson said, “we're asking members to make their voice heard at this meeting, speak out about the loss of this venue and its impact on your professional community, and show your solidarity with workers across the theatre industry in standing against these damaging cuts.”
Equity maintains it’s not too late for ACE to reverse the decision and use money earmarked for culture in Oldham to save the Coliseum.
It sees the public meeting as an opportunity for the Oldham community and members of the public to ask the decision-makers why they’ve made these choices, and demand they find a solution that keeps good union jobs and a local producing theatre alive in Oldham for years to come.