Grand plans to create a £24m new theatre in the heart of Oldham, which will be a new home for the now-closed Oldham Coliseum, have been revealed.
Images show what the new space could look like, including a huge wooden atrium, a lush green garden cafe bar, and more state-of-the-art spaces for performers and audiences.
The details plans for the modern and inclusive space are now on display to the public.
It’s all part of a vision to craft a cultural quarter in Oldham, and has had input from the Oldham Coliseum, the Arts Council, and other cultural organisations in the town.
Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “One of the very first things I did after becoming Leader of the Council last month was to meet with the Oldham Coliseum board.
“We agreed they will be tenants at the brand-new theatre we are building in Union Street – underlining our collective determination to work together for the good of theatre in the borough.
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“I’m really glad we can showcase more details on our proposals for the new theatre and get feedback input on them from our communities and theatre users. We asked what you wanted and you told us you want a modern and accessible venue where packed audiences can enjoy a variety of performances so take a look at how they’re coming along and let us know what you think and what else it needs.
Plans for a new theatre in Oldham, which would be home to the Oldham Coliseum. Credit: SuppliedPlans for a new theatre in Oldham, which would be home to the Oldham Coliseum. Credit: Supplied
“We are working hand-in-hand with the Oldham Coliseum, Arts Council and other cultural partners to shape these plans and, together, provide a theatre to be proud of and one that can support the Coliseum’s future as a thriving producing theatre company.”
Duncan Craig OBE, Chair of Trustees at Oldham Coliseum, said: “Since forming the new Board of Trustees for Oldham Coliseum Theatre, we met the key people including architects and project planners who are leading on this massive project.
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“We’re excited to see what Oldham residents and business owners have to say as the public consultation begins.
“There is, of course, much more to do before a new theatre, our new home, is realised but for us as a board, we think this is an exciting step in the journey.
“I’d encourage everyone to get involved and share their thoughts and opinions and I hope to meet as many people as possible – this is your theatre.”
Jennifer Cleary, Director North at Arts Council England, said: “We welcome this next stage in the development of Oldham’s new theatre, which will play a pivotal role in delivery of the borough’s cultural strategy and the future opportunities for young people, artists, creatives and the wider community in Oldham and beyond.
“The Arts Council remains committed to Oldham and we will continue to collaborate with and support partners in the realisation of these exciting plans.”
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A consultation will now take place between Tuesday 27 June and Monday 3 July.
An open event, where key people from Oldham Council and the Coliseum will be available to talk about the designs, will take place at Gallery Oldham in Greaves Street on Monday 3 July between 4pm and 7pm.
Oldham man jailed for ‘non-contact’ child sex offences after pretending to be 15-year-old boy online
Emily Sergeant
A man from Oldham has been sentenced to time behind bars for what police have described as ‘non-contact’ child sex offences.
Ryan Greenhow appeared at Manchester Crown Square Court yesterday (Tuesday 24 February 2026) to be sentenced, after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to 22 counts of non-contact child sex offences – including child sexual exploitation, sharing images or film to cause alarm, causing or inciting a child aged under 16 to engage in sexual activity, and malicious communications.
The offences occurred between November 2024 and March 2025, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed.
It involved Greenhow contacting six victims via different social media platforms including WhatsApp, TikTok, and Snapchat.
The 37-year-old then blackmailed the victims into sending him indecent images.
Pretending to be a teenage boy, he would send the victims – who police say were aged between 12-15 years old at the time – an indecent image, making claims that the image depicted them when it was actually a picture of a naked woman obtained from the internet, and the proceeded to threaten to send the image to their friends and family if the victims did not do exactly as he said.
This led to Greenhow making demands for indecent images from victims across the country, in areas like Greater Manchester and Lancashire, and even further afield in Buckinghamshire.
He would go on to send numerous text messages threatening his victims, including saying: “This is your last chance, everyone will know this is you” and “I have seen your nudes, add me”. On some occasions, police say the victims would respond that she did not know what they were talking about, but kept receiving messages telling them that it was their “last chance”.
Some of the victims did send Greenhow images, and reported his activity to their parents, carers, and school teachers.
At his sentencing this week, Greenhow was jailed for seven years and four months, and will also be made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Speaking following Greenhow’s sentencing, Detective Constable Adair, of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “Greenhow used several different social media platforms pretending to be a 15-year-old boy and followed the same method with each of his victims – sending them random images obtained from the internet, falsely attributing them to the victim, then threatening to share the image with the victim’s friends and family in exchange for an indecent image of the victim.
“Once our investigation was underway, detailed phone analysis led to us identifying further victims. Officers worked to safeguard these victims from any further harm.
“This sentencing is part of our wider work to tackle child sexual exploitation and we’re committed to protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice.”
Featured Image – GMP
Oldham
Two brothers from Oldham are beating out the likes of Taylor Swift in the iTunes charts
Danny Jones
A pair of brothers from Oldham who simply go by Two Connors are now holding on to the top spot in one of the biggest iTunes charts, and they’re beating the likes of Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and many more.
Stuff your global music stars, we’ll back a duo from Greater Manchester all day long.
Danny and Callum Connor, a couple of blokes from Oldham in their mid-30s, are currently number one in the iTunes singles charts with their latest song, ‘Familiar Faces’, but this isn’t the first time they’ve gone big with a release online.
Carving out their own little corner not only in the old Lancashire borough but a small pocket in the UK’s wider grime, drill, rap and hip-hop scene, they’ve only gotten bigger over the last 18 months or so.
After releasing their first two tracks back in 2024, Callum and Danny have been on a very gradual rise, but they quickly gained a cult local following in and around Oldham.
Writing about life and around the area, with high personal and anecdotal lyrics that feel like niche references and in-jokes specifically for‘Roughyed’ residents – it’s not just music by them but FOR them.
In addition to recording their own unique cover of ‘Bad Habits’ by Ed Sheeran, they also went fairly viral for releasing a music video featuring crowds of local children.
Putting their own chant-based chorus slant on ‘Hi Ho, Hi Ho, “It’s off to Work We Go”‘, written by Mitch Miller and The Sandpipers (yes, as in the main theme from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), it was a fairly radio-friendly tune that was easy for kids and more to sing along with.
With various other natives getting involved in the music video, joining them on the town centre streets and lip-syncing the lyrics, it was circulated online all over Britain and beyond.
You can watch it in full down below.
Fast forward to February 2026, and not only have they grown their following across the region, but even further afield now, as it turns out; currently sitting ahead of ‘Opalite’ from worldwide smash-hit album, The Life of a Showgirl, who needs big label backing, eh?
Bringing smiles to even more Greater Mancs by quite literally shining the spotlight on ‘Familiar Faces’ and punters from nearby pubs such as The Up Stepps Inn and former nightclub Sruples, it is a real tribute to their homeland.
Only time will tell how long they’ll cling to that iTunes top spot, but with nearly 73,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and counting, they might be one of the biggest music names to come out of OL in some time.
In other big news over in Oldham, on the sporting side of things, RLFC are staring down yet more uncertainty, with local hero Bill Quinn also wrapping up his time at the club.
Daisy Jackson -
30th June 2023 
