It was a moment they hoped would never happen, but on Friday evening the curtains at Oldham Coliseum fell for a final time.
Going out on "it's on terms" following the loss of its subsidy from Arts Council England (ACE) back in November, the Fairbottom Street theatre closed its doors for good following one final celebratory show. Encore featured performances from the likes of Christopher Eccleston and Maxine Peake, and many other famous faces who had trod the boards of the much-loved venue.
Now, following its final curtain call, staff at the 138-year-old venue have begun the difficult task of winding down the operation. This afternoon, images of the theatre being packed up were shared on Facebook with followers branding them 'heartbreaking'.
