CityLife

Oldham Coliseum: Spring/summer season 2010

Return To Nab End

OLDHAM Coliseum has just announced its spring/summer season, including a world premiere production of the best-selling book A Journey To Nab End, as well as next year’s pantomime.

The season opens on March 2 with the Middle Ground Theatre Company production of Keith Waterhouse’s Billy Liar.

Billy Fisher is less than inspired with his job as an undertaker’s clerk in a dull Yorkshire town, so he escapes his humdrum existence by daydreaming his way to a mythical fantasy kingdom where Billy becomes ruler, hero and lover!

He has aspirations as a script writer in the big city, but his over-eager imagination leads him to tell constant tall stories which create havoc in his work, family and romantic life!

Albert Finney made a legendary West End success of Billy Liar in 1960, while he was immortalised by Tom Courtenay in the classic 1963 film. The production runs until March 6.

Next comes an Oldham Coliseum co-production with the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, of CP Taylor’s And A Nightingale Sang, directed by Sarah Punshon.

Filled with the music of the 1940s, this bittersweet comedy is an affectionate and moving picture of the survival of everyday life in turbulent times, as the author gives a voice to the ordinary people of his north east home.

In World War Two Newcastle, the Stotts are an eccentric family waging their personal battles against the terrifying backdrop of war.

Amid the air raid sirens and fears of poison gas, Mam makes Spam sandwiches, Dad makes his own entertainment, Grandpa mourns his dead whippet, while daughters Joyce and Helen discover the joy and heartbreak of first love.

It runs from March 11 to April 3.

Classic

From April 9, Pete Rowe directs the musical comedy Up On The Roof, another Coliseum co-production, this time with the New Wolsey Theatre.

It is set in 1975. Five students at Hull University are up on the roof of their student digs for the last meeting of The Roof Club, their a capella singing group who perform doo-wop covers of Motown and soul classics.

In between the songs they reveal their hopes, dreams and aspirations for the lives they are about to embark upon.

The next 10 years sees how their individual journeys, successes and failures, are reflected in the changing relationships within this tight knit group of friends.

Whatever the tensions within the group, they disappear whenever they sing – and they always sing, any time, any place, anywhere, from Band Of Gold to What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted and Never Can Say Goodbye to Lean On Me and, of course, their signature tune Up On the Roof.

The show runs until May 1.

Kevin Shaw directs the venue’s new version of Shelagh Stephenson’s classic The Memory Of Water.

Designed by Sophie Khan, this touching and funny tale about life, love and loss runs from May 20 to June 5.

Set in the surroundings of the Yorkshire coast, Stephenson’s play illustrates the ever-changing alliances between three sisters as they try to come to terms with the death of their mother.

As the process of grieving begins and their memories compete for authenticity, the sisters are taken on an emotional and turbulent journey from the memories of their childhood to present-day joys and sorrows.

Spirit and sadness

Kevin also directs their world premiere stage adaptation of the best selling book The Road to Nab End, the remarkable tale of a poverty-stricken childhood which caught the imagination of people throughout the world.

The Road To Nab End evokes the hardships and joys of growing up in a northern community during the Great Depression.

From heroic mill workers to a sadistic nun, from an inspirational grandmother to the rector who had an unfortunate meeting with a lion at Skegness Fair, the monuments and memories are full of spirit, humour and a little sadness.

The Road to Nab End is a step back in time to the characters of an extraordinary northern childhood and the show runs from June 17 to July 10.

Men Of The World, a new Hull Truck show written and directed by John Godber, runs from May 4 to 8.

Join Stick, Frank and Happy Larry (two men and a woman!), long suffering drivers who have seen it all and done it all, as they embark on another coach journey down the Rhine Valley.

The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds production of Laurie Lee’s Cider With Rosie, newly adapted by Daniel O’Brian and directed by Abigail Anderson, is at the Coliseum from May 11 to 13.

Last, but by no means least, you can already book your tickets for the theatre’s 2010 panto Sleeping Beauty, opening on November 20.

More details from 0161 624 2829 or coliseum.org.uk.