CityLife

Coliseum's tempting starter

NEVILLE'S Island, Tim Firth's popular comedy about a group of hapless businessmen trapped on an island in the middle of a lake on Bonfire Night, is the final play in Oldham Coliseum's summer season and opens next Thursday (June 24).

But the theatre have already unveiled their autumn/winter shows.

Announcing the season earlier this week, Artistic Director Kevin Shaw observed that they had "programmed another season to offer the widest possible choice of plays and events.

There's a brilliant Alan Ayckbourn comedy, followed by a drama set in a lonely farmhouse on the Yorkshire Moors. Ian Dickens returns with another classic farce before we round off the season with a newly commissioned production, Wake Up Little Suzie!, a rock'n'roll musical set to the sounds of the fifties, sixties and seventies.

"It is important that we are commissioning new shows and I am delighted to have Philip Goulding writing a show especially for us," he said.

He also announced that "the inimitable" Eric Potts would be back for their traditional panto, Sleeping Beauty, and that the theatre would also be hosting Kala Bazaar, a week-long festival of British Asian theatre, as well as various one nighters, ranging from opera and theatre to jazz and stand-up."

The season opener is Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, running from September 9 until October 2 with a free post-show discussion on Tuesday, September 21, and a Spotlight Talk "From Page To Stage" practical workshop on Wednesday, September 22. James Robson's Mail Order Bride, begins on October 14 and is directed by Kevin Shaw. It runs until October 30.

Out Of Order, starring Paul Shane from Hi-De-Hi and Giles Watling from Bread, runs from November 9-13 and is preceded by Tara Arts' Mandragora, King Of India, from November 2-6, during which time the Coliseum and Peshkar Productions will be presenting Kali Bazaar, a week of special events including a national conference, studio performances, community events and master classes.

Traditional pantomime Sleeping Beauty runs from November 27 until January 15, 2005, and that's followed by the rock'n'roll musical Wake Up Little Suzie!, set in Tilton's Holiday Camp, from February 3 until February 26.

Neville's Island opens at the Oldham Coliseum on Thursday, June 24 and will be reviewed in the M.E.N. on Monday, June 28. You can get more information about any of the new season shows or book tickets on 0161 624 2829.