Oldham Coliseum has launched a new Mini-Podcast Series for audiences to enjoy at home. The first episode 100 Word Plays (about Oldham) was released on World Theatre Day (Friday 27 March) and is available to listen to on the Coliseum’s website and Soundcloud.

In 2019 the Coliseum invited writers of all ages and levels of experience to submit short plays inspired by Oldham and consisting of 100 words or less. Throughout September the submitted plays were displayed around the theatre in crafty forms and creative places for audiences to discover and enjoy. The Mini-Podcast episode 100 Word Plays (about Oldham) features 17 of the submitted 100 word plays, written by well-known writers including Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street, Broadchurch and currently appearing in The Trouble with Maggie Cole alongside Dawn French), writers of previous Coliseum hits: Ian Kershaw (Bread & Roses, The Mist in the Mirror and Star-Cross’d) and Lindsey Williams (Meat Pie, Sausage Roll and Dreamers) and local emerging writers.

The 100 Word Plays (about Oldham) were recorded remotely by a cast of Greater Manchester actors including: John Askew (Netflix’s The English Game), Natalie Gavin (also Netflix’s The English Game, plus Alma Capstick in ITV’s Jericho), star of last year’s pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk Sam Glen (also the Coliseum’s productions of The Kitchen Sink and Star-Cross’d and BBC’s Let it Shine with Gary Barlow), Darren Jeffries, Jack Radcliffe and Coliseum Associate and Supported Artists: Hafsah Aneela Bashir, RedBobble Arts (Kelly Munro-Fawcett, Louisa May Parker and Martha Simon), Fine Comb Theatre (Rachel McMurray and Catherine Morefield) and Sorcha McCaffrey.   

Coliseum Artistic Director Chris Lawson commented: “It was always our intention to record some of the 100 Word Plays as part of a podcast, but the situation we currently find ourselves in has meant that we can use these wonderful short plays to not only bring art that celebrates our town into people’s homes, but to also provide opportunities for twelve brilliant actors from our region. We have plans in place for the next Mini-Podcast episodes, so keep an eye on our Social Media channels for the next instalment.  We're also making plans with other organisations in Oldham, the North West and nationally, more details of which will be announced soon.”

The Coliseum’s first Mini-Podcast Series episode 100 Word Plays (about Oldham) is available to listen to at coliseum.org.uk/minipodcast-e01 or on Soundcloud at soundcloud.com/oldhamcoliseum/minipodcast-e01