A low carbon theatre at the heart of Oldhams new cultural centre

Oldham Theatre
Copyright Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

The theatre sets a new building between two heritage buildings in Oldham town centre – a former post office building (Grade II listed) and a former Friends Meeting House.

The new-build aspect is a predominantly timber structure that houses the main auditorium, linking to the existing buildings which house a studio theatre, education space and back-of-house facilities. A triple-height front-of-house foyer opens to the Town’s main thoroughfare of Union Street with an additional entrance connecting into Oldham Civic Gardens.

The foyer is a light-filled, uplifting, and welcoming space with the uppermost floor acting as a shop window to workshop spaces with mannequins and props visible. The exposed engineered timber structure introduces a warmth to the space with activity spread through all areas and levels.

Key Information

Sector: Heritage & Creative Reuse, Community , Arts & Culture

Client: Oldham Borough Council

Location: Manchester

Completion: 2026

Size: 3,370sqm

Setting the stage for low carbon performing arts

The reuse and retrofit of the buildings, along with the timber structure of the new build keeps the embodied carbon impact of the theatre to an absolute minimum.
 
The building has been designed as a fully electrically powered facility and will include some onsite power generation, ambitious building fabric, and will meet thermal and airtightness performance targets to support a reduced energy demand.
 
The resulting design has the potential to be a national exemplar performing arts building project

Civic Pride

The theatre is at the heart of the regeneration of Oldham Town Centre, redefining the town for the future, boosting its cultural offer and bringing jobs into the area.

At the rear of the site, the new Civic Gardens act as a stage backdrop to life inside the building. A proscenium arch feature window looks on the gardens from the foyer, and at lower ground level a secondary entrance opens into the gardens.

Oldham Theatre Approach from Union Street

Team

Architect
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Structural Engineers
Renaissance
MEP and Acoustic Engineers
Max Fordham LLP
Theatre Consultant
Stage Right
Cost Consultants
Bristow
Transport Consultants
SK Transport
Fire Consultant
Design Fire Consultants
Planning Consultant
Paul Butler Associates

FCBStudios Team Leads