Gifted
A magical craft trail will transform a historic Oldham arcade into an interactive family adventure.
5 MINS READ
The free Gifted event, created by the Oldham-based Stand & Be Counted theatre company and Oldham Coliseum Theatre, runs on Saturday December 16 with tours every ten minutes between 11am- 2pm.
It will bring a combination of surprise live performances with music, lights, projections, audio, augmented reality and craft to the beautiful Victorian Hilton Arcade.
Everyone who attends the takeover will be invited to build a creative gift box that celebrates the act of giving and the diversity of Oldham.
Gifted is the first event in an exciting winter programme from Oldham Coliseum Theatre which will reach thousands of young people this year.
John Tomlinson, Executive Director of Stand & Be Counted which is the UK’s first theatre company of sanctuary, said: “We can’t wait to welcome people to Gifted.
“Our team, with more than 200 people from across Oldham, have been working together to invite everyone to step inside our adventure trail, to see, hear and be inspired by their community.
“We’ve all been learning together, sharing stories across different groups and reminding each other of the power of creativity, community and kindness.
“We think everyone has a creative gift, and everyone deserves a creative gift so join us for the moment we get to share this with each other.”
Gifted will be the culmination of an eight-week long project in which SBC worked with community groups and clubs. The groups included a Lego making club at Limehurst Library, Vibrant Voices Choir, Manchester City of Sanctuary and the In My Shoes Theatre Group.
Together they made shared boxes of creativity and a book reflecting Oldham’s creative communities.
On arrival at the arcade opposite Spindles shopping centre, Gifted audience members will see a giant version of the book.
Then 1,000 activity books will be available to take away or distributed through Oldham libraries.
Gifted is part of Oldham Coliseum’s partnership with Oldham-based Stand & Be Counted. It follows their successful Secret Summer audio adventure which took place in Alexandra Park and Dunwood Park in Shaw in August.
As part of its winter programme, the Coliseum team is working in association with Oldham Theatre Workshop on the enchanting show The Wrong Reindeer at Oldham Library.
The theatre is funding a schools tour of the show to reach primary school age children.
Lauren Clancy, interim Chief Executive of Oldham Coliseum, said:
“Gifted builds on the success of Secret Summer and reaffirms the Coliseum’s commitment to working with and for communities in its new chapter.
“We’re really proud to be providing unique experiences for thousands of children across the borough through our 2023 winter programme.”
The Gifted experience will be split into four chapters, called Welcome, Hope, Celebration and Joy.
Oldham Council and Arts Council England have supported the project.
About Oldham Coliseum TheatreOldham Coliseum Theatre has a rich history in Oldham and Greater Manchester dating back to 1885.
The Coliseum produced original productions which were presented in Oldham, on tour and online and included contemporary classics alongside new commissions, offering a platform for creative talent from the North West and further afield.
The Coliseum also facilitated learning, engagement and community cohesion, providing a wide variety of theatre performances and participatory activities for people from all communities in Oldham, Greater Manchester and beyond.
Following the closure of the original building on Fairbottom Street on 31 March 2023, Oldham Coliseum Theatre is currently focused on delivering a cultural programme across the borough and working with Oldham Council on their plans for a new theatre opening in 2026.
The new building will be part of Oldham’s Cultural Quarter and will provide a more modern, accessible venue for performers, participants in our engagement programme and audiences from Oldham and beyond.
About Stand and Be Counted TheatreFounded in 2010, Stand & Be Counted is an arts charity and the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary. In the last three years, SBC has created and delivered 33 programmes of support for over 4,000 participants, all co-created with people seeking sanctuary.
Their Youth Theatre of Sanctuary, the first of its kind in the UK - regularly has over 40 participants per week.
Bringing together families from Sudan, Iran, Kurdistan, Ukraine and Syria. SBC's production of Secret Summer was shortlisted for the Audience Impact & Innovation Award in the national Fantastic for Families Awards 2023.
Their film-meets-game production of Have Your Passport Ready, led by Syrian brothers Khaled and Mohammad Aljawad was named ‘Game of the Week’ by The Observer and likened to Netflix’s Bandersnatch by The Guardian.
‘TANJA’ was presented at Parliament to hundreds of cross-party MPs and toured the country on two separate occasions, led by Emily Ntshangase, a former Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre detainee
Visit www.sbctheatre.co.uk/ for more information.
