FINAL CURTAIN

Hundreds pack into historic theatre for its last show before closing

- JENNA CAMPBELL

THERE were tears and cheers as the curtains came down for the final time at the Oldham Coliseum.

An emotional night of performances and tributes from the likes of Christopher Eccleston and Maxine Peake was held on Friday evening, as the cast, crew and audience said goodbye to the historic venue.

Gathering the cast and crew on stage, and holding the hands of the Coliseum's former artistic directors Kevin Shaw and Kenneth Alan Taylor, current theatre boss Chris Lawson looked out into the auditorium as audience members rose to their feet, a rapturous applause filled the room and the curtains, very slowly, fell for one last time.

Closing on "its own terms" after losing its £1.8m government subsidy, the Fairbottom Street theatre, which helped launch the careers of some of the UK's best-known actors and performers, was determined to go out with a bang.