afshan has been selected as one of the associate artists for Oldham Coliseum. Over the 12 months, each artist will create at least one project in collaboration with Oldham Coliseum.

afshan will be working on a new theatre piece around the role of activism within our communities.

Oldham Coliseum Theatre is welcoming seven passionate and innovative artists/companies as Associate Artists in 2022. New Associates are Billie Collins, Dare to Know Theatre, Maz Hedgehog, afshan d’souza-lodhi, Lauren Nicole-Mayes and troublehouse theatre, while Grant Archer continues as the theatre’s Digital Associate.

Associate Artists are embedded in the Coliseum company and have access to individually tailored experiences to support their development and strengthen their networks. Over the course of a year, Associates will receive regular support from the Coliseum’s staff, space in kind, financial investment, development opportunities and performance space.

Coliseum Artistic Director Chris Lawson said: “The Coliseum is proud to open its doors to a wide range of artists at different levels of their careers from across the region. We look forward to supporting them in making work and to them contributing to the life of the Coliseum and the town of Oldham to ensure high quality relevant work is available to all.”

Oldham Coliseum Theatre is one of the most established venues in the North West with a rich history in Greater Manchester dating back to 1885. Over 135 years after opening, Oldham Coliseum is one of the oldest theatres still operating in Britain today.

The Coliseum produces original productions which are presented at home, on tour and online. The repertoire is drawn mainly from plays written in the 20th and 21st centuries and new commissions, offering a platform for writers from the North West and further afield, and encouraging a flourishing community of new writers.