Oldham-based theatre company Dare to Know Theatre has answered the town’s call for an Edinburgh-style festival with 20 original performances, including 12 world premieres and a lineup featuring local talent.
Dare to Create: Oldham Arts Festival boasts a strong and eclectic lineup of theatre, dance, poetry and comedy proudly stating that 95 per cent of the artists involved are from or based in Oldham.
It’s an exciting and varied lineup, with Oldham’s TV comedian Josh Jones headlining, returning to perform in his home time since his meteoric rise to fame.
At a time when Oldham faces deep social and economic challenges adding to that Oldham’s Grange Theatre currently going through demolition and Oldham Coliseum Theatre yet to have an opening date - if local people want theatre, they currently have nowhere to go.
This makes Dare to Create: Oldham Arts Festival a fearless and rebellious grass-roots cultural statement, not only offering a platform to over 100 local creatives, but offering an affordable theatre, poetry and comedy to the people across the borough.
The project was rejected for funding twice in the lead up to the event, but that hasn’t deterred the team.
Speaking to Jake Talbot, one of the co-founders of Dare to Know Theatre, he said: “We haven’t received any external funding for the theatre company since 2019, and unfortunately, financial opportunities are at an all-time low.
“If we let that stop us, then we would never make a piece of theatre again and we can’t do that to Oldham, a place which was once a national hub for performing arts, it’s even listed on Oldham’s Wikipedia.
“Oldham deserves art, even-though everything is determined to not let that happen, the spirit of Oldham’s creativity, passion and fight continues.”
In August 2024, Dare to Know Theatre hosted one of Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s Culture & Chips events, inviting residents to share their thoughts on arts and culture in the town.
When asked what was missing, over 75 per cent said they wanted an Oldham-based arts festival. Dare to Create: Oldham Arts Festival is the company’s direct response.
Speaking to Miranda Parker, the second co-founder of Dare to Know Theatre, she said the following about the festival: “Dare to Create: Oldham Arts Festival is the next step in putting Oldham’s homegrown talent centre stage in the town.
“We have immense talent right on our doorstep and we need to be showcasing that talent, supporting that talent.
“The festival is about reclaiming creative space. Oldham’s stages and theatres may have gone dark, but the people are still here, the talent is still here. We’re just lighting it up again.”
Dare to Create: Oldham Arts Festival takes place on August 23-31, 2025, at the Mill One & Mill Two at 1853 Studios and Oldham Lyceum Theatre.
For tickets & more information head to: www.daretoknowtheatre.com/dare-to-create
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