OLDHAM COLISEUM’S longest member of staff is hanging up his hat after 34 years of service.
David Rustidge, 70, took up his role as House Manager in 1982 but will retire on Thursday, March 31 after more than three decades of working at the Fairbottom Street theatre.
His love for theatre started at a young age and he recalls his grandparents visiting the theatre in Oldham, and his firist visit to the Coliseum aged 15 with his mother.
David began his career as a teacher at schools in Middleton and Shaw and started volunteering in 1979 with Playgoers, a group formed to help raise money for the Coliseum.
After a couple of years volunteering with Playgoers, he was offered a position working at the theatre front of house.
David said: “It’s a way into the theatre that probably wouldn’t happen today. There were no adverts in the paper, no need to fill in a 12-page application form so I suppose you’d say I was lucky.”
Throughout his 34-year career, David has met stars including Sir Kenneth Branagh and Sir Ian McKellen, who have visited the Coliseum to see productions.
He has given a tour of the theatre to Coronation Street’s Barbara Knoxx, been interviewed by the press about his time at Oldham Theatre Workshop with Coronation Street’s Anne Kirkbride and the time he met Dame Gracie Fields in Capri while on holiday.
Despite mingling with the stars, David says his highlights from his Coliseum career have been when the theatre has thrown celebrations to mark special occasions in his career and his life and times when he has received thanks from audience members.
He said: “I think it’s a general thing really that people seem to have appreciated things I’ve done for them.”
Generation upon generation of theatre-going families in Oldham have met David at visits to the Coliseum’s productions and its acclaimed pantomime.
He has become something of a local legend for bringing a touch of old-school glamour to the theatre foyer with his glitzy bowtie and personalised waistcoats he wears each year throughout the run of pantomime.
David has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham Award twice during his career for his dedication to the theatre.
He received a special mention at the Manchester Theatre Awards 2016 to mark his retirement from the Greater Manchester theatre community.
Although retired, David plans to continue giving talks on the theatre to community groups and to join the theatre’s Artistic Director, Kevin Shaw, on stage for its free season launch events.
He said: “I hope to continue those as long as I can do them. I think about Ken Dodd, who is still going at 88, so I suppose he’s a good master to draw from.”
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