CHRISTMAS WEEKEND COLUMN 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 2 minutes ago
- 7 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 27 DECEMBER 2025
Previews: A Shout Out for a Good Shout - Youth Voices Across Artforms , FRAG [The Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery] and Post Traumatic SLAY Disorder at Hope Mill Theatre
Reviews: Improbable Fiction at The Curtain Theatre and A Feast of Singing for Christmas at TLC
A Shout Out for a Good Shout - Youth Voices Across Artforms
Preview by Steve Cooke
A fantastic opportunity for young creatives to join the wonderful Ebor Studio’s Good Shout.
This is a cross-artform project for 16-21 year olds where you’ll work alongside experienced artists and co-create a live event that will take over the Rochdale Exchange during the Rochdale Youth Arts Festival in March 2026.
This isn’t a workshop you sit through. It’s a build-it-with-us experience. You help choose the direction. You shape the look, the sound, the rhythm, the atmosphere. The adults are there to facilitate, not dictate.
You’ll join one of three small groups (around 10 people each), each led by specialist artists. Across several sessions you’ll explore, experiment, prototype ideas, and work together toward a final public event.
SOUND + MUSIC
A chance to experiment with new equipment and techniques. Bring your instrument or interest in music making to create something new! You’ll work with professional musicians to enhance what you do while working in a group. Learn how sound can guide a performance, shape a space, or fuse with fashion and photography.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Experiment with various photographic mediums and equipment - lighting, composition, portraits, or documentary-style storytelling in digital or analogue formats. You’ll work with a professional photographer to capture the project as it unfolds, create images for the final event, and help design how photography can interact with sound, fashion, or performance in the festival showcase.
TEXTILE ART + WEARABLE DESIGN
Use industry-standard sewing machines and fabrics to create wearable artwork. You might design pieces for performers, create sculptural garments, or build costumes that interact with light, sound, or movement. Expect experimenting, draping, stitching, and discovering just how expressive fabric can be.
Sign up by Tuesday 6 January 2026
Improbable Fiction at The Curtain Theatre
Review by Seamus Kelly
The Curtain Theatre’s latest production, Improbable Fiction, the Alan Ayckbourn play, takes place at a meeting of the Pendon Writers Circle, most of whom are struggling with writer’s block. In the first act the group meet in the home of Arnold (Paul Dawson), who lives with his poorly mother, who is confined to bed. During their meetings “Mother” is looked after by Ilsa (Coral Bradley) who also makes coffee for the writers. Arnold tries valiantly to deal with clashing personalities, encourages everyone to share their work, get on with their writing, and collaborate.
The members write in different genres, although perhaps “try to write” might be more appropriate. Arnold lacks imagination and translates instruction manuals into English. Grace (Jessica Bradley) wants to write a children's book but has not yet put words onto paper. Jess (Helen Schutzmann) tries to write historical romance. Vivvi (Chloe Sweeny) is a prolific writer of 1930s crime stories having written several, not yet published, novels. Brevis (Peter Fitton) is a teacher who hates children and Clem (Jon Cockroft) reads and writes science fiction, which he describes as real science. At the end of Act 1 a shocking appearance by Ilsa holding a knife, leaves the audience in suspense.
In Act 2 the whole performance bursts into life as three mysteries, historical romance, alien abduction and a 1930s detective story imagined by the various writers interweave. The chaos, changes of era, and characters, create much confusion for Arnold and amusement for the audience. Here the actors excel with all, other than Arnold, playing multiple roles to great effect. For me the standout performance of the show was Paul Dawson as Arnold, portrayed beautifully as a man unable to escape the house where he looks after his mother, plagued by nervousness and trying to please everybody.
I attended this performance with several colleagues from Riverside Writers. Did we see ourselves in the Pendon Writing Circle? Yes, lots of recognisable traits and characters, although we spend more time actually writing. Did we enjoy the performance? Yes, we all had a good time with plenty of laughter and lots of chatter after the show. Riverside Writers hold weekly creative writing sessions every Thursday morning in Rochdale Central Library (see www.riversidewriters.org.uk).
The production is directed by Karen Knox, well supported by the whole production team looking after the set, the music, lighting, sound etc.
The Curtain Theatre is one of Rochdale’s hidden gems. Walk through the doors into a traditional theatre that harks back to a more glamorous era. The building has seen better days and deserves support and care to restore some of its fading glory. The best way to support the building and the dedicated people who run it is to go along to their shows and events - on tonight’s experience you’ll get a great evening’s entertainment at very reasonable prices.
Visit: curtaintheatrerochdale.co.uk
A Feast of Singing for Christmas at TLC
Review by Dr Joe Dazwson
This Toad Lane concert at St Mary in the Baum was the 1,166th since taking over from the council in 2001. The prize-winning troupe, Voci Voices made a welcome return with a feast of singing for Christmas. They always bring an international flavour too, with the performers’ roots in Poland, Ghana, Ukraine, Scotland, and Wales, accompanied by English pianist Jonathan Ellis, who managed to reproduce a full orchestra or provide sensitive support, as required.
The memorable line ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ stood out from the seasonal medleys from The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Christmas on Broadway, and I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and became truer as the concert went on.\
The international theme brought the universality of Christmas celebrations home through traditional carols. From the cheery Austrian Snow - Waltz Schneewaltzer to the atmospheric Africa Ukuthula, African Prayer for Peace led by Margaret with a sensitive backing group followed by an up-tempo Afrika Kyrie.
We had lovely Nebo i Źemlia from Ukraine and Lulajze, Jezuniu (Lullaby) from Poland, the Italian Gesù Bambino, more Austrian with Silent Night, and French O Holy Night by Adams to the Welsh traditional Deck the Halls.
Completing this worldwide songfest was a particular favourite with Americans, the Handelian Hallelujah! Joy to the World by Handel & Mason brilliantly arranged by Emily Lund in a delightful mix of the two iconic choruses.
An encore was demanded and granted with ‘I wish you Christmas’ by John Rutter, rounding off a celebration of well-executed seasonal vocal gems, admirably suited to the acoustics. A great start to the season. It certainly made it ‘seem a lot like Christmas.’
The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.
FRAG [The Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery]
Preview by Steve Cooke
The Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery have greatly supported the growth of Touchstones Rochdale as a regional art gallery. Their generous donations have allowed the acquisition of key works, including Vanessa Bell's ‘Interior (The Open Window)’ in 1982.
FRAG have several key dates coming up in the new year on second Thursdays:
• 8 January 2026 13:30 Harry Meadley will develop his assessment of the Summer’s activities – they had to postpone Harry’s talk and discussion in October because he had Covid!
• 12 February 2026 will be the special measures AGM both meetings will be at the Rochdale Music Service, which has generously offered us premises for another year.
• 12 March 2026 at 11:00 Guests of Roger Hindle Chairperson - The Friends of Gallery Oldham, newly restored Galleries 1 & 2 in the newly named JR Clynes Building at Oldham (they’ve finished their’s!)
• 09 April 2026 13:30 Touchstones Site Visit - A conducted tour to see what stage Touchstones are at with a projected opening of summer 2027. This has been negotiated by Sarah Hodgkinson, who advises that complete ‘Bob the Builder’ outfits will not be required as hard hats and Hi-Viz will be supplied. But sensible shoes are recommended!
Annual membership is just £10, providing discounted rates on talks and trips organised by the Friends, as well as invitations to private views for exhibitions.
if you would like more information about the events or the group; please contact Dr Joe Dawson at 01706 648872 or mail@joedawson.co.uk
Post Traumatic SLAY Disorder at Hope Mill Theatre
Preview by Steve Cooke
Post Traumatic SLAY Disorder coming to Hope Mill Theatre is dark comedy following twenty-something waitress, Kit, who moves to London after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Living in a generation that navigates mental illness through TikTok trends, Kit is THE main character and sitting down with her demons has never been cuter.
When she isn’t pretending to be famous on the tube, she’s hoping she’ll collapse on the restaurant floor and never have to work again.
If she doesn’t laugh, she’ll cry (and probably take a picture of it for the 'gram).
Written and performed by Offie-nominated comedic actor, Lois-Amber Toole.
£15.50 - All orders will be subject to a fee of £1.50
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Wednesday 21 January 2026, 19:30
Hope Mill Theatre, Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard Street, Ancoats, M47JA
RECOMMENDED
Saturday, 27 December 2025
Reading Group - Middleton Library
Last Saturday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers in this friendly and relaxed reading group.
Books are provided and loaned through the library. Refreshments will be provided.
For Adults, no booking required, you can just turn up.
Free
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU
Saturday, 27 December 2025
Monthly Lego Club - Langley Library
Last Saturday of every month. A monthly Lego Club with a different theme each session. All creations will be displayed in the library until the following month. There's Duplo for younger children.
For families with children aged 4 and over.
Booking required: Please book by 4pm the day before a session. You can book by:
Emailing langley.library@rochdale.gov.uk
Phoning 0161 654 8911
Calling into the library
Free
10.30am - 12pm
Langley Library, Windermere Road, Middleton M24 4LA
Saturday, 27 December 2025
Kids' Club - Wardle Library
Come along and get creative at our craft table.
For families with children aged 4 and over.
No need to book, you can just come along.
Free
10am - 12.30pm
Wardle Library, 448 Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9LH
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.