MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- Jul 16
- 7 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 16 JULY 2025
EXPLORING STORIES OF ROCHDALE RESIDENTS WITH SHILPA GUPTA
Preview by Steve Cooke
A last chance to experience Shilpa Gupta’s highly recommended new sound installation at this year’s Manchester International Festival, inspired by stories of communities in Rochdale.
‘You are the place’ will be at RISE Inavate Centre until 20 July 2025.
In creating this the artist worked with local residents, including recent immigrants, asylum seekers and more established communities, asking them to describe or draw something that they miss from home. The responses expressed deep feelings of love, hope and longing. Many spoke of missing people they left behind, including parents and siblings, while others reminisced about childhood memories, different landscapes and even specific fruits.
Their responses were shared with 8 local song writers who used them to create new songs recorded in Ukrainian, English, Urdu, Portuguese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Polish and Arabic: the most common languages spoken in Rochdale. Gupta has developed these into a sound work, with the voices heard across the space through a series of hanging microphones.
Audiences are able to view Gupta’s work Still They Know Not What I Dream (2021) and use a reflection space to share and leave responses to the work.
Shilpa Gupta, Artist, said:
“In You are the place, visitors to and from Rochdale will hear words being sung which speak of love, longing and mobility. Some will be in languages they know and others not. Dreams too come from a space of us not knowing when we sleep. The work invites us to consider that not knowing is part of knowing and it is what makes us human.”
Low Kee Hong, Creative Director of Factory International and MIF, said:
“Drifting between languages, landscapes, and emotions, You are the place invites a pause and listen and consider, a new way of imagining ourselves and each other.”
This is the first time that MIF is presenting work beyond the city centre, with commissions to take place across Greater Manchester. The work is presented as part of Rochdale’s year as Great Manchester Town of Culture, a spectacular year of festivals, live performances, exhibitions and art. The title, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority celebrates the town’s rich history, creativity, talent and diverse art scene.
Created in partnership with the Rochdale Development Agency
You are the place
4 – 20 July 2025
RISE Inavate Centre, Smith Street, Rochdale, OL16 1YH
Liberation at the Royal Exchange Theatre
Review by Steve Cooke
Liberation, a new commission by the Royal Exchange, is one of the main theatrical offerings of this year's Manchester International Festival [MIF25].
This brand new political drama written by Ntombizodwa Nyoni and directed by Monique Touko is based on true events and perfect for MIF25.
The plot follows activists that were speakers at the Fifth Pan-African Congress held in Chorlton-on-Medlock Town Hall. Veteran activists George Padmore (Eamonn Walker) and second wife London-born activist, Dorothy Pizer (Nicola Stephenson) welcome to Manchester co-organisers, Jomo Kenyatta (Tonderai Munyevu) of Kenya and Jamaican Activist Amy Ashwood-Garvey (Pamela Nomvete).
This old guard are joined by ambitious new blood such as Padmore’s mentee Kwame Nkrumah (Eric Kofi Abrefa), who wants to free the Gold Coast from colonial rule. Nkrumah is joined by his friends, wise Ghanaian law graduate Joe Appiah (Joshua Roberts-Mensah) and charismatic medical student Makumalo Hlubi (Rudolphe Mdlongwa) from South Africa. Arriving on the scene is the quick-witted and sharp tongued Alma La Badie (Leonie Elliot), from Jamaica who campaigns on behalf of orphans of British women and African-American soldiers who left after the war.
A massive strength of the play is characterisation and excellent dialogue brought to life by powerful performances from the whole ensemble. They bring these historical characters to life in a way that transcends a stage play as the curtain is pulled back on a landmark moment in Africa and Manchester’s shared history.
The excellent cast are all given time to shine as they play off each other fully engaging the audience are throughout.
Paul Willis’s brilliantly minimalist set design superbly keep the focus on the actors. A hexagonal LED screen sets the scene with images from post-war Manchester, photos of historical moments and character introductions. Impressively the screen actually lowers to become the bar at the Cosmopolitan.
The excellent costume design (by Sunny Dolat) allows each character to stand out and fit the time period.
The music composed by Ife Ogunjobi gives the Liberation a unique beat and rhythm.
The show is well paced across two acts over two hours with a twenty minute interval in between.
Tickets for Liberation at the Royal Exchange Theatre visit: https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/liberation/
Produced by the Royal Exchange Theatre and Factory International, Manchester, Liberation is showing at the Royal Exchange Theatre until the 26th July.
‘And on the seventh day God created Manchester’
Preview by Steve Cooke
Don’t miss what promises to be the show of the summer at Hope Mill Theatre, award winning A Manchester Anthem.
Following its successful sell-out seasons at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and VAULT Festival, Nick Dawkins’ A Manchester Anthem has a limited run at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester, opening 31 July, with previews from 29 July, running until 2 August. Izzy Edwards will direct Tom Claxton, who will reprise his role as Tommy in this hit solo show.
Nick Dawkins said, “I’m thrilled to be bringing this story to life with such a talented team of wonderful people. A Manchester Anthem hopes to encapsulate the intense excitement that comes with deciding to leave your hometown, as well as the fear that comes with that decision about how it will change and shape who you are. It’s a look at growing up and the family, friends and favourite songs we use to define ourselves. It’s funny, it’s heartfelt, and, I think, really has something in it for everyone. I can’t wait for audiences to join Tommy on this unforgettable night out.”
Flashing lights. Sticky floors. Dancing shoes. Tommy, a young working-class Mancunian, has been accepted into Oxford. He’s the first in his family to go to they need to be in the moment – the first on his street in fact. Join him on his last big night in Manchester before leaving the city he loves and disappearing South. Expect humour, heart and a night out to remember.
Izzy Edwards is a director and dramaturg currently working in creative development at Sonia Friedman Productions. As a freelance artist, she has developed work in both the US and UK with artists including Lauren Gunderson, Punchdrunk, and Mark Ravenhill. Her credits include anthropology (Dramaturg, Hampstead Theatre), The Time Traveller’s Wife (Assistant Director, Storyhouse Chester), and La Boheme (Associate Director, King’s Head Theatre).
Nick Dawkins is an award-winning playwright and dramaturg with an MA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. A Manchester Anthem has won multiple awards including Pleasance Pick of the VAULT Festival, Show of the Week VAULT Festival and Broadway Baby’s Bobby Award. His work has also been performed at The Space, Southwark Playhouse, The Vaults and The Pleasance Theatre.
Tom Claxton reprises his role of Tommy. His theatre credits include Romeo & Juliet (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Kick, Heart of Hammersmith (Lyric Hammersmith). His film credits include Boys in the Boat. His television credits include Domino Day, One Day, SAS: Rogue Heroes, Doctors, and Still So Awkward.
Don’t miss out. Book now. Only playing 29th July – 2nd August.
Standard £23.50
Concession £21.50
Box Office: 0161 275 9141
HOPE MILL THEATRE, 113 Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Jonathan Ellis plus guest
The concert series has been held at St Mary’s since 2001 and was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.
Running every Wednesday, Music at Lunchtime is a weekly live classical music concert series that has been going since the 1960s. The sessions were initially run at the old Rochdale Art Gallery by the local authority, but since May 2001 have been run by volunteer-enthusiasts and artistic director, Dr Joe Dawson.
£6
Phone: Dr Joe Dawson 01706 648872
Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm - 1.30pm
St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ
Thursday 17 July 2025
Visit Fireground Museum
Join us at Fireground this week to discover Greater Manchester's firefighting story.
Fire museum attractions are on show inside the museum including our collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, plus home-made refreshments in the new Fireground Café, and souvenirs from our fantastic new gift shop! We have a wide choice ranging from toddler to collector.
Under 4s Free, Children (aged 4-15) £6, Seniors £6, Students £6, Adults £8, Family (4 people) £24.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219
Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Thursday, 17 July 2025
Reading Group - Smithy Bridge Library
3rd Thursday of every month. A monthly group that meets to discuss a chosen title and have a general chat about their shared love of reading.
Free
1.30pm - 3pm
Smithy Bridge Library, 121–123 Smithy Bridge Road, Littleborough OL15 0BQ
Thursday, 17 July 2025
Littleborough U3A Play Reading Group - Littleborough Library
3rd Thursday of every month. If you enjoy performing, having fun with accents, short dramas and want to give vent to your inner thespian, this is the group for you.
No equity cards required, just a decent voice and a desire to amuse one another in a group.
Anyone from Noel Coward to Phoebe Waller-Bridge welcome. Sense of humour essential.
Booking required:
You must be a U3A member to take part in U3A activities. Join Littleborough U3A
Join this group on the Littleborough U3A website: https://littleborough.u3asite.uk/welcome/
2pm - 4pm
Littleborough Library, Hare Hill Park, Littleborough OL15 9HE
Friday 18 July and Sunday 21 July 2025
Kirsten's Dance Academy Presents: Icons, Heroes & Legends
Tickets from £18.00
Fri 18 July 6:00pm doors open: 5:30pm
Sun 20 July 12:00pm doors open: 11:30am
Sun 20 July 4:00pm doors open: 3:30pm
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
Friday 19 July 2025
Don't Stop Queen Now
After 2024’s triumphant sold out show, ‘Don’t Stop Queen Now’ are bringing the UK’s largest stage production of any Queen tribute band back to Middleton Arena!
The band’s many years playing experience and their inspiring attention to detail provides a truly authentic sounding experience. With a dynamic theatre stage-show combined with superbly crafted harmonies and electrifying guitar work, you’ll be left going ‘Gaga’ for more!
Don’t Stop Queen Now’s energetic and true-to-life performance, fronted by the incredible Michael Spence who has featured on ITV1 as Freddie Mercury, brings Queens 40+ year reign to life in a show that’s guaranteed to blow your mind!
Watch trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVYhU74-xIQ
From £25.00
7:30pm doors open: 6:45pm
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
Saturday 20 July 2025
Tennessee Honeys at St Edmund’s Church
Children welcome
Food bar available
£8 adults, £6 concessions
7.30pm
St Edmund’s, Edmund Street, Falinge, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL12 6QF
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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