previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 05 MARCH 2025
A fantastic night out with a top evening celebrating some of the best of stand-up comedy!
Preview by Steve Cooke
Nina Gilligan, Faizan Shah, Tamsyn Kelly and MC Mick Ferry are all coming to Oldham Comedy Club.
After a decade of slogging away at the comedy coalface, Nina Gilligan joined the ranks of Vegas, Manford and Ranganathan when she was crowned the 2021 Leicester Mercury Comedian Of The Year. 2023 saw Nina named as Best Act in the Yorkshire, North West and Chortle Comedy Awards, 2024 w-it was the BBC Audio Award’s chance to meet Nina and 2025 got off to a flying start when fellow comedians named her Best Club Comic in the UK Comedy Awards!
Faizan Shah moved to the UK as a child. His well-crafted jokes make light of growing up in an immigrant household and the inevitable challenges it brings. The quality of Faizan’s joke writing, and affable stage presence has seen him progress quickly from beating Comedy Store’s King Gong and Frog and Bucket’s Beat the Frog to now breaking through the circuit with a strong 20 minute set and performing at both those venues pro weekend gigs in under 2 years.
Few are funnier than Comedy Store and Frog & Bucket veteran Mick Ferry! Whether he’s running with a scatterbrained idea, an audience suggestion or dipping into his extensive mental files of absolute, top drawer gags and routines, the end result is a barrage of laughter from a very happy audience
Acts are subject to change.
Pay What you Choose - £9 - £18
AGE GUIDE 18+
Expect strong language.
12 March
Oldham Comedy Night, Billingtons, 3 Ascroft Street, Oldham, OL1 1HY, UK
ORTOA Celebrity Recitals at the Rochdale Town Hall Organ – Paul Hale
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists’ Association est.1908) are back at the town hall after its splendid restoration.
Distinguished organist and expert, Paul Hale for his third recital at the Town Hall, said he was ‘absolutely delighted to be back’. He knows Rochdale’s JJ Binns instrument as well as anyone, indeed, he was its consultant for Rochdale Development Agency during the Town Hall restoration. He shared his hope that the estimated money could be found to complete stages two and three of the organ’s renovation, as 1979 was the last time the electric parts were updated! Nonetheless, it remains an internationally renowned instrument, and he set out to demonstrate why.
Oxford Organ Scholar, Organist and Choirmaster at Southwell Minster for twenty-seven years, conductor of the Nottingham Bach Choir for twenty-nine years, diploma examiner for the Royal College of Organists, and chair, secretary or president of countless organ bodies, are areas in which Paul is well known and respected.
He is also in demand as a consultant, giving concerts and lectures all over the world and for his teaching and writings on the organ. He is also a genial and amusing presenter.
His wide-ranging programme put the mighty JJ Binns instrument through its paces with the thundering War March of the Priests by Mendelssohn, followed by the intense and intricate Introduction and Passacaglia by Alcock. Pieces by Dubois used the softer stops to significant effect and the melodic Vocalise by Rachmaninov, was played like a fine singer. The majestic Choral No 3 in A minor by César Franck beautifully encapsulated his choice of pieces ideally suited to Rochdale’s own instrument.
In lighter vein we had Prelude on ‘The Londonderry Air’ (Danny Boy) by Noel Rawsthorne, twentieth century jazzy flavours with Variations on Amazing Grace by Denis Bédard, and the rollicking Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates. A short encore brought this blaze of glorious sound to a serene close.
Paul declared that he had used every single stop on the organ, bar one.
This combination of organ gems and recognisable tunes appealed to organ enthusiasts and a wider audience alike. Thereby it fulfilled admirably the vision and purpose of a civic organ and celebrated one of the best in the land.
ORTOA 2025 forthcoming events NB Tuesday afternoons at One!
Tuesday May 20th at 1 pm KEITH HEARNSHAW Concert organist
Tuesday June 17th at 1 pm EDWARD TAYLOR (from Carlisle Cathedral)
Tuesday July 15th at 1 pm LEE LONGDEN Cinema Organist
Tuesday Sept 16th at 1 pm ALEX FISHBURN (from Liverpool Cathedral)
Admission £10 (concessions £8) concerts last one hour. Card or cash at the door or visit www.rochdaletownhall.co.uk/events or iao.org.uk/ortoa.
The Engagement Party from Oldham Coliseum
Review by Eileen Earnshaw.
Last week was the opening of the play ‘The Engagement Party’, author Afshan d Souza Ardhi’ a two-part work performed at Oldham Coliseum’s temporary home Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham and the first inhouse major production before the panto season that hopefully will be at Fairbottom St. Directed by Amanda Huxtable.
The engaged couple are played by Marruica Ferriera and Connor Darren James.
On entering the theatre there was a sense of excitement at the rooms’ party style format. Round tables set with startlingly white tablecloths, candles and scattered rose petals. To the rear of the room were musicians and a vocalist that helped to lift the atmosphere considerably.
There was an attempt at audience participation that failed unfortunately, due to the acoustics of the room and the wide spacing of the tables that left too much space for the actors to fill. The performance took place at the opposite end of the room from the musicians at the same level as the audience which made observation rather difficult.
The first part of the play was mostly conversation pieces between different actors, who all commented on the absence of the engaged couple, which were interspersed with music. This led to some awkward silences that gave the impression that the party was in a different room. It also introduced three characters as elders who have ‘passed on’ and were thus providing a philosophical guide to the couple. Julie Hesmondhalgh also appeared via video in this part just to tell us she wouldn’t be attending the party. This was followed by a fight amongst the guests due to some irrelevant remark made that seems to have been included simply because this is what happens at this sort of party.
The second part of the play was a much tighter and enjoyable. Here, the youngest elder comments on the life he will miss, whilst the older one comments on the philosophy of life. The bride and group are finally brought onto the stage. Here we have intimations of exactly how the bride and groom feel about each other and their doubts about marriage. The bride wants a life away from Oldham. She wants to travel and see the world whilst the groom is content with his life as it is, coming to the conclusion that love by itself is never enough to form a marriage.
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday 05 March 2025
Tea Dances with Prima Dance
Join us as we waltz back into a cherished tradition and let the rhythm of sequence dancing sweep you off your feet.
The Tea Dance will fill the Grand Hall every first Wednesday of the month. Immerse yourself in an afternoon of joy and connection, as friends old and new come together to enjoy the magic of dance.
Prima Dance invites you to glide in harmony with your fellow dancers while executing the same routines, moving gracefully in an anticlockwise direction around the room. Each step you take offers a chance to bond with others, making memories that linger long after the last note fades.
Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just looking to try something new, we warmly welcome all skill levels.
Mark your calendars and prepare for an enchanting mix of rhythm, relaxation, and reconnecting. We can't wait to see you back on the dance floor at Rochdale Town Hall.
£6.50 including refreshments
Phone: 01706 924797
1pm - 3pm
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
Wednesday 05 March 2025
Whitworth Historical Society
“Origins & Oddities of English Inn Signs” by Michael Astrop.
(note: - this will be held at the URC schoolroom)Seen by many as works of art in their own right, signs on public houses and inns in England are sometimes the subject of discussion and debate. Many are familiar such as Red Lion, White Hart and the Horse & Farrier whilst others, during and after the reign of King Henry VIII, demonstrated allegiance to the King and the protestant faith with names such as the King’s Head, The Crown etc. Michael explores these sometimes odd names and takes a look at the associated artwork.
Please note - Please check the venue for this meeting before you attend using the website link below or by contacting the Secretary. Some meetings will be held in the Hallfold URC schoolroom as it has a far greater capacity than the museum.
Whitworth Historical Society have a programme of monthly lectures, which are usually held on the first Wednesday in every month, between the months of October and June, at 7.30pm.
Visit the link below for a list of upcoming talks/lectures.
Free but donations welcome
Phone: Secretary 07816 911 556
7.30pm start
Whitworth Heritage Museum, North Street, Whitworth OL12 8RA
Wednesday 05 March 2025
Rochdale Photographic Society
Tonight's session - Carol Leith – The life of a press reporter.
We meet every Wednesday at Rochdale Unitarian Church, starting at 7.30pm prompt (doors open from 7.15pm). The door is kept locked so please ring the bell on arrival.
If you would like to see the club for yourself and meet our members, you are welcome to attend as our guest for up to 3 weeks before committing to membership. Annual subscription is £36 for single or £46 for joint membership.
A weekly room fee of £2.50 is also payable on arrival at the meeting. Refreshments are 50p.
Visit the link below for a full 2024 syllabus.
Doors open 7.15pm, 7.30pm start
Rochdale Unitarian Church, Clover Street, Rochdale OL12 6TP
Wednesday 05 March 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Chetham’s School of Music instrumentalists.
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 06 March 2025 - Saturday 08 March 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 are free, Children (aged 4-15) and Concessions £5, Adults £7 and Family (4 people) £20.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219
Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Friday 07 March 2025
Castleton Literary and Scientific Society
Annual Dinner at a Local Restaurant.
Annual Membership £25; Visitors welcome £3 per meeting
Phone: Barry Hobson 07724 135099
7pm.
Castleton Community Centre. Manchester Road, Castleton, Rochdale OL11 3AF
Saturday 08 March 2025
Rochdale Music Society concert: The Vienna Piano Trio
Vienna classics.
Adults £14
Students £5
Children £1
Disabled persons with carer £10
Tickets can be purchased on the door or reserved in advance from 01706 642139.
7.30pm
St. Michael's Church, Bamford, Bury and Rochdale Old Road, Heywood OL10 4BB
Saturday 08 March 2025
A Meal To Die For - A Murder Mystery by Eileen Clark
A small group of villagers usually come together to organise community events, but this evening a meal has been arranged in the local pub to bid goodbye to Elizabeth, who will soon be moving away.
The meal is over and has been cleared. As they sip their wine and chat quietly, they appear to be a friendly and close-knit group, but all is not as it seems.
Someone has a murderous plan to dispose of the one person present who threatens to put an end to a rather pleasant lifestyle
£15 - includes a Welcome Drink and Pie Supper
Phone: Gordon Tilstone 07949 963761
Doors open 7pm - Drama starts 7.45
Richard Bentley Smalley Memorial Hall, Thornham Lane, Slattocks, Middleton M24 2RE
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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