MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER 2025

STEVE COOKE AATA
3 days ago
7 min read

previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke

MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER 2025

Previews: Rochdale Christmas Artisan Market, Explore acclaimed exhibition, Roots in the Sky and Christmas extravaganza, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN has been extended!

Review: A choir that is Notable indeed

Rochdale Christmas Artisan Market

Preview by Steve Cooke

An invitation to step into the festive spirit at Rochdale's Christmas Artisan Market, in our wonderful prize winning Town Hall

This should be a perfect day out for families, friends, and anyone who loves unique, handcrafted treasures - more than just a Christmas Market, a celebration of creativity, community, and Christmas cheer!

What to expect:

Hot street food to keep you warm and satisfied.

Seasonal hot drinks to sip while you browse.

Live music creating the perfect festive atmosphere.

Elf on the Shelf visit for the little ones.

Free arts and crafts activities for children to enjoy.

Lots of unique artisan stalls offering gifts you won’t find anywhere else.

Event organiser: D&D Artisan Markets: info@dndartisan.co.uk

Free / Pay What You Want.

No need to book you can just turn up.

14 December 2025

11:00 - 16:00

Rochdale Town Hall, OL16 1LL

A choir that is Notable indeed

Review by Dr Joe Dawson

Notability is based in North Manchester although its members come from all over the region to share their love of singing. It was formed in 1993 by a group of eight friends to provide the music at a wedding. One concert led to another and thirty years later, with some additions to the group, they are still singing together and still good friends!

Sing Gently by Eric Whitacre set the mood beautifully in the cathedral-like acoustic of St Mary in the Baum by this popular group of singers. Neatly balanced part singing arises from one of their democratic principles - that without a conductor, they have to listen to each other!

Their sacred set of Cantate Domino by Pitoni, Be thou my vision by Chilcott, and For the beauty of the earth by Rutter was exquisite. However, the enormous variety of their repertoire became evident when their traditional set began with Buffalo Gals, arranged by Chilcott, which almost turned into a Hoedown or a scene from Oklahoma; the energy was palpable. Great fun.

More arrangements of traditional songs followed with a change of mood and effective use of a capella (unaccompanied singing) in The Wayfaring Stranger arranged by Paul Smith and the magical syncopated Minoi, Minoi, from Samoa, arranged by C J Marshall.

A modern piano accompaniment enhanced the Northumbrian song, The Water of Tyne, arranged by Michael Neaum, before moving to popular standards with Tea for Two (Yeomans) and Ain’t misbehavin' (“Fats’ Waller) both arranged by Peter Gritton, with some convincing ‘stride’ piano from accompanist Lesley Cavanagh, and a moving solo from Lavinia Lancashire of Satchmo’s What a wonderful world.

Making sure there was something for everyone we had charming arrangements of God only knows by Brian Wilson & Tony Asher, Your Song by Elton John, and I’ll follow the sun by Lennon & McCartney.

Their Finale was a heartfelt Thank you for the music by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus – a sentiment that was echoed by the extensive audience applause.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6 cash. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

Explore acclaimed exhibition, Roots in the Sky

Preview by Steve Cooke

Running over the festive season up to 25 January in the new year at HOME is acclaimed exhibition, Roots in the Sky.

Roots in the Sky is the first institutional curatorial project by British-Nigerian artist Tunji Adeniyi-Jones. This pivotal exhibition brings together new and recent works by ten contemporary artists whose practices span the United States, Europe, and West Africa.

Taking Adeniyi-Jones’s own practice as a point of departure - rich with West African heritage, fable, and ceremonial symbolism - the exhibition explores the cultural pluralism and layered identities that define the Black diaspora. Painting, sculpture, and drawing are employed in equal measure, with figuration and abstraction operating as shared visual languages to explore themes of mythology, community, lineage, and transformation.

The works on view are informed by both personal narrative and collective memory. As novelist Bernardine Evaristo writes, “We consist of multiples… descended as we are in Britain from fifty-four African countries and over thirty Caribbean countries… I believe in pluralism versus essentialism, always and all ways.” This ethos underpins Roots in the Sky, inviting artists to reflect on travel, hybridity, and the diasporic experience as a source of both creative expression and cultural logic.

Boundless interconnectivity—at times latent, at times boldly asserted—runs through the exhibition. The featured artists engage with questions of belonging and identity, resisting reductive narratives in favour of nuance, contradiction, and multiplicity. Their practices are further anchored by literary influences from James Baldwin, Chinua Achebe, and Teju Cole—writers who, like the artists, trace and reimagine diasporic pathways through acts of cultural reckoning and creative resistance.

The artists in this highly recommended exhibition are Tunji Adeniyi-Jones · Alvaro Barrington · Jade de Montserrat · Ivy Kalungi · Joy Labinjo · Sahara Longe · Nengi Omuku · Elena Njoabuzia Onwochei-Garcia · Tschabalala Self · Shaqúelle Whyt.

Watch video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iwD9W7QDIRM

This exhibition is free to attend but requires you to book.

Online: https://homemcr.org/whats-on/roots-in-the-sky

Phone: 0161 200 1500

Tuesday-Saturday: 12:00- 20:00

Sunday: 12:00 - 18:00

Until Sunday 25 January 2026

HOME: Tony Wilson Place Manchester M15 4FN.

Christmas extravaganza, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN has been extended!

Preview by Steve Cooke

Due to popular demand, Royal Exchange Theatre’s Christmas extravaganza, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN has been extended! The smash hit musical will now run until Sunday 25 January 2026.

Director Raz Shaw has returned to the Exchange, following his smash hit production of THE PRODUCERS; with SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN – a musical packed with iconic songs such as Make ‘em laugh, Good Morning, Moses and of course the iconic title tune Singin’ In The Rain.

A timeless masterpiece, and perhaps one of the greatest musicals ever made, this charismatic, tap-dancing extravaganza tells the story of the highs and lows of Hollywood through the eyes of the infamous Don Lockwood, Lina Lamont, Cosmo Brown and Kathy Selden as a radical move is made from silent movies to the ‘talkies’.

Seamlessly blending song and dance the audience will find themselves in the heart of the action of this much-loved musical on the Exchange’s iconic in-the-round stage.

Tickets are selling fast so don't miss out, book now to avoid disappointment! Standard Tickets from £15 [All orders will be subject to a fee of £2.00].

Watch trailer and book : https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/singin-in-the-rain/?utm_campaign=2177904

Phone: 0161 833 9833

Recommended for everyone age 8 – 108 years

Contains flashing lights, haze, an electronic cigar and cigarette, and the risk of getting splashed!

Lunch, afternoon and evening starting times.

Approx 2hrs 45 mins, including a 20 min interval.

On until Sunday 25 January 2026

Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester M2 7DH

RECOMMENDED

Wednesday 10 December 2025

Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime

This week we have - Voci Voices - Elizabeth Ambrose & Margaret Ferguson sopranos, Eric Cymbir tenor, Mackenzie Paget baritone & Jonathan Ellis piano

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 11 December 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

Visit: https://www.fireground.org.uk/ Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm

Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN

Thursday, 11 December 2025

Bookstart Baby and Bear Club - Balderstone Library

Every other Thursday during term time. Join Amy and Bookstart Bear for a fun session.

For babies and toddlers up to pre-school age and their parents or carers.

When you and your child come along to their first session of Bookstart Baby and Bear Club, they will receive their very own Bookstart passport for you to get stamped each time they come along to a session or visit the library. For every 6 stamps they get in their passport, they'll receive a certificate. Don't worry, if you or your child are not library members already, you can join when you come along to Bookstart Bear Club.

Booking required: please book a ticket for every baby and/or child who is to attend. Accompanying adults will not need a ticket. See available sessions and book tickets through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/rochdale-borough-libraries-10695506106

Email: balderstone.library@rochdale.gov.uk

Free

1.30pm - 2.15pm

Balderstone Library, Balderstone Park, Platting Lane, Rochdale OL11 2HD

Thursday, 11 December 2025

Reading group - Castleton Library and Community Centre

Read, share and discuss a range of fiction and non-fiction in our reading group.

2nd Thursday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss different genres of books with other keen readers at our free, friendly and informal monthly meetings.

For adults.

No booking required, you can just turn up.

Free

11am - 12pm

Castleton Library, 604 Manchester Road, Rochdale OL11 3AF

Friday, 12 December 2025

Snow globe picture craft - Langley Library

Join us at Langley Library for our last festive craft session of the season and make a fun snowman or Christmas tree snow globe picture.

For children aged 4 and over, and their grown-ups.

Booking required.

Please give your name and contact number, along with the names of children who want to come.

Book by emailing langley.library@rochdale.gov.uk