MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- Oct 15
- 8 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER 2025
The Dining Room coming to Touchstones Rochdale
Preview by Steve Cooke
As part of the redevelopment work taking place at Touchstones Rochdale, I’m delighted to present details of a major new co-curation project – The Dining Room – a space where food, socialising, art and heritage combine.
Whether you’re interested in history, heritage, art or just want a welcoming space to chat with your friends and neighbours, The Dining Room is being developed by members of Rochdale’s community for everyone to enjoy.
Once Touchstones reopens, it’s up to you how you want to use the space – you’ll be able to enjoy a café menu and activities linked to Touchstones’ collections, experience the art and museum displays, or simply hang out before a show in the new performance space.
The Dining Room will explore Touchstones’ local collections via the lens of food, transforming what used to be a mostly unchanging museum display into an evolving collections display. Through working with 20 Community Curators, they are discovering stories of our shared heritage that are currently missing from the collections, as well as celebrating the everyday objects that have an important place in our lives.
All elements of The Dining Room visitor experience will be up for discussion, from the food menu to the furniture!
They recruited 15 paid Community Curators through partners – Awakening Minds, Theatre in Flow, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and the Association of Ukrainians Great Britain: Rochdale Branch, and a further group of young people from Rochdale Youth Service working as Young Curators in annual summer schools as part of the HAF programme.
The team have also worked with artists to create three exciting new installations for The Dining Room space – a digital installation inspired by the sadly destroyed original stained glass portraits, and an installation which will see food heritage-related objects suspended from the ceiling, with the Young Curators working with an artist to develop a textile commission inspired by Rochdale’s industrial history.
The Dining Room has been made possible by a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of just under £250,000, thanks to National Lottery players.
The Phantoms starring Lee Mead at Middleton Arena
Preview by Steve Cooke
West End and TV sensation Lee Mead stars in The Phantoms in a spellbinding night of music celebrating the most beloved musicals of all time.
The Phantoms take you on a magical journey through iconic shows such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph, and of course, The Phantom of the Opera.
Featuring former Phantoms direct from the West End production of “The Phantom of the Opera” alongside West End and TV star Lee Mead, the sensational cast take you on a journey through the best of the West End, Broadway, and beyond from modern day smash hits to unbeatable classics.
Plus, discover how Lee Mead went from the dressing rooms of Phantom to the living rooms of the nation on his way to winning BBC’s Any Dream Will Do.
With beautiful vocal arrangements, spectacular close part harmony as well as stand out solo performances you certainly won’t want to miss the music of this night!
Disclaimer – The Phantoms starring Lee Mead is in no way connected with and/or endorsed by Really Useful Group or Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0uP11fGHFs
From: £32.00
Ticket Sales & Event Enquiries (open Mon-Fri 10am – 2.30pm: 0300 303 8633
Box Office:arts.events@yourtrustrochdale.co.uk
7:30pm
Doors open: 6:45pm
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
GOING OUT OUT at HOME
Preview by Steve Cooke
Ian’s gone out less since he became a widower. Actually, he hasn’t gone out at all - a local charity gets his shopping, and he only leaves the house to water the garden. But when Raz drops Ian’s groceries round one day and finds him wearing his late wife’s dress, because it helps him feel closer to her and because he likes to wear something loose fitting on hot days, an unlikely friendship starts that changes everything. Soon, Ian finds himself back in the working men’s club run by his estranged daughter, Lauren, preparing to give the performance of his life…
Going Out Out is a show filled with music, courage and love about a man who finds a way to cope with grief by joining the Manchester drag scene. With soulful sounds and infectious pop anthems the show’s musical soundtrack has something to move everyone.
Directed and developed by Jess Edwards.
£26.20
Box Office 0161 200 1500
Restaurant 0161 212 3500
For general queries, email: info@homemcr.org
Thu 16 Oct - Sat 1 Nov
HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN [just off Whitworth Street West, roughly opposite the Hacienda apartments and 0.2 miles from Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink (tram) stop or 0.3 miles from Oxford Road train station].
RNCM rising stars shine at TLC
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
This was concert number 1,156 since taking over the council’s Music at Lunchtime in 2001. Now in Rochdale’s year as the Greater Manchester Town of Culture, rising stars dropped in to dazzle at St Mary in the Baum.
Anderson, Lydia and Austin are all students at Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester (lack of surnames and images in line with Chet’s safeguarding policy).
The UK's largest specialist music school, established in 1969, it offers a co-educational boarding and day school experience for students aged 8 to 18. The school is renowned for its rigorous musical training, with all students entering through musical auditions.
Their mentor today was award-winning RNCM graduate Simon Passmore (pictured), an accompanist and piano tutor at Chetham’s. He was born in Hexham in 1990 and began piano lessons at the age of seven. He has given solo piano recitals at numerous festivals across the UK and has featured as a concerto soloist both in the UK and abroad. Simon is also currently the Director of Music at St Ann’s Church, Manchester. He provided guidance, encouragement and superb accompaniments for his charges today.
Violinist Anderson gave an excellent performance of Riedings Concerto in G followed by the riotous Millionaire’s Hoedown by Hermann Clebanoff. Feet were tapping and a suppressed yee-haw was heard from the pews as his energetic playing temporarily transformed St Mary’s into a hootenanny.
Lydia’s playing of the first two movements of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64 was exquisite, sophisticated and beautiful – soon to be played with full orchestra, a treat worth looking out for.
Cellist Austin played Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, admirably controlling its shifting moods, unusual pizzicato (plucking) sections, and the fierce driving rhythms of its finale.
The allegretto of Shostakovich’s cello concerto no 1 in Eb was equally well delivered.
This recital went beyond exams and technical preparation and was music making of a high calibre from young players who are clearly rising stars.
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.
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday 15 October 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Lewis Kingsley Peart piano (Trinity Laban Conservatoire)
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, 16 October 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.
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
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.
Free
1.30pm - 2.15pm
Balderstone Library, Balderstone Park, Platting Lane, Rochdale OL11 2HD
Thursday, 16 October 2025
Reading Group - Smithy Bridge Library
Read, share and discuss a range of fiction and non-fiction in our reading group.
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.
For adults, no need to book, you can just turn up.
Email: .Library@rochdale.gov.uk
Free
1.30pm - 3pm
Smithy Bridge Library, 121–123 Smithy Bridge Road, Littleborough OL15 0BQ
Thursday, 16 October
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, 16 October
Toad Lane in the Baum - Herbalism Workshop
Organiser - Co-op Heritage
An evening of workshops where you will learn all about the wonderful world of herbalism
Find out about toad Lane’s herbal past before the industrial revolution and make a practical herbal tonic with accredited workshop leader Edwinas Hodkinson.
From £13.70
This event must be booked in advance - please read all the details on https://www.rochdalecreates.co.uk/whats-on/toad-lane-in-the-baum-herbalism-and book your tickets through the Eventbrite Link. Ticket price includes booking fees.
19:00
Rochdale Pioneers Museum, 31 Toad Lane, Rochdale , OL12 0NU
Thursday, 16 October
Paint Autumn Workshop
Relax, Grab a brush and follow along with a friendly Artist and paint Autumn scenery. All materials included. No experience necessary.
£25
18:45 - 21:15
Location: Littleborough Coach House Trust, The Heritage Centre, Lodge St, OL15 9AE
Saturday, 18 October 2025
Littleborough U3A Reading Group - Littleborough Library
3rd Saturday of every month. A monthly reading group for U3A Littleborough members.
The group reads a book every month. which we generally borrow from the library collection of books saved especially for reading groups. We then discuss the book at our monthly meeting, often having very lively discussions.
Booking required: You must be a U3A member to take part in U3A activities. Join Littleborough U3A: https://littleborough.u3asite.uk/welcome/
You need to have a paid annual Littleborough U3A subscription
10.30am - 11.30am
Littleborough Library, Hare Hill Park, Littleborough OL15 9HE
You must be a U3A member to take part in U3A activities. Join Littleborough U3A
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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