MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST 2025
Holiday Hive across the borough
Preview by Steve Cooke
It's Enchanted Forest week across Rochdale Borough Libraries and there are plenty of activities taking place for families to enjoy.
The Holiday Hive will be making a mix of dream catchers, gnome homes, fairy gardens and fantasy passports.
And, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for the free Summer Reading Challenge.
Best for children aged 3–14. Young children must have a supervising adult with them.
No need to book you can just go along.
Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Marvellous Mini Beasts at Rochdale Central Library
9.30am - 11.30am
Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Marvellous Mini Beasts at Balderstone Library
9.30am - 11.30am
Thursday, 21 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Marvellous Mini Beasts at Smallbridge Library
It's Marvellous Mini Beasts week across Rochdale Borough Libraries and there are plenty of activities taking place for families to enjoy.
1.30pm - 3pm
Thursday, 21 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Enchanted Forest at Spotland Library
9.30am - 11.30am
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Enchanted Forest at Castleton Library
1pm - 3pm
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Enchanted Forest at Middleton Library
9.30am - 11.30am
Wednesday, 27 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Enchanted Forest at Heywood Library
9.30am - 11.30am
Thursday, 28 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Enchanted Forest at Norden Library
1pm - 3pm
Thursday, 28 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Enchanted Forest at Rochdale Central Library
9.30am - 11.30am
Friday, 29 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Enchanted Forest at Milnrow Library
1pm - 3pm
The Songsmith's Atelier Curated by Kirsty Almeida
Preview by Steve Cooke
Kirsty Almeida is a World folk singer-songwriter who was raised in Gibraltar and now lives in the magical hills of Hebden Bridge in the North of England. Her career reflects the sanctity and magic of art and self-expression. Her mature song-craft, comforting vocals and attention to every creative detail shines through.
She is also a creative mentor, and soulful catalyst for artistic and creative transformation.
With a career spanning major label signings with Decca Records and Universal, international performances, film scores, and critically acclaimed albums, Kirsty brings a rare blend of industry experience and deep emotional intelligence. Her music has featured in over 50 TV shows and 4 films. Over the past decade, Kirsty has turned her focus toward the inner world of the artist — exploring the rich intersection of creativity, healing, and mindset. Her work gently but powerfully supports others to dissolve creative blocks, awaken their true voice, and write from a place of deep authenticity and freedom.
At the heart of Kirsty’s teaching is the belief that when we shift our inner beliefs, our outer reality begins to shift too. This retreat is an invitation into that transformation — a space to grow as a songwriter, artist, and human.
(Link to Kirsty’s songs) https://kirstyalmeida.bandcamp.com/
Kirsty is a passionate advocate of the power of creativity to support and promote good mental health.
In her own words “There’s a spark that comes when we finally give ourselves space to create to feel, to reawaken, to go deeper, to allow, to connect, to discover the songs within”.
From September 12th–14th, Kirsty is curating The Songsmith’s Artelier at Bottoms Farm in Todmorden— “a cosy, communal home where songwriters go deep”.
Whether you’re just starting out or already weaving stories with music I highly recommend this weekend as a space to:
• Reignite your creative flame
• Hone your craft with soulful clarity
• Find sanctuary in shared care, connection, and song
It’s for those who are ready to treat songwriting not just as a passion, but as a profession. Whether you’re looking to create a fresh body of work, rediscover your creative spark, refine and elevate what you’ve already written, or simply reconnect with the joy of writing, this space is for you.
Imagine waking up in a peaceful rural retreat, breathing in inspiration with every cup of tea, and sharing laughter, breakthroughs, and stories by evening’s end.
There’s gentle coaching, guest artists who share new ideas, sessions and exercises that guide you to new directions, and real-world tools to support your next chapter—creatively, professionally, and personally.
The Songsmith's Atelier Curated by Kirsty Almeida
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 6:00 PM - Sun Sep 14, 2025, 2:00 PM
Bottoms Farm Retreat Todmorden, OL14 7UA
SEND IN THE CLOWNS: LITTLE FLOP OF HORRORS
Preview by Steve Cooke
Hope Mill favourites Send in the Clowns are back this autumn with a tongue in cheek look at musical theatre villains.
Featuring the talents of vocal powerhouse Fatt Butcher alongside Dahliah Rivers, Blü Romantic and Alanna Boden, Little Flop of Horrors is a raucous night of outrageous comedy, camp cabaret, audience singalongs and spine-tingling live vocals.
Expect big laughs and unique takes on The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors, Hadestown, Cabaret and Wicked.
This time the Clowns are taking a deep dive into the treacherous world of musical theatre villainy in their most outrageous show yet Expect unique takes on The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors, Hadestown, Cabaret, & Wicked.
Join your host cabaret superstar, winner of Drag Idol UK, and ‘incredible vocal powerhouse’ (West End Best Friend) Fatt Butcher alongside a stellar line-up of the midlands’ finest drag & cabaret talents including Dahliah Rivers, Blü Romantic, and Alanna Boden.
Rapidly becoming a sell-out cult event at the Hope Mill and hot on the heels of their 2025 Spring Tour, Little Flop Of Horrors promises an unforgettably raucous show packed with outrageous comedy, spine-tingling live vocals, camp cabaret, & sing-a-longs. Each show ends with their unmissable ‘twenty minute musical’, a drag recreation of a legendary musical rehearsed in two days and performed in 20 minutes (ish) – what could possibly go wrong?!
Send In The Clowns is a raucous, wild, and tantalising drag revue show celebrating the magic and madness of musical theatre.
16th – 18th September 19:30
£20.50 +£1.50 booking fee
Suitable for ages 18 and over
Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA
Phone: 0161 275 9141
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday 20 August 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Freda Farnworth soprano (Guildhall School of Music) piano J Edward Rigg
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 21 August 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, 21 August 2025
It's Marvellous Mini Beasts week across Rochdale Borough Libraries and there are plenty of activities taking place for families to enjoy.
Locations: if you can't make this event, you can catch the Holiday Hive at other libraries across the borough over August 2025. View Holiday Hive events
Best for children aged 3–14. Young children must have a supervising adult with them.
No need to book, you can just come along.
The Holiday Hive will be creating a mix of creepy crawly clay bugs, caterpillar keychains and bug hunting.
And, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for the free Summer Reading Challenge.
Free
9.30am - 11.30am
Balderstone Library, Balderstone Park, Platting Lane, Rochdale OL11 2HD
Saturday, 23 August 2025
Middleton Reading Group
Last Saturday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers in this friendly and relaxed reading group.
Adults – you can just turn up.
Books are provided and loaned through the library. Refreshments will be provided.
Free
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU
Saturday, 23 August 2025
Littleborough U3A Poetry Group - Littleborough Library
4th Saturday of every month. A monthly poetry appreciation group for U3A Littleborough members.
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/
10am - 11.30am
Littleborough Library, Hare Hill Park, Littleborough OL15 9HE
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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