MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 22JULY 2026

STEVE COOKE AATA
7 minutes ago
8 min read

previews, articles, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke

MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 22 JULY 2026

Previews: Mrs Dalloway coming to HOME, Rehearsals underway for Calendar Girls at the Octagon plus Bake and share biscuits! Workshop for families

Reviews: Fun Home is Perfect for the Royal Exchange Theatre and A startling and heart-rending Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum

Fun Home is Perfect for the Royal Exchange Theatre

Review by Steve Cooke

At the Opening/Press Night of Fun Home we were treated to the Exchange at its very best with a production of emotional depth, inventive staging, and exceptional performances from the whole cast.

Fun Home is structured around memory with three Alisons at different ages exploring its heavy themes of family dysfunction, sexuality and grief; perfectly staged in the Royal Exchange’s in‑the‑round space with a minimalist set, clever lighting, and fluid transitions between memories.

Jodie McNee as Adult Alison exemplifies the excellence of the whole cast delivering a

performance that embodies the essence of the play with laugh out loud hilarity and heart wrenching pathos, guiding the audience through the story with emotional clarity.

Nigel Harman (Alison’s dad, Bruce Bechdel): is absolutely brilliant and deeply affecting with his violent mood swings.

The young cast of Harriet O’Shea as young Alison, Reuben Shepherd as John and Theo Wake as Christian bring the house down with their energy, humour and warmth especially in the set piece around and in an open coffin in their dad’s funeral parlour.

Jeanine Tesori’s score is jazzy, witty, melancholic, and propulsive, with numbers like Changing My Major to Joan and Raincoat of Love being audience favourites.

I confidently give Fun Home the highest recommendation - this Royal Exchange production is powerful, beautifully performed, and one of the venue’s standout shows in recent years.

To book visit: ttps://www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/fun-home/#performances

On until Saturday 1 August at Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH

A startling and heart-rending Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum

Review by Dr Joe Dawson

This startling and heart-rending Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum was the 1,193rd since taking over from Rochdale council in 2001. It featured two enormously talented postgraduates of the RNCM.

Leda Mileto is an award-winning violinist, Dalcroze practitioner and educator from Rome. Based in Manchester since 2021 she also founded and leads the award-winning Aestus String Quartet. An avid music maker since the age of two in a musical home, she began to study the violin in middle school and entered the Fiesole School of Music and Conservatoire in Rome at thirteen. After graduation she came on a scholarship to the RNCM and gained a master’s and post-graduate diploma. She is a tutor in violin, rhythmics, singing and improvisation in the Junior RNCM. She provided friendly and informative introductions.

Japanese-born Kanoko Mizuno is an award-winning soloist and collaborative pianist who graduated from the Toho Gakuen School of Music before moving to the UK, where she studied at the RNCM on a scholarship (winning the Gold Medal 2019) and also graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2020.

Kanako has a strong passion for chamber music and is a member of Trio Kagura, a piano trio who were selected as Britten Pears Young Artists for 2024-2025 (following Leda’s Aestus Quartet the previous year).

How fortunate we were to hear such accomplished performers.

The evergreen melodic favourite of Dvořák’s ‘Gypsy Songs,’ - ‘Songs my mother taught me’ is equally famous as an instrumental piece as the original song. Few could fail to be moved by Leda’s plaintive yearning and Kanako’s sensitive and supportive playing.

Mozart’s Sonata K379 in G Major was an equally matched duo work that seemed almost like Beethoven. Each player supported the other with exciting and challenging contributions; the variations of the second movement showed great development and a wide range of moods and techniques reaching beyond the Classical period, all superbly managed and expressed.

Prokofiev's Sonata No. 2 in D, Op 94a composed in 1942, originally for flute but here arranged for violin, the duo work incorporating twentieth century styles and virtuoso playing with rhythmic vitality and passion was tremendous. The final movement had much of the grandeur of the ‘Montagues and the Capulets’ from the composer’s famous Romeo and Juliet music. Without doubt a dazzling joint display from two exciting musicians. Finally, Estrellita by Ponce in 1912, a beautiful Mexican serenade arranged by the great virtuoso violinist, Jascha Heifetz in 1923. An appropriately nostalgic ‘book end’ to a splendid recital.

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

Mrs Dalloway coming to HOME

Preview by Steve Cooke

An Invitation from HOME to a party you won't want to miss is the immersive new stage version of Virginia Woolf’s classic novel co-created by award-winning director Jen Heyes and Olivier Award-winning writer and performer Kit Green who also embodies the lead role and a host of other unforgettable characters in this bold, contemporary, reimagining.

Fusing theatre, live music and film into a dazzling theatrical feast, this immersive adaptation brings Woolf's radical novel roaring into the now! Over the course of one extraordinary day, lives intertwine. Memory, identity and loss collide and at the centre stands Clarissa Dalloway; vivacious, complex, unforgettable.

Funny and moving, Mrs Dalloway promises to be a vibrant celebration of life, love, survival and the moments that make us who we are.

To book visit: https://www.homemcr.org/whats-on/mrs-dalloway

Phone: Box Office 0161 200 1500

Thursday 24 September - Saturday 26 September at HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place Manchester M15 4FN.

Rehearsals underway for Calendar Girls at the Octagon

Preview by Steve Cooke

Rehearsals are now underway for Calendar Girls The Musical at the Octagon, bringing the incredible true story of a group of friends who find strength in each other when life takes an unexpected turn.

Based on the true story that inspired the hit film, Calendar Girls The Musical follows a group of ordinary Yorkshire Women's Institute members who decide to do something extraordinary. In honour of a much-loved husband, they launch a bold fundraising campaign that soon attracts national attention.

The death of a much loved husband prompts a group of ordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women's Institute to do something extraordinary: create a nude calendar to raise money for charity. News spreads fast in their community and none of them expect the emotional and personal repercussions, but gradually the making of the fabulous and funny calendar brings each woman unexpectedly into bloom.

Packed full of unforgettable songs, every performance continues to prove that there is no such thing as an ordinary woman

Visit the rehearsal room: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOR2eUN7NGs

Tickets from £17

Visit: https://octagonbolton.co.uk/events/calendar-girls-the-musical

14+

Calendar Girls The Musical, By Gary Barlow & Tim Firth, Thursday 8 – Saturday 31 October at Octagon Theatre Bolton, Octagon Court, Howell Croft S, Bolton BL1

Bake and share biscuits! Workshop for families

Preview by Steve Cooke

An opportunity coming up at Rochdale Pioneers Museum to learn how to make delicious biscuits and then share them as part of a tasty picnic! Inspired by the ingredients sold by the original Rochdale Pioneers, you’ll measure, mix, scoop and bake to make delicious cookies that you can share! Then, join them in their garden parklet for a lovely picnic.

Tickets are £5 per person and must be booked in advance. If you would like to attend this event but cost is a barrier to you, please email museum@heritagetrust.coop for reduced price tickets.

Visit: https://www.co-operativeheritage.coop/Event/bake-and-share-workshop-for-families

All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. If you are accompanying a child, you do not need to buy a ticket.

This session is aimed at children aged 3-11 but they can accommodate younger and older children.

Thursday 20 August, 1pm-3pm at 31 Toad Lane, Rochdale OL12 0NU

RECOMMENDED

Wednesday 22 July 2026

Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime

This week we have - Alice Roberts & Kathryn Mason ‘Rascallity Harp Duo’ (both Manc Univ & RNCM)

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

St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ

Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm - 1.30pm

Thursday, 23 July 2026

Norden Book Nook - book club at Norden Library

Last Thursday of every other month. Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers in this friendly and relaxed reading group which meets every 2 months.

Free

For adults and teenagers.

No need to book, you can just drop in. However, please be aware limited spaces are available.

Email: norden.library@rochdale.gov.uk

3.45pm - 4.45pm

Norden Library, Shawfield Lane, Rochdale OL12 7RQ

Thursday, 23 July 2026

Bookstart Baby and Bear Club - Balderstone Library

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

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

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

Email: balderstone.library@rochdale.gov.uk

1.30pm - 2.15pm

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

Thursday, 23 July 2026

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

Saturday, 25 July 2026

Reading Group - Middleton Library

Free

Last Saturday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers in this friendly and relaxed reading group.

Books are provided and loaned through the library. Refreshments will be provided.

For adults

No booking required, you can just turn up.

Email: middleton.library@rochdale.gov.uk

1.30pm - 2.30pm

Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU

Saturday, 25 July 2026

Monthly Lego Club - Langley Library

Last Saturday of every month. A monthly Lego Club with a different theme each session. All creations will be displayed in the library until the following month. There's Duplo for younger children.

Free

For families with children aged 4 and over.

Booking required: Please book by 4pm the day before a session. You can book by:

Emailing langley.library@rochdale.gov.uk

Phoning 0161 654 8911

Calling into the library

10.30am - 12pm

Langley Library, Windermere Road, Middleton M24 4LA

Saturday, 25 July 2026

Kids' Club - Wardle Library

Come along and get creative at our craft table.

Free