MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2026
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 2 minutes ago
- 8 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2026
Previews: Ward 76 On Tour, Vignettes - stories of women and mothers navigating social care systems, Tales From Acorn Wood plus ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists’ Association est.1908) present Celebrity Recitals at the Rochdale Town Hall Organ.
Review: A hypnotic Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum.
Ward 76 On Tour
Preview by Steve Cooke
Ward 76 is a Rochdale based tour which will perform during March at a number of High schools, Carer’s groups, the Youth festival and Royal Manchester Children’s hospital.
The story begins during a sudden power outage in a hospital, throwing everything into chaos. Three teenage patients, who have only just met, team up to search for WiFi and find themselves on an unexpected journey through the hospital’s hidden spaces. What starts as a hunt for signal becomes a humorous, heartfelt adventure with a hint of ghost-story mystery, as the characters encounter strange happenings, face their fears and form genuine friendships along the way.
Through humour, moments of horror and honest conversation, Ward 76 explores themes including anxiety, disability, loneliness, social media pressures and the realities of growing up in a medical environment. The play is led by disabled artist Sam Jamil and his mother Shirley and is rooted in their lived experience of Sam “growing up” in hospital.
Ward 76: A Rochdale Tour Preview
£8.67
Monday 2 March 2026
M6 Theatre Company, Rochdale, OL16 2SU
This project was made possible with funding from Rochdale Borough Culture Network Fund, M6 Theatre Company and public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Ward 76 is proudly supported in kind by Breaking Barriers, Bolton Octagon Theatre, Create Rochdale, Culture Coop, Graeae Theatre Company, M6 Theatre Company, Manchester River Cruises, Odd Arts, Richard Street Studios, Rochdale Development Agency and The Edge Theatre.
A hypnotic Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
This hypnotic Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum was the 1,173rd since taking over from Rochdale council in 2001. First-rate musicians Rascallity Harp Duo have made several appearances here since they formed as students; they delight in the excellent acoustics in which they can get the most out of their playing and repertoire and are not afraid of taking on any musical style.
Soloist and teacher Kathryn Mason gained a first-class BMus and a master’s from the RNCM.
Alice Roberts graduated first-class from the joint course of Manchester University (where she gained awards for the highest mark in 2016 and 2018) and the RNCM (where in 2020 she became the first harpist to win the Gold Medal). Both are now freelance soloists and with a wide range of ensembles and genres. Variety certainly is the spice of their lives.
The sight of two concert harps together was in itself impressive; and the sound atmospheric.
The fearless introduction of a contemporary musical world where normally extraneous sounds, such as taps on the cases, percussion, even vocals, become part of the language, is a mark of this duo. A third member of this ensemble was the acoustic space in which they interacted. The whole becoming greater than the sum of its parts.
They produced a sparkling soundscape in Sea of Stars by Lauren Scott and even more so in French-Canadian composer, Caroline Lizotte’s Stellae Saltantem, with its classical storyline of Ariadne, played by a terrestrial Kathryn and a celestial Alice.
With flavours of folk and traces of jazz and New Age, Monica Stadler’s Preseli Skies and On the Water were further enriched with improvisation.
Even more experimental were works by Bernard Andres and Caroline Lizotte with added percussion and use of SE Asian Raga structures. Rascallity are doing contemporary music and the public a great service by programming it and performing it so well.
The finale was a more relaxed yet vibrant Caravan by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington. This American jazz standard was first recorded by Barney Bigard and his Jazzopators in 1936 and has since been covered in over 500 versions. This superb arrangement by Alice Roberts is a worthy successor and could be a great signature tune for them.
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. Entrance fee is £6. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.
Vignettes - stories of women and mothers navigating social care systems.
Preview by Steve Cooke
The excellent Vignettes returns to Hope Mill Theatre with 6 short plays by local female playwrights.
In 2026, Vignettes Is in partnership with Crewe-based charity HER Place, telling stories of women and mothers navigating social care systems.
Writers Cohort for 2026 are Channique Sterling-Brown, Rebekah Harrison, Oceana Cage, Lekhani Chirwa, Lisa Holdsworth & Alex Keelan
£16 Standard, £12 Concession + £1.50 transaction fee
Wednesday 4 March – Sunday 8 March
2 hours 20 minutes [Interval: 20 minutes]
Hope Mill Theatre,113 Pollard Street, Manchester M4 7JA
2 minute walk from New Islington Metrolink Station. Just one stop from Manchester Piccadilly.
Car park on site, it is free to use but cannot guarantee spaces. On street parking is limited to 90 minutes. There is a paid-for car park near to New Islington Metrolink Station.
Tales From Acorn Wood
Preview by Steve Cooke
Tales From Acorn Wood is based on the favourite children’s stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
These beloved stories are brought to life on stage for the first time in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience.
Poor old Fox has lost his socks! Are they in the kitchen or inside the clock? And Rat-a-tat-tat! Who’s that keeping tired Rabbit awake? You can also join in with Pig and Hen’s game of hide-and-seek and discover the special surprise Postman Bear is planning for his friends.
Packed full of toe-tapping songs, puppetry, and all the friends from Acorn Wood, this beautiful show from the team that brought us Dear Zoo Live and Dear Santa promises to be the perfect treat for children of all ages.
From £14.18
Thursday 12 March, 1.30pm and Friday 13 March, 10.30am
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester, M24 1AG
ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists’ Association est.1908) present Celebrity Recitals at the Rochdale Town Hall Organ
Preview by Dr Joe Dawson
Dr Ronny Krippner was appointed Director of Music at Ripon Cathedral in 2022. Born in Bavaria in 1980 he studied organ playing and improvisation at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik in Regensburg while at the same time working as Assistant Choirmaster of the ‘Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows’, the Cathedral's famous boys' choir.
He then went to Exeter University to take his master's degree whilst singing in the Cathedral Choir as a Choral Scholar. Building on these twin musical foundations, in 2005 he became Organ Scholar at Bristol Cathedral, Organist at Clifton College and a member of staff at Bristol Grammar school. After a period at Newport Cathedral, Wales, Ronny moved to London where he was Organist and Teacher of Music at King's College School, Wimbledon. Ronny also held the post of Assistant Director of Music at St George's, Hanover Square (London), followed by nine years as Organist & Director of Choral Music at Croydon Minster and Whitgift School, London.
Ronny has made organ improvisation a specialism, for which he has won many accolades. In 2009 he was a finalist in the prestigious competition in St Albans and won two prizes in the international competition in Biarritz. From 2010-2013 and again from 2019, Ronny was Specialist Tutor for Organ Improvisation at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. In 2019, he was awarded a PhD by Birmingham City University for a thesis entitled 'Organ Improvisation in the Anglican Cathedral Tradition.
Ronny has recorded several CDs with organ and choir music and performed on television and radio in Germany and the UK. He has given organ recitals in Germany, Holland, Belgium, the UK, USA, Mexico and Australia.
Saturday’s programme for Rochdale’s magnificent JJ Binns instrument will contain Guilmant, Mozart, Stanford, and Widor, before his own works - Improvisations: Thema and Variations on Handel’s March from Scipione, and Prelude, Adagio and Fugue on the tune MELITA (Hommage à JS Bach). Come and see the Master at work.
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.
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Feb 25 Margaret Ferguson soprano (Ghana, Poland & RNCM) & Mackenzie Paget piano RNCM
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, 26 February 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
Thursday, 26 February 2026
Bookstart Baby and Bear Club - Smallbridge Library
Every other Thursday during term time. Join Amy and Bookstart Bear for a fun session, especially for babies and toddlers up to pre-school age and their parents or carers.
Free
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
1.30pm - 2.15pm
Smallbridge Library, Stevenson Square, Rochdale OL12 9SA
Saturday, 28 February 2026
Reading Group - Middleton Library
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.
Free
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU
Saturday, 28 February 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.
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
Free
10.30am - 12pm
Langley Library, Windermere Road, Middleton M24 4LA
Saturday, 28 February 2026
Kids' Club - Wardle Library
Come along and get creative at our craft table.
Last Saturday of every month. These themed Kids' Club activity sessions will include crafts, activities and challenges.
For families with children aged 4 and over.
No need to book? No, you can just come along
Free
10am - 12.30pm
Wardle Library, 448 Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9LH
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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