MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 3 minutes ago
- 7 min read
  previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
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MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 2025
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Festival of Libraries 2025
Preview by Steve Cooke
Returning for its 5th year, and winner of Best Event at the Manchester Culture Awards in 2024, Festival of Libraries is the biggest festival of its type in the country, bringing together all 133 of Greater Manchester’s libraries and more.
Reminding us of how precious libraries are to communities, equality, discovery and culture, the festival is filled with exhibitions, performances, installations, workshops, Family Friendly activities and international collaborations. It is made possible thanks to the support of Arts Council England.
Manchester is home to some of the finest historic libraries in the world, including Chetham’s Library, The Portico Library, Manchester Central Library and The John Rylands Library, which celebrates its 125th birthday this year. It will do so with the unveiling of a new Collections Gallery where 40 objects that echo the history and evolution of the library’s collections will be displayed, and a new Special Exhibitions Gallery, where The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop 1955 – 1985 exhibition will be located. The new galleries will open at The John Rylands Library on Thursday, 15 May 2025 and will be featured as part of the Festival of Libraries programme.
Reflecting the breadth of libraries in Greater Manchester, at the same time as one of its libraries reaches a grand old age, a bold new chapter is beginning in Stockport.Â
Stockroom will open this spring – reimagining what a modern library can be. Designed with and for local people, but open to all, Stockroom will feature a children’s creative learning space, a café bar, archives, and an event space hosting a vibrant year-round programme. More than just a library, there’s room for everyone: to make noise, meet friends or find a bit of peace, play, take part, think and do new things. Details of how Stockroom will celebrate the Festival of Libraries will be revealed as part of its much-anticipated launch.
Events in Rochdale
Tuesday, 27 May 2025–Friday, 30 May 2025. Yake part in the Festival of Libraries 2025 Look for a Book Challenge.
Monday, 2 June 2025–Saturday, 7 June 2025
Book Bunting family craft at Norden Library.
A free, fun, crafty time at the library, decorating a plain cotton pennant with a book-themed design using fabric pens.
Thursday, 5 June 2025
Book Wands family craft at Milnrow Library
A free, fun, crafty time at the library. Create your own magical book wand to take home.
Thursday, 5 June 2025
Book Wands family craft at Wardle Library
A free, fun, crafty time at the library. Create your own magical book wand to take home.
Thursday, 5 June 2025
Book Wands family craft at Middleton Library
A free, fun, crafty time at the library. Create your own magical book wand to take home.
Thursday 5 June 2025
Ukulele Storytime at Langley Library
A fun-filled story time and singalong with live music from our very own ukulele group.
Friday, 6 June 2025
Death Cafe Heywood Library
A Death Cafe is a chance to talk about death, often a taboo subject.
Friday, 6 June 2025
Book Bunting family craft at Langley Library
A free, fun, crafty time at the library, decorating a plain cotton pennant with a book-themed design using fabric pens.
Saturday, 7 June 2025
Writing for Wellbeing at Middleton Library
A workshop on writing for wellbeing held by facilitated by professional writers from the Centre for New Writing at The University of Manchester.
Saturday, 7 June 2025
Draw Along and Storytime with Neil Clark and Penny Neville-Lee at Rochdale Central Library
Join picture book makers Neil ('Crash! Bang! Wallop!') and Penny ('The Carousel Horse') in the Children's Library for a fun, interactive session of stories and drawing.
Saturday, 7 June 2025
Book Wands family craft at Langley Library
A free, fun, crafty time at the library. Create your own magical book wand to take home.
Saturday, 7 June 2025
Book Wands family craft at Smallbridge Library
AÂ free, fun, crafty time at the library. Create your own magical book wand to take home.
Saturday, 7 June 2025
Book Wands family craft at Rochdale Central Library
A free, fun, crafty time at the library. Create your own magical book wand to take home.
Saturday, 7 June 2025
Gruffalo-themed craft at Balderstone Library
We will be making Gruffalo-themed headbands at Balderstone Library as part of the Festival of Libraries in June. All materials provided.
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bigSMALL, an exhibition of sculpture by Martha Lyons Haywood.
Preview by Steve Cooke
Local artist Martha Lyons Haywood’s sculptures and installations are results of tentative deliberations through physical play and intervention of materials, space and environment. She dedicates time to existing objects and to the innate natures of materials balancing 'beauty in tension'.Â
Much of her work is made up of found, natural and organic materials which allow her to play with alchemy and to create dialogues between harmonies or crises in our surrounding cultures: life/death, material/environment, human to human, the authentic/the surreal, the absurd/the necessary, love/romance, sadness/humour.Â
Other materials and actions in her practice (lenses, tools, performance...) are symbolic of human intervention and movement. She studies human psyche and sociology to fuel her work through either autosuggestion or iterative thought.Â
Her new exhibition bigSMALL will showcase a collection of artworks which demonstrate stubbornness to survive.
Everything will be fragile or demand more space than it takes up in mass. They will honour the spider in the gale, the pigeon in the storm, and the human in the heartbreak.
The bigSMALL exhibition launch is a drop in event where you can meet the artist and other members of our artist community while experiencing the exhibition.
Ebor Studio, William Street, Littleborough, OL15 8JP
Can't make it? bigSMALL will be available to view from the 14th of June until the 5th of July. Please email info@eborstudio.co.uk to arrange a time to visit that suits you.
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Scouts! The Musical
Preview by Steve Cooke
We are welcomed to the annual Scout Games where Scouts from around the world have gathered to compete against each other for the ultimate prize.
But when an intruder threatens to sabotage the competition, it is up to Joe and Ayesha to put aside their rivalries and use their newfound skills to save the day!
Created in partnership with the Scouts, Gigglemug Theatre (A Jaffa Cake Musical, Timpson: The Musical, RuneSical) return with their smash hit, actor-musician led comedy musical for the whole family.
The show received a WhatsOnStage Award Nomination for Best Off-West End Production in 2024, an Offie Nomination for Best Performance Ensemble in 2023 and was even described by former Chief Scout Bear Grylls as ‘Incredible!’
Tuesday 10th June – Sunday 15th June
Weekdays: 19:00 pm
Weekends: 13:00pm & 17:00pm
£18 + Transaction Fee
Run time: 1 hour 50 minutes.
Act 1: 50 mins Act 2: 40 mins Interval: 20 mins
Suitable for ages 6 and over
Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA
Phone Box Office: 0161 275 9141
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RECOMMENDED
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Wednesday 28 May 2025
Dinosaur Adventure Live presents The Big Jurassic Storm
Are you ready for a brand new adventure with Dinosaur Adventure Live?!
When a satellite tasked with controlling the island’s weather systems malfunctions, chaos erupts.
The island’s tropical climate spirals leading to one big Jurassic storm. If not stopped, it will erase all existence of the island… forever!
The mission: find the code hidden deep within the island, reboot the satellite and save the dinosaurs before it’s too late.
The adventure of a lifetime awaits… bring the family on a T-Rex-iffic journey with our brand new dinosaurs, meet their roar-some babies and help the rangers save the island. Are you brave enough to face the Jurassic storm?
6 to 10 Years old
From £16.00
14:00
Accessible viewing platform / area
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, M24 1AG
Visit: https://www.rochdalecreates.co.uk/whats-on/dinosaur-adventure-live-presents-the-big-jurassic-storm
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Wednesday 28 May 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Dimitra Ananiadou violin (Universities of Greece, York & Manchester) with Richard Whalley piano (Universities of York & Harvard)
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
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Thursday 22 May 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
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Saturday 31Â May
Folk Like Us
Join Riverside Writers at Rochdale Town Hall for a day celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Lancashire and Rochdale.
Folk Like Us is a free event and on the day, you can enjoy:
Guided poetry tours of the iconic building
Poetry workshops for adults and children
Lancashire songs from Littleborough U3A Choir
An organ recital by Barrie Brailsford
Dialect and poetry from the Edwin Waugh Society
Music from Littleborough Brass Band
During the day there will be displays and activities in the Exchange and there will be refreshments available from The Martlet
Free
10.30am - 4pm
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
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Sat 31 May 2025
The Rocket Man
Pack your bags, strap yourself in, zero hour 7.30pm, for a night like no other as we celebrate Sir Elton John!
The Rocket Man is the world’s favourite celebration to a musical icon.
Join us as The Rocket Man and our amazing live band take you down the Yellow Brick Road with two hours of glorious Elton hits, including Saturday Night’s Alright, Crocodile Rock, I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues, Daniel, I’m Still Standing, Philadelphia Freedom, Your Song and many, many more.
With dazzling costumes, stunning vocals and sensational piano solos, we take you on a journey through Elton’s life and career, the highs and the lows with many a laugh brought to life, live on stage. This show has it all!
Watch trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg3QlmbzXVY
From £31.00
7:30pm, doors open: 6:45pm
Middelton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
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 celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.