MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 7 JANUARY 2026
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 1 minute ago
- 6 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 7 JANUARY 2026
Previews: National Theatre Live: The Fifth Step, Dauntless – Grace O'Malley Pirate Queen and When We See Ourselves
Review: Talented pupils shine in council’s Christmas card competition
Talented pupils shine in council’s Christmas card competition
Review by Steve Cooke
It is always encouraging to see our young creatives given opportunity and encouragement.
One of the many who took up such is Ten-year-old Hephzibah from Newlands School in Middleton who has had her festive artwork turned into a real Christmas card after entering a design competition.
Rochdale Borough Council leader Councillor Neil Emmott invited local schools to enter the competition last month. Hephzibah designed a festive scene complete with Christmas tree, presents and a snowman. Runner up, Briana, aged nine, came up with a very striking Christmas image. Hephzibah’s artwork has been made into electronic cards that have been sent by email to hundreds of individuals and organisations. Printed versions of the cards have also been posted.
Newlands is a primary special school, catering for children aged three to 11. Last week Coun Emmott visited to thank the pupils personally and present them with printed copies of the card, gift vouchers and festive treats for their classmates and teachers.
Councillor Emmott said he was impressed by all the designs: “It was great to see so much talent, effort and creativity shining through in each design, and it’s always difficult to pick a winner. The imagination and Christmas spirit we have seen here at Newlands School is fabulous. Thank you to all the children who took part. I was very pleased to be able to call in and thank them personally.”
As well as being used for electronic and printed Christmas cards, the pupil’s artwork will also be shared on the council’s social media channels over the festive season.
Headteacher Ms Farzana Shah said: “We are so pleased that Hephzibah and Briana’s work has been recognised in this way, representing all our children here at Newlands. We are very proud of them. Well done to the children and their families.”
National Theatre Live: The Fifth Step
Preview by Steve Cooke
The latest in the National Theatre Live events at Middleton Arena presents an opportunity to experience Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in the critically-acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland.
After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.
Finn den Hertog directs the provocative and entertaining production filmed live from Soho Place in London’s West End.
From £10.00: https://www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/national-theatre-live-the-fifth-step/
Saturday 27 January 2026
19:00
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester, M24 1AG
Accessibility
Accessible viewing platform / area
Wheel chair / pram accessible
Dauntless – Grace O'Malley Pirate Queen
Preview by Steve Cooke
Award-winning storyteller Debs Newbold gleefully delivers the boisterous, remarkable and inspirational story of her hero: Grainne ni Mhaille – Grace O’Malley, legendary Irish clan chief and queen of the sea.
Stowing away aboard her father’s ship aged 8, Grace became a 16th century force of nature. A multilingual, seafaring weapons expert, leader of 2000 men, rebel, politician, kingmaker and slayer, prodigious lover, avenging hero and notorious pirate. Best of all, she was real.
From the west of Ireland to the court of Elizabeth I, from wild youth to even wilder old age, Dauntless is an epic celebration of uproarious storytelling, high drama and one fascinating 16th century feminist. No knights in shining armour need apply.
Running Time: 85 mins (no interval)
Age Guidance: For adults and children 14+
Content Guidance: This performance may contain descriptions of birth, postnatal bleeding, sex, violence and death, contextualised within a paradigm of mythic narrative, archetype and metaphor.
From £10.00
Saturday 31 January 2026 at 19:30
Skylight Circus Arts, St Chad's Fold, Sparrow Hill, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL16 1QT
Accessibility
Accessible viewing platform / area
Wheel chair / pram accessible
When We See Ourselves
Preview by Steve Cooke
Touchstones Live is bringing very welcome bold, brilliant performance to partner venues in Rochdale town centre!
As they eagerly await the re-opening of Touchstones and new performance space, they are offering a taste of things to come with a season of drama, dance, physical theatre, comedy, contemporary performance and brilliant work for families.
Coming up at Rochdale Ukranian Centre is When We See Ourselves.
Twenty years on, Vanessa and Aravindan look back at the day their families met for the first time and what began as an unexpected romance became beset by cultural difference.
Their 21st century relationship is set against the life of 18th century botanist Carl Linneaus, whose early attempts to classify all living things had far-reaching and devastating consequences.
Altered Skin creates powerful performances by combining movement with words. They use everyday stories and real-life experiences as a starting point to explore deeper ideas and themes.
Tickets from free: https://www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/when-we-see-ourselves/book/?instance=619602
Thursday 12 March 2026
7:30 – 8.00 pm
Touchstones at Rochdale Ukrainian Centre, 15 Mere St, Rochdale OL11 1HJ
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday, 7 January 2026
Heywood Scribblers - Heywood Library
First Wednesday of every month. Free, friendly creative writing sessions. Poetry and story-writing workshops. All abilities welcome, whether you're new to writing or a seasoned writer.
For adults, families and teenagers.
No need to book, you can just drop in.
Free
1.15pm - 3.15pm
Heywood Library, LCpl Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW
Wednesday, 7 January 2026
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - More than Melody Ladies Choir Conductor Jonathan Gibson Piano Brian Milligan
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, 8 January 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
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Saturday, 10 January 2026
Notes from College Bank - Book Launch and Exhibition
Ellie brings together work collected and made so far as part of the on-going project that looks to document the social and historical significance of the College Bank buildings in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. The project, photo book and exhibition feature photographs from her grandad's archive - M.J.Burgess, documenting Rochdale in 1970-80's.
The book launch offers an opportunity to meet the artist, learn more about the project, and purchase one of the limited-edition, hand-bound photo books. Proceeds from all book sales will be donated to Prostate Cancer UK and will also help fund the next chapter of the project: the creation of a community-led archive in the centre of Rochdale.
Free / Pay What You Want
14:00
Ebor Studio , William Street , Littleborough , OL15 8JP
Saturday, 10 January 2026
The ultimate celebration concert to one of the most iconic and best-selling artists of all time.
Robert Schmuck (Billy The Kid) and his amazing seven-piece band perform breath-taking musical arrangements of multi-million selling songs such as My Life, Uptown Girl, River Of Dreams, Tell Her About It, Still Rock ‘n’ Roll To Me, An Innocent Man, Movin’ Out, Just The Way You Are, We Didn’t Start The Fire, Piano Man, The Longest Time and many, many more, it’s a non-stop hits show!
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_khr5kSLAus
Duration: 2h
Tickets from £26.78 (inc. £1.28 cmsn)
19:30
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester, M24 1AG
Accessible viewing platform / area
Wheel chair / pram accessible
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.