MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL 2026
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 23 hours ago
- 10 min read
Previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL 2026
Previews: Lunchtime Concert At Rochdale Parish Church, Crippled With Laughter, I, Daniel Blake - A stage adaptation of the acclaimed Ken Loach film, It’s a Sin and Sister Act.
Lunchtime Concert At Rochdale Parish Church
Preview by Steve Cooke
The next in the excellent series of Saturday Lunchtime Concerts in the iconic St Chad’s sees Gabriel Rhodes (Baritone) with Evan Watkinson (Pianoforte).
GABRIEL RHODES – Baritone
Gabriel is a 19-year-old baritone from Huddersfield, currently studying with Stuart Overington at Chetham’s School of Music. He is the recipient of The Hardcastle Scholarship and has recently been offered a place at the Royal Academy of Music, where he will begin studies with Mark Wildman in the next academic year.
Recent engagements include appearing as a soloist with Cawthorne Choral Society, and the Tallis Choral Foundation in Bach’s Weihnachts-Oratorium, Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem, as well as giving a lunchtime recital at Manchester Cathedral.
A passionate and expressive performer with a strong dramatic instinct, Gabriel has a particular interest in opera and German Lied, which he hopes to pursue as a career. Alongside his vocal work, he is a keen pianist and organist and greatly enjoys accompanying other musicians.
EVAN WATKINSON – Pianoforte
Evan is an 18 year old piano student from Doncaster, currently attending Chetham’s School of Music, studying under Jonathan Middleton. He was recently offered a place to study at the Royal College of Music and will begin his studies there in September.
Evan began learning piano when he was 12 and has been performing ever since. He made his Stoller hall solo debut at 15 performing works by Liszt and has performed there multiple times since. Evan has made his name known across different parts of the UK as an excellent pianist, working with composers to premier new works and winning competitions. He has performed as a soloist and an ensemble player in places such as Manchester, Bury, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Doncaster and Warrington to name a few.
Evan has been working with other musicians since the beginning of his piano studies; he worked with a flute duo winning multiple competitions in the north of England. Since becoming a student at Chetham’s, Evan has continued to partner with instrumentalists widen his scope as a musician.
PROGRAMME
Schumann - Dichterliebe, Op. 48 No. 1-7
1. Im Wunderschönen monat mai
2. Aus Meinen Tränen Spriesen
3. Die Rose, Die Lillie
4. Wenn ich in deine augen seh
5. Ich will meine seele tauchen
6. Im rhein im heiligen strome
7. Ich Grolle Nicht
Liszt - Sposalizio
Britten - folk song arrangements
1. The Foggy Foggy Dew
2. The Ashgrove
3. Last rose of summer
Prokofiev - Sonata 2 (4th mvmt)
Schubert Lieder
1. Die Forelle (the trout)
2. Standchen (schwanengesang)
Grieg - Wedding day at Troldhaugen
Tosti - Lalba separa dalla luce Lombra
Phone Jill on 01706 639162.
Email at stchadschurch@outlook.com
Visit https:// rochdaleparishchurches.co.uk
Saturday 11th April 2026 at 12 Noon (Concert lasts approx. 50 minutes)
Doors open 11.30am Pay on door £6. Including refreshments beforehand
ROCHDALE PARISH CHURCH - St Chad’s Sparrow Hill OL16 1QT
Crippled With Laughter
Preview by Steve Cooke
A disabled-led comedy night curated and hosted by Wheels and the Legman coming up at The Social, Aviva Studios, Manchester.
Get ready for a groundbreaking disabled-led comedy event that challenges stereotypes and pushes the boundaries of humour. By putting disability at the forefront of their comedy show, hosts Wheels and the Legman aim to break down barriers and debunk misconceptions, all while “crippling you with laughter”.
Prepare to be captivated as brilliant comedians and performers Dawn Bailey, Mike Keenan, Anthony Johnston, Paul Campbell and Jenny Hart bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to the stage.
With razor-sharp wit and clever punchlines, they fearlessly tackle topics that some might consider taboo, offering a refreshing and enlightening alternative to mainstream comedy.
Read interview: https://factoryinternational.org/factoryplus/factory-creatives-crippled-with-laughter/
May line-up coming soon!
14+ Only, anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 18+
Accessibility features available for this event:
Wheelchair Access
BSL Interpreting
Tickets are free but pre-booking required: https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/crippled-with-laughter/
30 Apr & 26 May 2026
The Social, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ
I, Daniel Blake - A stage adaptation of the acclaimed Ken Loach film
Preview by Steve Cooke
I, Daniel Blake, a stage adaptation of the acclaimed Ken Loach film, produced by Northern Stage in association with Leeds Playhouse
Traditional Play Theatre is coming to HOME.
Dan is a carpenter. A Geordie through and through. Just on the mend after a heart attack.
Katie has just arrived from London. Finally got a council house for her and the kids. A fresh start.
I, Daniel Blake is one of the most important stories of a generation. A glimpse behind the headlines and the stark reality of what happens when the political system is stacked against you. With 14.3 million people living in poverty in the UK [Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2025 Poverty Report] this is not fiction. It is reality.
A touching and vital story of how people come together in the face of adversity and how sometimes creating a family to support you just isn’t enough. The show is adapted for stage by Dave Johns who played Daniel Blake in the award winning 2016 film.
Watch interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9FR0NHsY74
Book tickets:
Box Office 0161 200 1500
Tuesday 21 April – Saturday 25 April
HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place Manchester M15 4FN.
It’s a Sin
Preview by Steve Cooke
Rambert, the UK’s leading contemporary dance company, in partnership with Factory International, have announced the early development of It’s A Sin - a major new dance work inspired by the era-defining, award-winning Channel 4 series, It’s A Sin.
This bold reimagining sees original series creator Russell T Davies (Queer As Folk, Doctor Who) serving as Executive Producer, alongside legendary pop duo Pet Shop Boys and Glyn Fussell (Sink the Pink, Mighty Hoopla festival). The production will be choreographed and directed by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer reigniting his partnership with Dramaturg Kaite O’Reilly (The Almond and The Seahorse) on the development of a new script for the show.
It’s A Sin is a Rambert and Factory International co-production that will premiere at Aviva Studios in Manchester. It is co-produced with Wales Millennium Centre, Capital Theatres (Edinburgh), Sadler’s Wells Theatre and Les Théâtres de la Ville (Luxembourg). Full details, including venue, casting and performance dates, will be announced later this year.
Raw, euphoric and deeply moving, It’s A Sin will be a visceral theatrical experience - a reckoning and a celebration told through fearless movement. Clubs pulse with possibility. Friendships ignite. Fear edges closer. Lives are changed forever.
Expanding the world of the beloved television drama, the production brings together an extraordinary creative team. Shaping the musical landscape Composer and Music Supervisor Roman GianArthur (Grammy nominated albums multi-instrumentalist credits include Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer and The Age of Pleasure) will compose the music with the support of executive producers Pet Shop Boys to evoke the glamour, defiance and emotional intensity of 1980s queer life. Set and video design comes from Luke Halls Studio (West Side Story, concerts from Adele, Pet Shop Boys, Dua Lipa, Take That), whose work spans global arena tours and major stage productions.
Originally set in London between 1981 and 1991, Davies’ story follows a generation of young gay men and their friends as the HIV/AIDS crisis unfolds around them. It is a story of joy and innocence, of loss and injustice - and of resilience, activism and love in the face of unimaginable change.
Rambert will transform this narrative into an immersive, living experience where contemporary dance, archive and cinematic visuals collide as past and present unfold side by side. Urgent and intimate, it asks vital questions about memory, community and how we choose to live.
Unapologetic. Electrifying. Deeply human. It’s A Sin continues Rambert’s legacy of bringing epic stories to the stage through movement that speaks to now.
On the announcement of It’s A Sin, Benoit Swan Pouffer said: “Storytelling sits at the heart of Rambert’s mission. This is a story we feel compelled to tell right now and collaborating with Russell - one of the most powerful storytellers of our time — is incredibly exciting. Together we’re exploring how dance and choreography can carry urgent, emotional narratives in a visceral way. I can’t wait to share this with audiences, and there is so much more still to come as the work evolves.”
Russell T Davies said: “It’s A Sin was such a special show for me, and it's one of the greatest honours of my life to have the show transformed by Rambert into something new and exciting.”
Pet Shop Boys commented: “The original TV drama was a landmark series which compellingly presented the reality and tragedy of the Aids crisis to a mass audience. Our song “It’s a sin” was contemporary with the crisis and we are proud to be involved as this poignant and important story is interpreted in a different medium.”
Factory International Artistic Director and Chief Executive John McGrath said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Rambert on this thrilling new project. Russel T Davies is an icon, and the story he tells in It's a Sin has resonated with all ages. Rambert will no doubt re-tell the story with great vision and beauty. We can't wait to premier this collaboration at our home, Aviva Studios, before sharing it with an exceptional group of national and international co-producers.”
The announcement comes during Rambert’s centenary celebrations, marked by its nationwide FUTURE100 programme. Special events in London, Manchester and Edinburgh invite audiences closer than ever before, offering exclusive insights into the company’s future and opportunities to meet its artists. Alongside this, Rambert will tour This is Rambert, nationally and internationally, presenting a fierce and fearless triple bill of contemporary works by today’s most distinctive choreographic voices, brought to life by Rambert’s world-class dancers. Reaffirming its position as one of the world’s most innovative dance companies, as it enters its second century, Rambert continues to push boundaries - creating work that provokes, connects and captures the spirit of its time.
Sister Act
Preview by Steve Cooke
Get along to Hope Mil Theatre for Hope Mill Amateur Dramatic Company’s 5th annual production - Sister Act - a fabulous musical comedy based on the 1992 cult classic.
Disco diva Deloris Van Cartier’s life takes a turn when she witnesses a murder and is placed in protective custody, in the most unlikely of places, a convent! She stays hidden, posing as a nun, and uses her unique talents to help transform the convent’s struggling choir. As Deloris helps her fellow sisters she, in turn, also unexpectedly rediscovers her own voice.
Box Office: boxoffice@hopemilltheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 0161 275 9141
Thursday 9 April — Sunday19 April at Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Harmony Choir conductor Freda Farnworth (London Guildhall School of Music) accompanist Graham Chamberlain.
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
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
Easter Holiday Hive Games Club - Rochdale Central Library
Join us for our Holiday Hive ‘Battle of the Sweet Treats’ Games Club. Will you be Team Alice or Team Wonka?
Free
For families with pre- and primary school-aged children.
No need to book, you can just turn up. Activities first come, first served.
1pm - 2.30pm
Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU
Thursday, 9 April 2026
Easter Holiday Hive - Alkrington Library
Drop in for our ‘Sweet Stories Egg-stravaganza’ activities. Will they be Alice or Wonka-themed, or maybe something else?
For families with pre- and primary school-aged children.
No need to book, you can just turn up. Activities first come, first served.
Free
1pm - 2.30pm
Alkrington Library, Kirkway, Middleton M24 1LW
Thursday, 9 April 2026
Easter Holiday Hive Science Club - Heywood Library
Join us for our Holiday Hive dinosaur-themed Science Club. Can you dig up some dino eggs this Easter?
For families with pre- and primary school-aged children.
No need to book, you can just turn up. Activities first come, first served.
Free
10am - 11.30am
Heywood Library, LCpl Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW
Thursday, 9 April 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
Friday, 10 April 2026
Make Your Own Bug Hotel
Using lots of different bug-friendly materials, you'll help create a hotel to sit in the Rochdale Pioneers Museum parklet, PLUS make your very own mini version to take home! Which bugs will come and visit your hotel?! You will be provided with all materials and able to take your creation home at the end of the day. Tickets for this event are £6 per person (plus booking fees) and open to all ages. All children MUST be accompanied by an adult. If children wish to attend the event, adults can accompany without their own ticket, however they must be in the room during the activity and will not be able to make their own hotel.
Organised by Co-Op Heritage
From £6.00
Visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-your-own-bug-hotel-tickets-1984884058651?aff=oddtdtcreator
13:00
Rochdale Pioneers Museum, 31 Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL12 0NU
Accessibility
Accessible viewing platform / area
Quiet Zone
Wheel chair / pram accessible
Friday, 10 April 2026
Cuckoo clock craft - Littleborough Library
Come down to Littleborough Library and make a paper cuckoo clock and join in our Easter-themed treasure hunt.
For children aged 3 and over. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
No need to book, you can just come along.
Free
2pm - 4pm
Littleborough Library, Hare Hill Park, Littleborough OL15 9HE
Saturday, 11 April 2026
Ebor Studio: Open studio
Once a year Ebor Studio open their doors so you can see their studios and meet their artists. Come along to see their 15 artist studios spanning photography, sound, sculpture, painting, textiles and more and have a look at their community garden.
They will also have a group exhibition from their growing community of associate members in Gallery FRANK - artists who are part of Ebor Studio Group but don't have studios in their mill.
12:00
Free / Pay What You Want
Ebor Studio, William Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL15 8JP
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