MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 8 JULY 2026
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 2 minutes ago
- 9 min read
An oasis of positivity celebrating the creative arts with previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations.
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 8 JULY 2026
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Previews: Factory International Autumn-Winter Programme Highlights, South Asian Heritage Festival - Rochdale Town Hall, FLOP! The best songs from the worst musicals plus Celebrity Recitals at the magnificent Rochdale Town Hall Organ
Review: A welcome return of The Telemann Baroque to TLC
Factory International Autumn-Winter Programme Highlights
Preview by Steve Cooke
Great to see some exciting events and exhibitions coming up from Factory International this Automn-Winter.
Highlights include the return of Lightroom with David Bowie, a bold and irreverent black comedy from Palestinian theatre maker Ahmed Masoud and a powerful exhibition of portraits interrogating what it means to be Black and living in the UK.
These works join the previously announced dance adaptation of Russell T Davies award-winning series It’s a Sin which makes its World Premiere at Aviva Studios in February 2027
In collaboration with groundbreaking artists and companies such as Lightroom, Ahmed Masoud and Cephas Williams, Factory International has put together a programme of thought-provoking theatre, visual arts and 360° immersive experiences for autumn-winter at their home, Manchester’s landmark cultural destination Aviva Studios.
Tickets are on sale now with tickets available from £10 across all shows.
Utilising the versatility of Aviva Studios’ Warehouse space, Lightroom returns with a new 360° immersive experience. David Bowie: You’re Not Alone gives audiences insight into the creative mind and performances of one of the world’s most visionary artists, featuring David Bowie as its sole voice.
Artist photographer, speaker, activist and campaigner Cephas Williams’s Portrait of Black Britain is a powerful collection of portraits interrogating what it means to be a Black person living in the UK. Part of a project to build the largest collection of photographic portraits of Black British people ever created, the exhibition was originally commissioned for Manchester International Festival (MIF) 2021 and shown as a major public exhibition in Manchester’s Arndale Centre. The exhibition will run at Aviva Studios as part of Black History Month (from 1 October).
The irreverent and sharply satirical black comedy Application 39 from Palestinian theatre maker and writer Ahmed Masoud imagines Gaza as host of the 2048 Olympics, exactly 100 years after the Nakba. A surreal yet pressing journey through occupation, bureaucracy, absurdity and reconstruction - rooted in hope and drawing on real-life testimonies - the bold theatre work is produced by ETT, Matthew Schmolle Productions and Theatre Royal Stratford East. (9 - 10 October).
This programme joins the visceral new dance piece inspired by Channel 4’s award-winning series It’s a Sin which went on sale earlier this month and makes its World Premiere at Aviva Studios. Presented by Rambert and Factory International, the era-defining story of love and survival is directed and choreographed by Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer, with series creator Russell T Davies, Pet Shop Boys and Gyn Fussell as Executive Producers (16 - 27 February).
John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International said: “This autumn's programme includes work by extraordinary artists exploring key issues of our time, as well as a joyous treat celebrating the world of David Bowie. Following our Spring season of premieres and our amazing summer show from Ai Weiwei, we are thrilled to celebrate Cephas Williams and Lightroom’s return to Manchester, as well as welcoming the resonant and surprising Palestinian play Application39 .
Every season at Factory International we have the privilege of hosting some of the UK’s most exciting musicians, artists and writers, and the rest of the programme for this year brings more great talent. From Interpol to Manchester Collective and the spectacular Black Creative Trailblazers the programme Aviva Studios will be full to the brim of celebration and stimulation. And not to be missed in October, we continue to highlight our homegrown artists with the 6th edition of Factory International's Artist Takeover, supporting the very best of Manchester talent.
A welcome return of The Telemann Baroque to TLC
Review by Dt Joe Dawson
This atmospheric Toad Lane Concert at St Mary in the Baum was the 1,191st since taking over from Rochdale council in 2001.
Phew! Wot a scorcher! To borrow the famous headline. The church was relatively cool despite the heatwave. It was the welcome return of The Telemann Baroque Ensemble which was founded and directed by the late Peter Collier. It is known for its extensive repertoire built up by Peter over the 43 years that he directed the Baroque Week Summer School of Oxford during which time he built up a library of several thousand pieces. For several years, the ensemble in its various manifestations appeared quarterly at Toad Lane Concerts to the audiences’ delight; Peter found it highly amusing to be referred to as ‘the house band’. It also attracted school trips on occasion, where students gained valuable experiences of live music.
Peter’s widow Pam, and daughter Rachel kindly brought along one of his handmade harpsichords today to enable the ensemble’s true Baroque sound, like the essential seasoning in haute cuisine.
The merry band of players today consisted of regular members Alastair Roberts flute, Elaine da Costa & Sarah Snape violins, John Goodstadt viola, with Rosy Hickman cello (standing in for indisposed Roger Bisby) and Robin Shakespeare harpsichord (newly appointed as Director of Music at St Ann’s Church, Manchester and who has been awarded the inaugural Peter Collier Bursury to Baroque Week). All experienced and highly valued musicians in the Northwest.
The strings and harpsichord began with Quartet in B flat TWV43:B2 by Telemann. This set the right balance of sound in the acoustic of the church as they brought the music off the page with panache.
Flautist Alastair and harpsichordist Robin played Flute Sonata in G minor BWV 120 by JS Bach. This was unusual because it dispensed with the usual cello underpinning the bass line, thus anticipating the later sonata with solo instrument and piano duos; beautiful clean lines from two accomplished exponents.
Strings rejoined the harpsichord for Concerto Op.8 No.2 in A major by Sammartini (c.1700-1775). This composer is often regarded as pivotal in the rise of the symphony and lies between Telemann and Haydn and bridges the gap between Baroque to Classical.
Then the whole company played Flute Concerto in G major Op.29 by Stamitz (1745-1801) firmly in the Classical period but with the harpsichord still involved.
The sound in the wonderful acoustics of St Mary in the Baum was an exquisite blend of joy and poignancy.
Let’s hope they can continue with a precious legacy.
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.
South Asian Heritage Festival - Rochdale Town Hall
Preview by Steve Cooke
The South Asian Heritage Festival is a vibrant, free annual community celebration.
The festival brings together voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations alongside statutory partners to showcase the rich cultures, histories and contributions of South Asian communities.
This 1-day free festival is a space for unity, learning and celebration – honouring heritage whilst building bridges across communities.
No need to book, you can just turn up.
10:00 - 16:00 on Thursday 20 August in Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
FLOP! The best songs from the worst musicals
Preview by Steve Cooke
The virtuosic Arthur Hull performs the updated version of FLOP! – the musical cabaret inspired by some of Broadway’s least loved musicals.
FLOP! features the best songs from the worst musicals – a motley assortment of the misunderstood, critically panned and financially catastrophic, including some obscure and forgotten gems. The show made its critically acclaimed debut at Adelaide Fringe in 2025 winning the Best Emerging Artist Award before playing Edinburgh Festival Fringe later the same year where it won Best Entertainment at the Dark Chat Awards.
Funny, fast-paced and full of amazing facts, it’s a love letter to Broadway and the West End’s biggest musical theatre misfires!
Arthur Hull was a top three finalist on Adam Lambert’s team on “The Voice” Australia on Channel 7 and Australia’s National Busking Champion 2024. In the same year, he created his first solo show FLOP! winning Best Emerging Artist in 2025’s Adelaide Fringe Awards and enthusiastic critical acclaim there, at Melbourne Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe. Arthur is a graduate of the world-famous Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
Run time: 1 hour 5 minutes with no Interval
£23.50 + £1.50 Transaction Fee
Phone: 0161 275 9141
Afternoon and evening performances available on Friday 4 – Sunday 6 September at Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA
Celebrity Recitals at the magnificent Rochdale Town Hall Organ
Preview by Dr Joe Dawson
The JJ Binns instrument in the Great Hall is regarded as one of the finest civic pipe organs in the UK and also represents a noble tradition.
A worthy addition to the impressive ORTOA celebrity organist list is organist, composer and conductor William Campbell, currently Assistant Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral. Born in Croydon to parents of Caribbean descent, he started the violin aged 3 and subsequently took up the piano and trumpet. He is a Licentiate of the Trinity College London (LTCL) and holds the DipABRSM on violin.
He started organ lessons aged 14 as a music scholar at Wellington College, frequently accompanying the College Chapel Choir including in services at Winchester and Chichester Cathedrals, as well as tours to Spain. He was appointed Organ Scholar at St. Laurence Church, Catford in 2018 and became Acting Organist in 2019.
Upon leaving school, William became the Organ Scholar at Guildford Cathedral. He graduated from York with a first-class honours degree in Music in 2023; during this time, he held the posts of Director of Music at St. Helen’s Church, Stonegate in York and Interim Assistant Organist at Leeds Minster whilst deputising as an organist at all of Yorkshire’s Cathedrals. He then spent two terms as the Organ Scholar at Canterbury Cathedral before returning to Leeds and Bradford Cathedrals.
William played the Organ with the Chineke! Orchestra at St. Paul’s Cathedral in 2021 and at the Royal Festival Hall in February 2024. He has appeared on BBC radio and television as an Organist, Violinist, Pianist and Harpsichordist, is also a FRCO and an examiner for the ABRSM.
An award-winning composer, William’s work “Flourish on ‘Irby’” is published by Encore Publications.
His programme promises great music both ancient and modern: Louis Vierne, George Walker (1922-2018) arr. William Campbell, Joseph Jongen (1873-1953), JS Bach (1685-1750) tr. Herbert Collum (1914-1982) and contemporary composer, Iain Farrington (b. 1977).
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.
RMBC/ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists’ Association est.1908) present Celebrity Recitals at the magnificent Rochdale Town Hall Organ
Soloist William Campbell
Tuesday 14 July 2026 at 1 pm
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Leda Mileto violin (Rome, RNCM, JRNCM tutor) & Kanako Mizuno piano(Toho Gakuen Japan, RNCM & RAM)
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, 9 July 2026
Pennines in Bloom - Wardle Library
2nd Thursday, every month from March–October. A local community volunteer group who plan and plant up community areas in Wardle, Littleborough and Smithy Bridge for the benefit of those communities.
For adults.
Free
No need to book, you can just come along.
10am - 12pm
Wardle Library, 448 Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9LH
Thursday, 9 July 2026
Reading group - Castleton Library and Community Centre
2nd Thursday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss different genres of books with other keen readers at our free, friendly and informal monthly meetings
For adults.
Free
No booking required, you can just turn up.
11am - 12pm
Castleton Library, 604 Manchester Road, Rochdale OL11 3AF
Thursday, 9 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, 11 July 2026
Lego Club - Rochdale Central Library
Every other Saturday. Get creative with Lego and join our free club, suitable for all the family. There's Duplo available for younger siblings.
For families with children aged 2 and over, and teenagers.
No need to book, you can just turn up.
Free
12pm - 1pm
Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU
Saturday, 11 July 2026
Reading Group - Littleborough Library
Our group meets once a month on the second Saturday to discuss various authors, genres and themes. If you want to join us, there is no need to book, just turn up.
Free
10.30am - 11.30am
Littleborough Library, Hare Hill Park, Littleborough OL15 9HE
Saturday, 11 July 2026
Code Club - Rochdale Central Library
Every other Saturday. Come along and learn how to code at our Code Club.
The sessions will be fun and informal.
Free
Families with children aged 7 and over, and teenagers.
No need to book, you can just come along.
11am - 12pm
Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU
