WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 2 minutes ago
- 7 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2025
Original writing: Poetry Spotlight – a Poem a Week - Deedika Menoth Ullas
Previews: A Shout Out for a Good Shout - Youth Voices Across Artforms and Living the Life of Riley.
Reviews: A Christmas Carol and Another richly varied month in this eclectic weekly music series, solo pianists, woodwind trio, and choir.
Poetry Spotlight – a Poem a Week - Deedika Menoth Ullas
"It makes me so happy to call myself an artist! Thank you for this awesome initiative.”
“About me: I’m Deedika. I live in Rochdale and I’m a part of riverside writers. I am also a contributor to our upcoming anthology about changing landscapes. I publish regularly on medium and I like to talk about human connection, feminism, travel and literature. I also enjoy taking pictures and making comic strips. Eng lit grad btw. Born and brought up in Kerala, India."
Love From A Distance
People love me
from a distance.
We are islands that wave,
Tummy rumble laughter,
tide against tide.
They are birds—
too close, they burn.
So we laugh alone.
But even I want
to lie on your chest at night,
twilight, moonlight
leaking through the blinds,
without thinking of work
the next day.
Even I want
someone to sink into,
to stare across the spirals
of our syncing knuckles,
to feel the air
on my neck, the wind, the sun—
yet still prefer
the way I lie at night
with you.
Is this so terrible a desire?
My moronic mumble,
alone with tomorrow,
a heated teddy at my side—
a song I might sing
for someone called you,
someday.
This is a recent poem I wrote when I missed somebody/ everybody. I am quite extroverted and happy in my few moments of solitude, but somedays, I yearn.
A Christmas Carol
Review by Maggie Kelly
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, presented by The Book of Darkness & Light Theatre Company, is a well-loved story wonderfully retold by Adam Z Robinson in this excellent one man show, directed by Dick Bonham.
The ghostly atmosphere is created from the moment you take your seat, with the sounds of a Dickensian London street building the anticipation. Scrooge enters the stage and his unpleasant nature is captured from the beginning by the actor, who combines action with narration, bringing this much-loved Christmas story to life in a show full of thrilling and often spine-tingling moments.
Playing all 28 parts himself, he portrays the ghost of Marley to perfection, frightening the audience in a scene that captures the chilling darkness of things to come.
We are transported on this journey by the spellbinding actor whose emotional range adds warmth and touches of humour to the play whilst also delighting the audience with a few jump-scares. His physicality on stage is impressive, working in a small area, with just a few props carefully chosen to remind us of the traditional story while not detracting from his performance.
The entrance of the spirit of Christmas Yet to Come is inspired, with a spooky trail of smoke and light and the shadow cast on the stage almost becomes one of the characters, the eerie pointing of the finger causing an audible gasp from the audience. Special effects by the technical stage manager Matt Sykes-Hoban were extremely creative and added greatly to the Gothic atmosphere.
The visits to Bob Cratchet’s house were a delight with Robinson’s Mrs. Cratchet giving a lot of laughs, particularly in reference to her pudding, which she worries will be “Like a Canon-ball”. Tiny Tim is depicted with all the poignancy that Dickens wrote so well, a few sniffles were heard.
Robinson handled the shift of scenes from the terrifying ghostly world back to Scrooge’s own room on Christmas Day in such a way that the atmosphere palpably changed, and we were happy once more.
This play is a delight, highly recommended, and thanks must go to Touchstones Live and Your Trust Rochdale for bringing this wonderful production to Rochdale.
Living the Life of Riley
Preview by Steve Cooke
Coming to the Middleton Arena for one night only in the new year is Living the Life of Riley starring EastEnders’ Cheryl Fergison and Katie Price in an on-screen role.
Serious laughter combines with serious issues to bring the Riley family and their experiences with autism to life in front of your eyes, with a cast including Leah Bell, Alison Stanley and Paul Dunn.
The show has received national acclaim as a heart-warming, heart-breaking and hilarious play.
Tickets from £27.00
Visit: https://www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/living-the-life-of-riley/book/?instance=582202
7:30pm
Doors open: 6:45pm
Friday 6 February 2026
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton M24 1AG
Another richly varied month in this eclectic weekly music series, solo pianists, woodwind trio, and choir
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
November 05: Madeleine Brown piano: Prize-winning graduate of Cambridge (where she won the University Concerto competition) and the RNCM (where she won the Gold Medal), she captivated the audience with a marvellous piano recital. Haydn Variations in F minor; Janacek’s Sonata; Three preludes by Debussy; Franck’s monumental Prelude,
Chorale and Fugue were all managed superbly and totally from memory. Madeleine was brilliant at taking risks on the instrument to explore variations in technique and dynamics. Rarely do we hear such exquisite soft playing, which in turn added greater power to the crescendos and climaxes … and all of this on an unfamiliar heritage piano that she only had minutes to engage with before the concert. A stunning and inspirational recital.
November 12: Liana Storey piano another masters-graduate at the RNCM, the Japanese British pianist stood in at two days’ notice. Born in the US she moved to Glasgow’s Junior Royal Conservatoire, winning awards such as Young Pianist of the North and recently the RNCM Concerto competition. Scarlatti’s Sonata in F sharp was a glittering start. This was followed by the three vividly contrasted movements of Pour le Piano by Debussy; an intelligent and passionate Beethoven’s Sonata in E, Op. 109; and two of Rachmaninoff’s Moments Musicaux Op 16 - the profoundly sombre No 3 and insanely brilliant and bravura No 4. Not for the first time in this recital this appeared like a concerto minus the orchestra. Another glorious recital from a gifted and engaging performer.
November 19: The Kell Wind Trio has been a welcome visiting ensemble for several years. Alastair Roberts is the principal flute of several orchestras and chamber groups in the North West: similarly, Geoffrey Smith on clarinet, now concentrating on chamber music. Alex Kane was principal bassoonist at the Royal Military School of Music before police service and in 2012 a freelance bassoonist and teacher. The trilling trio presented a wide variety of music, Mozart, Shostakovich, Chabrier, Arnold, and Parry Jones carefully adapted for this combination. The trio’s stamina and virtuosity throughout were impressive. We look forward to what has become an annual event next November.
November 26: Notability choir is based in North Manchester although its members come from all over the region to share their love of singing. It was formed in 1993. Sing Gently by Eric Whitacre set the mood beautifully in the cathedral-like acoustic of St Mary in the Baum by this popular singing troupe. Neatly balanced part singing arises from one of their democratic principles - that without a conductor, they have to listen to each other! Beautifully performed arrangements, sacred, serious traditional, popular standards, with or without piano - a choir that is Notable indeed.
The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30 pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.
RECOMMENDED
Saturday, 13 December 2025
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, 13 December 2025
Reading Group - Littleborough Library
Second Saturday of every month. A group discussing various authors, genres and themes.
For adults.
No need to book, you can just come along.
Free
10.30am - 11.30am
Littleborough Library, Hare Hill Park, Littleborough OL15 9HE
Sunday, 14 December 2025
Christmas Artisan Market
Step into the festive spirit at Rochdale's Christmas Artisan Market, a perfect day out for families, friends, and anyone who loves unique, handcrafted treasures.
What to expect:
Hot street food to keep you warm and satisfied
Seasonal hot drinks to sip while you browse
Live music creating the perfect festive atmosphere
Elf on the Shelf visit for the little ones
Free arts and crafts activities for children to enjoy
Lots of unique artisan stalls offering gifts you won’t find anywhere else
Everyone's welcome.
No need to book, you can just turn up.
Email: info@dndartisan.co.uk
This is more than just a Christmas Market, it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and Christmas cheer!
Free / Pay What You Want
11:00 - 16:00
Rochdale Town Hall, OL16 1LL
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Alfred Anderson baritone and Joseph Dawson piano
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
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.