WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 2026
previews, articles, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 2026
Previews: Full Cast Announced for King Lear, ACE Lips Comedy Live at the Civic, Manchester Camerata - Here We Are plus National Theatre Live – The Misanthrope
Review: JULY AT TLC
Full Cast Announced for King Lear
Preview by Steve Cooke
Following the revelation that David Threlfall is returning to the Royal Exchange Theatre after 27 years to play King Lear, we now have details of the cast who will bring Matthew Dunster’s reimagining of Shakespeare's masterwork KING LEAR to life.
extensive credits famously include Shameless (Channel 4) for which he won an RTS Television Award for Best Actor.
He is joined by Mercury Prize-nominated songwriter and performing musician Nadine Shah (as Goneril; Lisa Diveney as Regan; Isobel Akuwudike Cordelia; Jonathan Slinger who returns to the Royal Exchange Theatre to play Gloucester; Nicholas Karimi as Albany & Brawn; Tom Varey as Edgar; Paddy Stafford as Edmund and Jason Done as Kent.
NADINE SHAH LISA DIVENEY ISOBEL AKUWUDIKE
Joining them is Grace Jabbari as Doctor & Edmund's Lover; Jessica Mannion as Guen; Harry Clarke as Ned ; and Rupert Hill () who makes a welcome return to the Exchange to play Torin.
The cast is completed by Ed Coleman as Cornwall & French Officer; Gabin Kongolo as France & Curan; Anwar Russell who makes a welcome return to the Royal Exchange following and joins as Burgundy & Oswald; and Ryan Pope also returns to the Royal Exchange for the third time to step into the role of Elias.
Lear is a searing portrait of a king unable to distinguish truth from lies. As the storm rises and night falls, language, identity and meaning break down completely.
Known as Shakespeare’s most elemental tragedy charting a kingdom where power corrupts, families become enemies and prosperity devolves into war.
This production of King Lear is adapted and directed by Matthew Dunster.
It is the fifth production in the theatre’s 50th anniversary season ‘A Homecoming’ and it will run from 2 October to 15 November 2026.
Tickets from £12, to book visit: https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/king-lear/
Access Performances
Captioned (C) Performance: 1 November, 3pm
Audio Described (AD) Performance: 11 November, 2pm
Sensory Adapted (SA) Performance: 12 November, 6pm
BSL-Interpreted (BSL) Performances: TBC
Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH
JULY AT TLC
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
July 01 Sam Rodwell classical guitar - graduated first class and completed a master’s with distinction at the RNCM under Craig Ogden and was made an ‘Associate Guitar Teacher’. Simple folk song, modern jazz or epic Romanticism, Sam’s accomplished playing was framed by confident and engaging introductions to the instrument and the music. A Cambridge researcher of the church’s architect, Sir Ninian Comper, who was examining the building during rehearsal, hopefully, went away with memories of a guitar ringing true in the huge but energising acoustic which certainly deserves a Grade One listing itself, as much as the building.
June 08 Leda Mileto violin & Kanako Mizuno piano: Leda is an award winning violinist and Dalcroze practitioner who graduated from Rome Conservatoire before gaining a master’s and postgraduate diploma RNCM and now teaches at the JRNCM. Japanese pianist Kanoko graduated in Tokyo before the RNCM (winning the Gold Medal 2019) and also the Royal Academy of Music. A stunning duo with Dvořák, Mozart and Prokofiev sonatas, and Estrellita by Ponce in another memorable recital.
June 15 Tim Kennedy tenor & Carol Kwater piano: Tim began his musical career singing for the late Queen Elizabeth II, as a treble at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, before Winchester College, Truro Cathedral and Cambridge. He has a varied freelance career as tenor soloist in recitals and oratorio, piano accompanist, organist and vocal coach; he is a staff accompanist at the RNCM. Carol is an experienced organist and pianist and also contributed piano solo ‘hydration breaks’ to a beautiful selection of British song with soupçons of France, Italy and Broadway. All we needed was iced tea (or Pimm’s) and cucumber sandwiches without the crusts.
June 22 Rascallity Harp Duo: First-rate musicians, Kathryn Mason (pictured left) gained a first-class BMus and a master’s from the RNCM. Alice Roberts (pictured right) graduated first-class from the joint course of Manchester University and the RNCM ( the first harpist to win the Gold Medal, 2020). Folk music and Satie arrangements for the duo along with solos, Hindemith Sonata (Alice) and ‘Fantasy on a theme by Haydn’ by Grandjany (Kathryn) made a glorious eclectic mix. The sound of one harp is heavenly - and of two, divine.
June 29 Voci Voices Trio with piano: Usually an award-winning quartet but today we had three experienced vocal ‘busk-it-eers’ - Elizabeth Ambrose soprano, Eric Cymbir tenor and Mackenzie Paget baritone, with their one-man orchestral backing, Jonathan Ellis at the piano. Trios, duets and solos from 1600 with Monteverdi to modern times and opera and musicals made a joyful songfest of varied styles. Their concluding set of popular numbers perfectly matched the summer weather; whilst the demanded encore, ‘You Raise Me Up’ matched the mood of the audience admirably – suitably uplifted.
ACE Lips Comedy Live at the Civic
Preview by Steve Cooke
A massive night of stand-up comedy from ACE Lips is heading to Heywood with a fantastic line-up of established acts and rising stars promising to keep the laughs coming all night long!
Line-up of laughs:
Jon Pearson: Midlands Comedy Awards Best MC Winner and Leicester Comedy Festival award winner, Jon is one of the UK circuit’s most loved storytellers.
Charlie Lewis: A razor-sharp Mancunian one-liner specialist, with quick-witted humour, energetic delivery, and a touch of Northern mischief.
Kate Robb: Funny Women Awards Semi-Finalist whose clever writing and relatable material have quickly made her “one to watch” on the comedy circuit.
Peter Selwood: Winner of the Liverpool Echo New Comedian of the Year and star of Comedy Central Live, ITV2 and BBC Radio 4. A unique musical comedian with a brilliantly offbeat style.
Pay What You Can
Standard: £12.60
Lower: £10.50
Higher: £14.70
All prices are inclusive of booking fee.
16+ [Content warning: Expect strong language.]
7.30pm on Saturday 3 October at Heywood Civic, LCpl Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW
Manchester Camerata - Here We Are
Preview by Steve Cooke
From 15–20 September, Manchester Camerata will be performing for free across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester.
From a once-in-a-lifetime performance of Brian Eno's Ambient 1: Music for Airports in Manchester Airport's Terminal 2, to family storytelling adventures at Manchester Museum surrounded by natural wonders, a playful collaboration with Goofus Theatre, and intimate concerts in surprising urban spaces, every performance is a chance to experience orchestral music in a brand new way.
At the same time, they will be running free Music Café taster sessions across Greater Manchester for people living with dementia and their careers and families.
One to watch out for in Rochdale will be String Theory: Rap, Soul & Strings on Saturday 20 September.
Presented in collaboration with Medley and Rochdale Creates, showcasing the next generation of rap and soul artists, all performed with a Camerata string quartet.
Hamza Medley, known musically as Medley, is a multi‑talented Rochdalian artist whose creative practice spans award‑winning acting, filmmaking, sound recording, and independent music. Alongside his artistic work, Medley is deeply embedded in Rochdale’s cultural landscape. Don’t miss out!
Performed by Medley, Joash, Freequency3, Migraine Mowgli, Riya, Caveman, Conduit and Victoria Jan
Tickets and location to be announced soon.
To find out more about We Are Here;
Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB3FG7mhfK0
National Theatre Live – The Misanthrope
Preview by Steve Cooke
The next National Theatre Live at Middleton Arena will be The Misanthrope by Martin Crimp after Molière directed by Indhu Rubasingham.
Award-winner Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) plays the title role in this razor-sharp reimagining of Molière’s classic dark comedy.
Telling the truth isn’t always that simple. Alice, a brilliant novelist, despises the carefully constructed lies of modern society. But the more she challenges those around her, the fiercer the backlash becomes. Soon, she must confront the price of speaking her truth in a world that would rather silence her.
Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham directs Martin Crimp’s (Cyrano de Bergerac) highly anticipated play.
Tickets from £10.50 (inc. £0.50 cmsn)
Ticket Sales & Event Enquiries (open Mon-Fri 10am – 2.30pm): 0300 303 8633
Box Office: arts.events@yourtrustrochdale.co.uk
Tuesday 22 September, 7:00pm, doors open: 6:30pm, duration: 2h 30m at Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton M24 1AG
RECOMMENDED
Saturday, 15 August 2026
Bring Your Own Book Club - Rochdale Central Library
This is a book club with no assigned reading and no homework.
Every other Saturday. Fancy a little quiet reading time surrounded by fellow book-lovers? Come along, settle in, have a chat, have a read, and have fun.
For adults and teenagers.
No booking required, you can just turn up.
Free
12pm - 1pm
Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU
Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Tuesday Reading Group - Spotland Library
Tuesday every 4 weeks. Read, share and discuss a range of fiction and non-fiction chosen from our extensive list of book titles in a relaxed and friendly group.
Free
11.30am - 12.30pm
Spotland Library, Ings Lane, Rochdale OL12 7AL
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
What's in our Archives? - Middleton Library
Have you ever wondered what our Local Studies archives include? Do you want to discover more about the historical items, maps and photographs that we hold?
Come along anytime between 10am and 4pm to learn something new. Get the chance to browse the archives, explore historical items and ask local history questions.
Free
For adults.
No need to book, you can just come along. You don't need to stay for the full event.
10am - 4pm
Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - David Daniels piano
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
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