WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 1 minute ago
- 9 min read
  previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
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WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2025
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Previews: Introducing Poetry spotlight – a poem a week; Shaun The Sheep's Circus Show at Aviva Studios; John Bright Talk and Film Screening in Rochdale Town Hall; Santa’s Village Ice Rink - Get ready for Rochdale's ultimate winter experience!
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Reviews: Halloween tricks and treats at Rochdale Town Hall – a great night at the opera!
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Poetry spotlight – a poem a week
By Steve Cooke
This column exists to encourage readers to engage with our wonderful creative arts community both locally and further afield across the creative arts spectrum from music to drama, visual art to the written word, dance to circus arts.
We endeavour to highlight the work of individual artists, groups and organisations and in partnership with Rochdale Development Agency, as part of our term as GM Town of Culture, ‘Poetry spotlight – a poem a week’ will be publishing exactly that – a poem from one of our local poets every Saturday.
The very first poem is written by Farah Nisa
Farah is a Rochdale-born poet whose work delves into the complexities of identity, resilience, and self-discovery. Her poetry started from a young age as a tool for healing and self-expression, she explores themes of mental health, love, and philosophical concepts. With a raw and authentic voice, Farah's writing confronts taboo topics and inner struggles, offering a glimpse into her inner world.
To create is to mould an element of your being into art
Gifting the world a sample of your souls deepest desires
Honouring triumphs with tremendous esteem
Recognising misfortunes to forge brilliance
Cascading colours over your fortunate canvas
Composing verses of intimate affections
Crafting glory from discarded potentials
Allowing your mind to imagine the unimaginable
Birthing a utopia for generations to awe over
To create is to be authentically you
To showcase your healing and wisdom nobly
To unapologetically announce your presence
To create is to be rightfully unrestricted
Devoted to liberation
Appreciatively vulnerable
To create is to be undoubtedly free
I am creatively me
Farah's work, showcased in Rochdale's Outdoor Gallery - 'Creatively Me', celebrates the diverse art styles we use to express ourselves, highlighting creativity as a vital process of self-discovery and growth.
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Shaun The Sheep's Circus Show
Preview by Steve Cooke
A high-flying family adventure with un-BAA-lievable acrobats comes to Aviva Studios this festive season with a circus show.
Two worlds gleefully collide in Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show – brought to the stage by the internationally-acclaimed Australian circus ensemble Circa and Academy Award®-winning, independent studio Aardman – now making its UK premiere in Manchester.
Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show combines the extreme physicality and awe-inspiring feats of Circa and the playful charm of the multi-award-winning, globally successful Shaun the Sheep.
Expect a visual spectacle for the entire family, packed full of Aardman’s signature comedy and outright hilarity, as the Circa ensemble continues to blur the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus. Watch Shaun and the Flock entertain the audience through incredible feats of daredevil acrobatics and vibrant circus skills.
Under the visionary leadership of Yaron Lifschitz, Circa are at the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus, redefining the art form by showcasing how extreme physicality can forge powerful and emotive experiences. For almost 50 years, Aardman has entertained the world, creating much loved characters such as Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit, Creature Comforts and Chicken Run.
Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show is a must-see family spectacle full of heart-warming comedy delights following in the tradition of visiting the circus during pantomime season.
Standard: £25 -£45
Affordable:
Children 12 & under 50% discount *
Concessions 25% discount
Aviva £10 Tickets
A booking fee of £1.50 applies to all tickets
*Please note children aged 2 and under go free, please select a Babes in Arms ticket type when booking. (This allows one child aged 2 and under to attend without their own seat if they sit on a paying adult’s lap).
Suitable for all ages - Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult 18+
Running time: 100 minutes, including interval
Accessibility features available for this event:
Audio Description
Relaxed Performance
Wheelchair Access
11 Dec 2025 - 4 Jan 2026
The Hall, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ
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Halloween tricks and treats at Rochdale Town Hall – a great night at the opera!
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
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The iconic gothic screen masterpiece The Phantom of the Opera (1925) was presented in its original silent movie form accompanied by the magnificent JJ Binns organ, as it might have been a century ago.
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The Great Hall scrubbed up well as a picture house with twin enormous tv screens; in the dark, coloured uplighters framed the organ pipes, and the spooky atmosphere was tangible and compelling. The sell-out audience also had access to the well-stocked Zodiac bar.
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In the tradition of silent movies, award-winning Scottish organist Aaron Hawthorne gave a virtuoso performance of improvised accompaniment. This followed last year’s fantastic Nosferatu and was part of this year’s ‘2025 Silent Film Tour’ round the UK. He ran the gamut of combinations of stops and made full use of the instrument in a constant stream of extempore characterful music for some two hours. Few could avoid the real shock and horror as he pulled out all the stops at the end of part one when Christine unmasks the Phantom. This needed the 1950s Hammer horror films warning, ‘Please try not to faint’!
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In his hands, Rochdale’s JJ Binns instrument, proved to be not an evil monster but a glorious beast of the organ world, and undoubtedly as Aaron acknowledged, this was ‘the best organ and the best venue’.
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An added treat was mezzo Kirsty Duncan singing two of the main operatic characters, Christine (the Phantom’s student/victim) and Carlotta (the diva), live from behind the screens. This surprise element added another dimension to the show, drawing us all in as inhabitants of another layer in the vast complex of the Paris Opera building that was the Phantom’s domain and lair.Â
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In their much-demanded encore she joined Aaron to sing Music of the Night from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 adaptation of Phantom for the musical stage and screen, followed by a final full organ blast of its Phantom theme that definitely struck the right chord.
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A brass plaque on the organ states ‘This organ … was formally declared open by the donor on the occasion of the visit of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary to the Town on 9th July 1913’, placing it in the appropriate era to take a trip back I time.
Another first-rate town hall presentation by Victoria Hilton and her impressive army of helpers.
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Forthcoming organ notes
ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists’ Association) est. 1908, have long been voluntary custodians of the town hall instrument since its installation in 1913, organising celebrity recitals and concerts. These will resume on 31 January 2025 with organ duets from Carol & Peter Kwater. Meanwhile, ORTOA’s Honorary President, the Bridgewater Hall’s Jonathan Scott will present his annual Christmas Concert on Wednesday 17 December at 2 pm.
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John Bright Talk and Film Screening
Preview by Steve Cooke
Get down to our award winning town hall for a thought-provoking event exploring the life and legacy of John Bright, a passionate advocate for peace, the abolition of slavery, the rights of the poor, and the extension of the vote.
While some of his views reflected the limitations of his time, many of the causes John Bright championed still resonate today. The first half of the event features a talk delving into Bright’s key campaigns, with commentary that connects his work to contemporary issues.
After the interval, enjoy a screening of John Bright and the Angel of Death, a powerful film by Nick Wilding starring the late John Stride as Bright, and featuring reflections from Tony Benn. Plus, don’t miss a fascinating display of original drawings from the film’s animation, exhibited right here in our Bright Hall.
From £5.00
Wheel chair / pram accessible
Suitable For Adults (18+)
17:00
Sunday 16 November 2025
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL16 1AZ
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Get ready for Rochdale's ultimate winter experience!
Preview by Steve Cooke
Santa’s Village Ice Rink will be the perfect place for festive family fun and unforgettable moments on the ice this festive season. Whether you’re lacing up skates for the very first time or simply enjoying a leisurely glide with friends, our rink is designed for all ages and skill levels to enjoy. With a friendly atmosphere, open skate sessions, and plenty of space to laugh, learn, and make memories, we’re here to bring the joy of skating to everyone. Get along for some magical moments on the ice.
Rochdale’s Ice Rink opens its doors on selected dates from Friday 21st November 2025 through to Sunday 4th January 2026 (closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
Grand opening will be during Rochdale’s Ignite Fire Festival running from 21st - 23rd November 2025.
Each skating session lasts up to 45 minutes of frosty fun – and it's recommended you arrive 15–20 minutes early so you’ve got plenty of time to collect your skates and get ready to hit the ice stress-free.
Festive pricing for everyone: ticket prices have been carefully set to make this magical experience affordable for young people, families, and adults alike.
Suitable For All Audiences
Grand Opening 21 November 2025: 12:00
On until 4 January 2026
From £13.50
Town Hall The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AZ
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Another richly varied month in this eclectic weekly music series.
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
October 01: Students from Chetham’s School of Music - (photos and surnames precluded by the school’s safeguarding policy). Their mentor today was award-winning RNCM graduate Simon Passmore, an accompanist and piano tutor at Chetham’s and currently Director of Music at St Ann’s Church, Manchester. He provided guidance,
encouragement and superb accompaniments for his charges today: violinist Anderson playing a concerto by Riedings and a riotous Hoedown by Clebenoff beyond his years; exquisite playing by Lydia of Mendlessohn’s violin concerto; and cellist Austin played Debussy’s sonata and Shostakovich superbly. This recital went beyond exams and technical preparation and was music making of a high calibre from young players who are clearly rising stars.
October 08: Telemann Baroque Ensemble has become virtually the ‘house band’ of the concert series as they appear four times a year. The ensemble today sported Alastair Roberts flute, Elaine da Costa & Sarah Snape violins, John Goodstadt viola, Roger Bisby cello, & Peter Collier harpsichord. All are highly qualified and experienced freelance soloists and orchestral players and brought to life music by Telemann, Handel, and Corelli.
October 15: Lewis Kingsley Peart - a Chetham’s School of Music alumnus and graduate of London's Trinity Laban Conservatoire, enjoyed his fourth annual visit to Rochdale delivering magic moments and serendipity. With his engaging and confident introductions, he quickly establishes himself as a gifted guide to the world of the piano. He opened with three of Schubert’s ‘Moment Musicaux’ or musical moments; then more unusual miniatures from Sibelius, and finishing with Grieg’s Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, which never fails to excite, and the audience become revelling villagers for a few moments.
October 22: Oldham Community Choir made their annual visit to St Mary’s and gave an enjoyable and entertaining concert in their ruby Anniversary year; after forty years of song. The mixed voices worked well together under Jonathan Gibson’s direction, who also proved to be an amicable compere. The part-singing throughout required a lot of concentration and gave them their particular sound. The choir’s enthusiasm and conviviality with varied repertoire from serious pieces to songs from the shows were infectious. Edward Rigg accompanied splendidly throughout and played a charming
solo interlude.
October 29: John Powell baritone Carole Kwater piano
This was an exemplary recital from two experienced and engaging performers. John has enjoyed an extensive career as a singer and as a distinguished choral director. Carol is an experienced organist, accompanist and music teacher.
It was great to see the noble tradition of the song recital continuing – and including first (and second) performances, especially with composer Martin Lessons being present. From the celestial to the unashamedly Romantic, with songs by Chausson and Hahn before we came crashing to earth with Britten’s sardonic arrangement of ‘Lord! I married me a wife’. Indeed, it brought the house down.
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.
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RECOMMENDED
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Saturday, 15 November 2025
Lego Club - Rochdale Central Library
Get creative with Lego and join our free club.
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
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Wednesday 19 November 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - 19 The Kell Wind Trio: Alastair Roberts flute, Geoffrey Smith clarinet & Ian Harvey bassoon
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
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celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.