WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER 2025

  previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke

WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER 2025

A Good News Story – A Beacon of Inspiration

Previews: Rochdale hosts photography exhibition to commemorate 25 years of KFOR in Kosova

Review: A Film Franchise Improved on Lessons Learned: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 and Singin’ in the Rain fizzes at Royal Exchange, Manchester

A Good News Story – A Beacon of Inspiration

By Steve Cooke

We often hear depressing news about the number of young people who are not in employment, education or training - about a generation many of whom spend their time in isolation on the internet, often with negative outcomes.

However, I am proud to say that through my work with AATA and VIBE I have worked with many young people who buck that trend, who through engaging with the creative arts have turned their lives around and become hard working contributors to society.

One such person is Matthew Haig, who is an inspiration to us in our creative arts community and especially to his peers.

Here, in his own words, is his good news story.

”I graduated last year from university without a sense of direction. However, I knew one thing, that writing was my passion. From here, I began to write about films as the Film Studies degree complemented by passion for writing.

This passion was noticed by M6 Theatre, and they requested of me that I write an article for their upcoming film ‘the incident’. From here, I was told to take a leap of faith and message Breaking Barriers about my writing.

It was here that I became thoroughly involved in the wonderful arts and culture of Rochdale, meeting people, talking to people, and really being part of a community.

From this and with help from Annika Edge, I met Steve Cooke who allowed me to explore and improve my writing skills and gain a great deal of amazing experiences.

Currently, I am using these writing skills to help Well Foundation achieve their goals in growing as a brand and a charity who help young people develop their confidence.

All of this is a part of a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship where I will grow the skills needed to have a bright and successful career.

I feel a deep sense of gratitude for all the people who helped me along my journey to where I am now and I hope the future holds great things for Rochdale and this fantastic community.”

…and we feel a deep sense of gratitude to you Matthew for being a beacon of inspiration in an all too often gloomy world!

A Film Franchise Improved on Lessons Learned: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

Review by Matthew Haigh

The second film for the beloved Five Nights at Freddy’s has been released, and it was a great cinematic experience. Directed by Emma Tammi, she has effectively built upon and improved upon the first film in this series. A rare happening in modern cinema.

So, then, how and where did Tammi and Scott Cawthon amend the ‘mistakes’ that were made in the first film? The improvement can be seen in the narrative discourse and sheerly in the way that the film presents itself. Rather than focusing on inter-contextual references to sustain itself like the first instalment did (using Matpat and other such references), there was a larger intent to employ stronger explanations of the lore and story.

The difference between the first and second film is so staggering that it was rather shocking. There was less action, fewer references, less horror, and in its place came deeper character exploration and a higher sense of complexity. A scene that comes to mind repeatedly when thinking about this is the sequence in which the animatronics accompany Michael Afton (Freddy Carter) to confront Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) at Mike’s (Josh Hutcherson) house. The subject of this sequence that is interesting here is the contrast in costumes between Vanessa and her brother, Michael. Vanessa’s attire sports blond hair with a blue denim jacket with a darker blue shirt to achieve a lighter coloured finish to her costume design.

However, Michael is dressed in an unforgivingly Black attire, from his hair to his shoes. The make-up artists should even be given credit here, as his face is shockingly pale, alluding to the fact that he is already dead and has given his life purpose to his father, which aligns with the dialogue of this scene.

This is the key to the costume design here, as it represents the contrast in character. Michael believes that their fate as William Afton’s children is already sealed, and there is no escape, while Vanessa believes she can live a normal life and distance herself from the actions of her father. This contrast in interests and beliefs is reflected in the costume design, and it really gives the film the chef’s kiss that the first film simply did not have.

The cinematography also took a sharp increase in terms of quality, with some beautiful shots to capture the film. A still that stuck with me is the shot at the end of the opening sequence when the Marionette is holding Charlotte (Audrey Lynn-Marie) in her arms in the centre of the stage. The wide shot really speaks to the importance of the event.

Overall, this film was a great watch and a significant improvement over the first. While others may berate the film, it cannot be understated that it was a great deal more interesting, and the team did a great job learning from their mistakes, relying on substance rather than spectacle.

Also, thank you to Reel Cinema for supporting me in the viewing of this film.

Rochdale hosts photography exhibition to commemorate 25 years of KFOR in Kosova

Preview by Steve Cooke

Another great event for the new year will be an internationally renowned photography exhibition, marking the 25th anniversary of KFOR in Kosova,  opening in Rochdale next month. ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ will be on display from 16 January until 28 February 2026 at Number One Riverside in the town centre.

Produced in partnership with Heartstone  and funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ includes over 50 photographs from photojournalist Nick Sidle during the operation’s early stages. The images provide a unique insight into the work of peacekeepers whilst highlighting the human stories of the people of Kosova, and the need for such an intervention to take place so they could safeguard lives, homes and re-build ordinary life in extraordinary circumstances. The free exhibition will also tell the stories of those involved and refugees who fled to Manchester to set up home.

Before coming to Rochdale, the exhibition has been on display at the Tower of London, the National Museum of Kosova in Pristina, the House of Commons, NATO HQ and at The Fusiliers Museum in Bury.

It will be officially opened by the Mayor of Rochdale, councillor Janet Emsley at 4pm on 15 January 2026. Sita Kumari, director of Heartstone, who organised the original access will present the background to the story, how it was gathered, and its role at the time and today. 

In 1999, KFOR, the NATO led international peacekeeping force, entered Kosova following Resolution 1244 by the United Nations Security Council. 2024 was the 25th anniversary of that deployment. The first UN Security Council Resolution connected to Kosova was passed on 31st March 1998 and the second on the 23 September 1998.

This was followed by a series of resolutions culminating in Resolution 1244 one year later. 

The exhibition will take visitors through a visual, non-political, cultural experience into a world where they can empathise with those of different backgrounds, understand the commonality of human experience, why the issues need to be addressed, the need for peacekeeping forces and the refugee experience. Some local veterans who have already been traced are part of the programme. 

Councillor Emsley said the unique exhibition covers a period of history that must not be forgotten. She said: “Twenty-five years later, this story holds many lessons for our time in a world where many are living with conflict, and the same issues of prejudice, intolerance and hate. It’s also a positive story, about human resilience and hope in extraordinary circumstances and the importance of people and nations working co-operatively together to achieve positive outcomes. I am looking forward welcoming it to Rochdale.”

Rt Hon Lord Robertson of Port Ellen added: “The exhibition highlights a remarkable period in recent European history. The armed forces who liberated Kosovo and the people they liberated are now remembered in a historic photodocumentary of real human interest.”

The exhibition will be open to view six days a week. Find out more at www.rochdale.gov.uk/TownOfCulture  

About the photographer: 

Nick Sidle is an internationally acclaimed documentary photographer based in Highland Scotland. In a career spanning four decades he is best known for his extended visual essays on the Balkans, Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, Chandra’s London - a long term exploration of the city and its people, Bharatanatyam from classical Indian dance, the Royal Air Force and Cùra, a consideration of the commonality of culture and environment in Scotland. He has had major solo exhibitions at The Southbank Centre in London, The European Parliament, The British Library, The City Arts Centre in Edinburgh, Stirling Castle, St George’s Hall in Liverpool, The Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Liverpool Cathedral and Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow as well as other major venues. His work has been supported by multiple funders including Creative Scotland and the Arts Council. Currently, in addition to working on the retrospective of the events in Kosovo in 2000/2001 - ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’, he is also developing a new presentation of his London essays, the ongoing Cùra project and his Afghanistan exhibition ‘Faces of Kabul’ is still touring. 

Heartstone is a non-profit organisation based in Highland which produces ‘story' - literature, photodocumentary, history. Our stories are presented through exhibitions, events, performances, installations, publications and online. All our stories have an underlying message - to see past stereotypes and prejudice and recognise a common human experience. Heartstone stories help bring people together across different nationalities, cultures, races, faiths and backgrounds. The Story Circle project follows out of our main exhibition events, reaches children and young people targeting age group 9+ in schools, libraries and community groups. In Scotland, funders include Creative Scotland, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Awards for All, Police Scotland, the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and many other funders. They have no political or religious affiliation. Find out more at www.heartstonechandra.com.

Singin’ in the Rain fizzes at Royal Exchange, Manchester

Review by Steve Cooke

The Royal Exchange’s Singin’ in the Rain, uniquely in the round, literally splashes onto the stage in a fizzing, immersive production – if you are on the front row, you may well find a performer on your lap and wish you had brought a brolly!

is nostalgia at its very best with the audience transported into a golden-age picture house of the classic MGM-era.

Raz Shaw’s direction sets the tone from the off with the explosion of a high energy rendition of Make ‘Em Laugh.

Alistair David’s choreography is an affectionate homage to vaudeville – joyfully deploying theatre in the round with tremendous skill.

The lighting designed by Jack Knowles transports the audience back to early film studios and music halls with glowing bulbs and warm ambers, contrastingly matching the choreography of the bigger numbers with swathes of dazzling brightness

Laura Baldwin anchors the show as the unstoppable Lina Lamont with a genuinely memorable performance of perfect comic timing and charm. She is brilliantly complemented by Danny Collins as Cosmo Brown with a light footed effortlessly bouncy rhythm that keeps the show grounded amongst Old Hollywood chaos.

The story follows silent-movie star Don Lockwood (Louis Gaunt) as the late 1920’s Hollywood movie industry faces the arrival of talking pictures. As Lockwood’s latest silent film is hastily converted into a talkie the grating voice and ego of co-star, Lina Lamont threatens its success. Supported by his best friend Cosmo Brown and rising-star Kathy Seldon [Carly Mercedes Dyer] the production team strive to reinvent the film as a musical.

The audience are taken on a roller coaster journey of romance and the chaos of an industry in flux.

Singin’ in the Rain is a an upliftingly warm, thrilling, not to be missed revival that celebrates the very best in live theatre performance.

Playing at Manchester’s Royal Exchange theatre until Sunday 25th January 2026.

Further information and booking details: https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/singin-in-the-rain/#performances

RECOMMENDED

Saturday, 20 December 2025

Imagination gaming - Rochdale Central Library

Join us at Rochdale Central Library for a special board game session from Imagination Gaming. There’s games for all ages and skill levels. Come along and join the fun.

For families with children aged 4 and above and teenagers, no need to book, you can just turn up.

Free

Email: RochdaleCentralLibrary@rochdale.gov.uk

Time: 11am - 2pm

Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU

Monday, 22 December 2025

Festive fun - Smallbridge Library

Enjoy our festive craft table, magical Christmas stories and maybe…a special visit from Santa, with a gift for each booked child to take home.

For families with children aged 3–8 due to the crafts on offer.

Booking required:

Please give your name and contact number. Please only book a ticket for each child who meets the age bracket. We won't be able to accommodate children who come without tickets or who don't meet the age bracket.

Book by emailing smallbridge.library@rochdale.gov.uk

You can also book by calling 01706 659978 during the library opening hours.

Free

2pm - 3pm

Smallbridge Library, Stevenson Square, Rochdale OL12 9SA

celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.

https://www.allacrossthearts.com