WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- Jun 21
- 6 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2025
Festival Square MIF25 [Manchester International Festival]
Preview by Steve Cooke
It’s great to see Festival Square back for MIF25 [Manchester International Festival] with free live music, family activities and late-night takeovers.
Festival Square, the buzzing heart of MIF, returns with a free programme of live music and performances for us all to enjoy.
We can expect a music programme spotlighting the hottest up-and-coming local bands alongside legendary DJs and a series of takeovers with Manchester’s best promotors, clubs and venues – from the Carlton Club to Night & Day.
A great opportunity to head behind the scenes of MIF25 with talks and Q&As, try delicious food from local vendors and get stuck in with family-friendly activities every weekend.
Accessibility features available for this event: Wheelchair Access
Festival Square MIF25
4 - 20 Jul 2025
Explore the full programme : https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/festival-square-mif25/
Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ
The building that was the historic home of Oldham Coliseum Theatre will now reopen in 2026
By Steve Cooke
The building that was the historic home of Oldham Coliseum Theatre will now reopen in 2026; it has been announced.
The decision was taken after initial construction work revealed that more time would be needed to ensure that the building is properly ready to welcome back audiences. Working closely with contractors Tilbury Douglas, everyone is now progressing plans to ensure the new Coliseum is everything it should be and more for audiences when it reopens next year.
Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: "It's disappointing not to be reopening the Fairbottom Street building for panto 2025 as it's such a special part of Oldham's festive season, but unexpected bumps in the road often happen with a project of this scale. Rather than rush to open before the building is ready, our decision to extend the construction period gives us the time needed to get the details absolutely right. It was clear to us all that if we opened in 2025, the experience wouldn't live up to the high standards our audience deserve.
"We owe it to everyone, the artists, staff, and most importantly our audiences, to get this right. This is about securing a bright and sustainable future for theatre in Oldham and building something that will serve our community for generations. I can’t wait to open the doors in 2026."
Martina Murphy, CEO, Oldham Coliseum Theatre, said: "We know how important the annual panto is to Oldhamers and had hoped to welcome audiences back to Fairbottom Street later this year. While we’re gutted about the delay, we know that when the theatre reopens in 2026, it will be back with a bang.
"In the meantime, the spirit of the Coliseum lives on. As a company, Oldham Coliseum Theatre continues to produce exciting work across the Borough, bringing theatre to communities and keeping alive our connection with audiences. We’ve just wrapped up our spring programme and will be announcing our summer line-up soon."
Adopted Oldhamer Julie Hesmondhalgh, who is also a leading member of the Friends of Oldham Coliseum, said: “The Friends of the Coliseum are relieved and happy that plans to mount the Coli panto this year have been put on hold. Better to return with a beautiful, bold and glittering bang than do something half-baked in a building that isn’t yet ready.
“We’re excited for the future and will be a key part in taking Oldham audiences with us, through a series of films and podcasts which will follow and share progress of the building, as well as interviewing key players in the reopening.
“We are grateful as ever to Oldham Council for listening to the experts in the field.”
The council and its partners will continue to issue updates as work progresses on the Fairbottom Street building.
For upcoming Oldham Coliseum Theatre performances and events, please visit the website: https://www.coliseum.org.uk/
Opera Favourites with English National Orchestra
Preview by Steve Cooke
Join the Chorus of English National Opera (ENO) for their first exciting concert in Manchester, performing in collaboration with the Hallé Orchestra.
Opera greats Verdi, Puccini and Britten all take centre stage in this unmissable concert conducted by Alpesh Chauhan.
Featuring famous chorus numbers, iconic orchestral music and favourite arias, from La traviata to Gloriana and La bohème among many others, sung by Madeline Boreham and current ENO Harewood Artist Zwakele Tshabalala.
This event is part of Manchester Classical – a vibrant celebration of the city’s dynamic classical music scene.
Programme:
Verdi Overture La Forza Del Destino
Verdi Va pensiero (Nabucco)
Verdi Libiamo (Brindisi) (La traviata)
Puccini Humming Chorus (Madama Butterfly)
Puccini Che gelida manina, Mi chiamano Mimi, O soave fanciulla (La bohème)
Britten Choral Dances (Gloriana)
Mascagni Easter Hymn (Cavelleria Rusticana)
Puccini Nessun dorma (Turandot)
Alpesh Chauhan conductor
29 Jun 2025
Running Time1hour
This concert takes place at the Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3WS
For more information, please contact the Bridgewater Hall box office on 0161 907 9000 or supervisors@bridgewater-hall.co.uk
TESS AT HOME
Preview by Steve Cooke
Following the hugely successful sold-out tour in 2024, Ockham’s Razor, produced by Turtle Key Arts, return with Tess.
Tess is a groundbreaking circus adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
An ensemble of performers weave together Hardy’s words and the extreme physicality of circus to tell this tale of power, loss and endurance.
Against a backdrop of projections, the cast wield wooden planks, climb shifting walls and move through ropes and swathes of linen to evoke the vast landscapes and interior worlds of Hardy’s Wessex.
It is a story which still has extraordinary relevance for our times in its incredibly nuanced evocation of female relationships, sexual desire, consent, privilege and poverty.
This retelling captures the beauty, heartbreak and yearning of the novel and draws upon the incredible strength of the circus body to create a Tess as heroic as Hardy intended.
Running time - 2 hours + interval
Age recommendation - 12+ (Adult themes)
Schools - £11 (one free teacher per 10 students)
Groups - Buy 10 get the 11th ticket free.
5-7 June 2025
HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN
RECOMMENDED
Saturday 21st June 2025
Land and Brass Opening
Land and Brass is an exhibition and body of work commissioned by the Culture Coop working with sound artist Sophie Cooper and Milnrow brass band to combine contemporary experimental sound and composition with the local Rochdale/Pennines tradition of brass music. The project idea originated with a community steering group who suggested introducing the two local music genres together for interest of the public in an immersive installation and exhibition.
15:00 - 17:00
Free / Pay What You Want
17 Market Place, The Rochdale Exchange, Newgate, Rochdale, OL16 1BA
Sunday 22 June 2025
Turners Showcase 2025
From £18
1.00pm and 4.30pm
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
Sunday 22 June
Rochdale Pride Parade
You're invited to join in and walk in the second Rochdale Pride Parade. It's free to join, so bring your progress flags and banners to the parade and show them off. After the parade, you can head into the Great Hall in Rochdale Town Hall for refreshments, speeches, entertainment, and more celebrations until 4pm.
Free / Pay What You Want
12:30 - 16:00
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AZ
Wednesday 25 June 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Saxophone Duo Alvin Wong (Hong Kong & Northwestern Univs & Royal Conservatoire Antwerp) and Calvin Wong (Iowa, Indiana & Texas Universities)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.
Comentarios