WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 2 minutes ago
- 7 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN 23 AUGUST 2025
Free Comedy / Mental Health Skills Workshop.
By Steve Cooke
A Free Comedy / Mental Health Skills Workshop at Milnrow Cricket Club in Rochdale is a fantastic example of the creative arts’ importance in supporting good mental health.
Aspiring comedians, curious newcomers and anyone struggling with their mental health are invited to take part in a free four-week Skills Workshop this September at Milnrow Cricket Club in private comfortable area.
Running every Monday at 7pm till 9pm – September 1st , 8th, 15th, and 22nd, this engaging and supportive course is designed to help participants explore the art of comedy, build confidence, self-esteem , and develop performance and social cohesion techniques.
What Participants will Learn:
Mic & Stage Presence – Commanding attention when in a group environment.
Structuring Material – From premise to punchline
Handling Different Audiences – Techniques for Social connection.
Using Adrenaline & Managing Anxiety – Enhancing performance and the coping strategies to use under pressure.
Building Confidence & Crafting Personal Narratives
Participants will leave with a toolkit of techniques for performance writing, and strategic skills to manage their mental health better, plus opportunities for peer feedback and potential future stage time at local shows.
Taking a comedy short course can be a great way to boost mental health, offering both emotional relief and opportunities to connect with others. By learning how to craft jokes, perform stand-up, or dive into improvisation, tap into creativity and pick up useful skills to see challenges in a lighter, more humorous way. This process encourages self-expression, builds confidence, and helps develop resilience, especially when sharing laughs in a supportive group.
Finding the funny in everyday life can help shift perspective, reduce stress, and even combat feelings of loneliness. Whether taking the stage or just sharing a laugh with friends, comedy becomes a joyful outlet that supports well-being and lifts spirits.
Bthechange Theatre: Domino, a powerful narrative set in Rochdale
Preview by Steve Cooke
Domino: A Story of Resilience is a powerful narrative set in Rochdale, inspired by real-life incidents that follow John's journey through a series of challenges. This poignant tale explores themes of community, cultural heritage, resilience, and compassion, highlighting the struggles of individuals in society.
Exploring the interplay between fate and human kindness, highlighting the good in people and the role of chance in shaping our lives.
The essence of "Domino" resonates globally, emphasising the importance of human decency, empathy, and the need to support those facing extreme hardships.
Not only is this play telling a Rochdale tale as old as time about homelessness within the UK but it’s bringing people together who care about this true story and care about the homelessness crisis.
A great opportunity to see this compelling story brought to life, sparking reflection and conversation about the human experience.
This production deals with sensitive themes, including suggestions of suicide intent, which may be triggering for some audience members. If you need support, details of local charities and resources will be provided on the evening of the performance.
Founded by actress Emma Turner Bthechange theatre “fosters a commitment to create awareness of those who are oppressed in society, creating theatre plays with a beating heart that creates change”.
Friday 19th September 2025
7:30 PM arrive/8 PM
53Two, Arch 19. Watson St. Manchester. M3 4LP
All ticket proceeds will be donated to the four charities that supported John Priestley and those who find themselves today in a similar position.
Mind Rochdale
Reach out the community
Back on track
Museum of Homelessness
Manchester Camerata present The Angel in the Marble
Preview by Steve Cooke
Manchester Camerata are performing a new violin concerto by Nick Martin, written in response to the work of Barbara Hepworth and performed by the brilliant Tamsin Waley-Cohen — a violinist acclaimed for her poetic and expressive performances, with a passion for musical storytelling and commitment to contemporary music.
For this newly Camerata-commissioned violin concerto, Nick Martin has composed a love letter to the work of sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth.
Nick Martin is a composer based in Copenhagen. Composed whilst staying in St Ives, Nick says, ‘A particular point of inspiration has been Barbara Hepworth’s Landscape Sculpture—a carved torso-sized, cradle-like form in elm with nine strings of fishing line. I found the number nine resonant, suggestive of the nine months of pregnancy’.
This new work is presented alongside music by Mozart, Britten and Priaulx Rainier, all celebrating themes of youth or with a connection to Hepworth herself. Mozart’s Symphony No.1 was composed when he was just 8 years old, and you can hear the joy of youth in the wind solos. Similarly, the melodies that Britten draws on in his Simple Symphony were written whilst he was still a child and are dedicated to his viola teacher. Britten and Hepworth were introduced to one another through the composer Priaulx Rainier. Movements was written whilst she was staying with Barbara Hepworth in St Ives during the winter of 1950–51.
Tamsin Waley-Cohen is a British American violinist acclaimed for her poetic and expressive performances, with a passion for musical storytelling and a strong commitment to contemporary music: “I’m thrilled to be joining this project with the wonderful Manchester Camerata. Nick Martin’s new piece, inspired by the works of Hepworth, which I know so well and love, is resonant for me also because of its subject matter, the depiction of the symbiotic relationship between mother and child, an area rich in creative inspiration. The infectious enthusiasm of Mozart’s first symphony will be the perfect foil for Nick’s lyrical new concerto – I’m looking forward to our first rehearsal!”.
Programme
Mozart Symphony No.1*
Britten Simple Symphony
Priaulx Rainier Movement
Nick Martin Violin Concerto*
Performed by
Tamsin Waley-Cohen Violin/Director*
Caroline Pether Director
Manchester Camerata
Tickets for Manchester | The Whitworth | 4 Sept 6:15pm & 8pm £10-£60 visit: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/classical/the-angel-in-the-marble/
This concert will have a 15-minute pre-concert talk at the beginning, starting at 6:15 & 8pm respectively. Any accessibility enquiries or enquiries about the building in general, please contact whitworth@manchester.ac.uk or 0161 275 7450
Camerata are taking this concert on tour to two of the North’s greatest art institutions, as well as the phenomenal hall at King's Place, London.
Manchester – The Whitworth (4 Sept, 6:15pm & 8pm)
Wakefield – The Hepworth (5 Sept, 6:30pm & 8pm)
London – Kings Place (18 Sept, 8pm)
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Saturday, 23 August 2025
Middleton Reading Group
Last Saturday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers in this friendly and relaxed reading group.
Adults – you can just turn up.
Books are provided and loaned through the library. Refreshments will be provided.
Free
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU
Saturday, 23 August 2025
Littleborough U3A Poetry Group - Littleborough Library
4th Saturday of every month. A monthly poetry appreciation group for U3A Littleborough members.
You must be a U3A member to take part in U3A activities. Join Littleborough U3A
Join this group on the Littleborough U3A website: https://littleborough.u3asite.uk/welcome/
10am - 11.30am
Littleborough Library, Hare Hill Park, Littleborough OL15 9HE
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Gnome House - Balderstone Library
Join us for an enchanting time making Gnome houses.
All materials will be provided.
For families with children aged 3 and above. All children must have an adult with them.
You can just turn up. The session will be run on a first come, first served basis.
Free
11am - 12pm
Balderstone Library, Balderstone Park, Platting Lane, Rochdale OL11 2HD
Tuesday 26 August 2025
The Lady Boys of Bangkok
Plenty of fun and outrageous cheekiness!
Performing all your favourite and biggest hits from Hollywood to Bollywood, West End to Las Vegas, these diamante-dripping divas perform and create hits from the world’s most famous pop icons.
The Lady Boys return with their brand-new, must-see production for 2025, filled with plenty of fun, comedy and outrageous cheekiness. Including over 400 incredible costumes and more theatrical sequin-laden production numbers than you can shake your tail feather at!
Age guidance 16+
Tickets from £23.00
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Summer Holiday Hive - Enchanted Forest at Spotland Library
It's Enchanted Forest week across Rochdale Borough Libraries and there are plenty of activities taking place for families to enjoy.
Locations: if you can't make this event, you can catch the Holiday Hive at other libraries across the borough over August 2025. View Holiday Hive events
Who is this event suitable for? Best for children aged 3–14. Young children must have a supervising adult with them.
Do I need to book? No, you can just come along.
Directions: Get directions to this event on Google Maps
Contact: library.service@rochdale.gov.uk
Event organiser: Rochdale Borough Council
The Holiday Hive will be making a mix of dream catchers, gnome homes, fairy gardens and fantasy passports.
And, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for the free Summer Reading Challenge.
Free
9.30am - 11.30am
Spotland Library, Ings Lane, Rochdale OL12 7AL
Wednesday 27 August 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Callum Bisson piano (Chetham’s & RNCM)
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.