WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2025
Original writing: A Poem a Week by Stephen Cranston.
Previews: Rochdale Culture Awards, Shaun the Sheep - The Flight Before Christmas with Live Brass Band and The Makings of a Murderer – The Undercover Detective.
Review: Northern Baroque Orchestra.
A Poem a Week – Stephen Cranston
This week’s poem in the spotlight is by Stephen Cranston was born Glossop in 1972 but identifies as “A working class artist now living in Littleborough.”
Greatest Of All Time.
"Skitter scatter on the rocks
Hoofs on stoney mountaintops
Down the valley side we go
Despoilers of this season’s crop
Once despised, these horns grown back
See your kin’s blood on the leaves
Far off now the village burns
Hear the screaming in the trees
Salivate! My caprine friends
Tonight, we dine on human beings."
Rochdale Culture Awards
Preview by Steve Cooke
There is a great opportunity for us to celebrate our wonderful creative arts community at the Rochdale Culture Awards to be staged in March 2026.
I urge residents and organisations to put forward nominations for the awards, ahead of the closing date of Friday 19 December.
Rochdale Culture Awards will be staged at the town hall on Friday 27 March, as part of the closing weekend for Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26.
Nominations are being accepted across seven different categories: cultural legacy, creative of the year, young creative, cultural event of the year, health and wellbeing, heritage, and community.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for culture and communities at Rochdale Borough Council, said she wants the new awards to recognise the imagination, talent and dedication that shape the borough’s cultural life: “Culture means many things to many people so these awards will recognise diverse and vibrant ways cultural activities improve our lives. Each category will highlight those whose work inspires others and strengthens our community. From well-known names to unsung heroes, we want to hear about those making a real difference. Please consider submitting a nomination and we are looking forward to reading them.”
Nominees must either be based in the borough of Rochdale or have a strong track record of delivering activity for the benefit of people who live in or visit the borough, or that benefits the local economy.
Estelle Rowe, chief executive of Your Trust said: “We’re incredibly proud to be part of Rochdale Culture Awards which provide a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the creativity, passion and dedication that exists across the borough. From grassroots projects to major events, there is so much inspiring cultural work taking place that deserves to be recognised. These awards are a chance to acknowledge the individuals, groups and organisations who are enriching lives and strengthening communities through arts, heritage and culture.”
Pete Courtie, head of culture and placemaking at Rochdale Development Agency added: “This is an opportunity to shine a light and celebrate those who make a great contribution to the wealth of community culture that we’ve seen already this year, as well as hopefully inspiring others to get involved too, so do get nominating.”
All nominations must reflect activity that has taken place since January 2025, other than the Cultural Legacy Award which can recognise achievement over a number of years.
Find out more about Rochdale Culture Awards and make your nomination online at www.rochdalecreates.co.uk/townofculture/awards
The awards are supported by Your Trust, Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Development Agency, Culture Co-op, Cartwheel Arts, and Rochdale Borough Cultural Network.
Rochdale Culture Awards is part of a spectacular line up of festivals, live performances, exhibitions and art during Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26. The title, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, celebrates the town’s rich history, creativity, talent and diverse arts scene. Find out more at www.rochdale.gov.uk/TownOfCulture
Shaun the Sheep - The Flight Before Christmas with Live Brass Band
Preview by Steve Cooke
A chance to enjoy a magical festive event featuring the much-loved animated film The Flight Before Christmas, brought to life with live music from the world-famous KNDS Fairey Brass Band.
You are promised the magic of Christmas like never before as family favourite Shaun the Sheep takes flight in this enchanting festive adventure.
In 'The Flight Before Christmas', Shaun the Sheep and his flock are thrown into a surprise Christmas adventure when little Timmy accidentally ends up in Santa’s sleigh. What starts as a normal day on Mossy Bottom Farm quickly turns into a race against time to rescue Timmy before Christmas morning.
Expect snowy scenes, bustling Christmas markets, and plenty of festive fun, all delivered with Aardman’s signature humour and heartwarming storytelling. The music The KNDS Fairey Brass Band will be playing the film's original score, written by Tom Howe, and a selection of well-known Christmas favourites.
Accessibility
Quiet Zone
Wheel chair / pram accessible
Suitable For All Audiences
From £9.00
13:00
21st December 2025
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL16 1AZ
The Makings of a Murderer – The Undercover Detective
Preview by Steve Cooke
At Middleton Arena in the new year is an opportunity to step into the shadows of crime-fighting with The Makings of a Murderer: The Undercover Detective, the latest gripping instalment from the UK’s best-selling true crime talk show. With over 150,000 tickets sold across its first two tours, this third chapter delves even deeper into the unknown.
Join Peter Bleksley, a founding member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit and former star of Channel 4’s Hunted, as he lifts the lid on the most dangerous and hidden aspects of murder investigations. From the gritty realities of infiltrating criminal gangs to his own terrifying experience of becoming the target of a murder plot, Peter shares the untold stories of the most high-stakes cases.
For over a decade, Peter worked undercover, posing as everything from drug dealers to contract killers. His double life gave him access to the darkest corners of humanity, uncovering secrets that would save lives – but at the cost of his own safety. Forced into witness protection by an FBI-uncovered assassination plot, his career as a detective came to an abrupt end, leaving him with chilling memories of murderers and the justice system that hunts them.
Prepare for an unforgettable evening of true crime as Peter Bleksley reveals the harrowing reality behind solving murders and battling the criminal underworld. This is crime-fighting as you’ve never seen it before.
The Makings of a Murderer: The Undercover Detective – a journey into the mind of a detective, the world of a killer, and the thin line that separates them.
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajX-o66JA40
Tickets from £29.00
Thursday 22 January 2026
7:30pm - Doors open: 6:45pm
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester M24 1AG
Northern Baroque Orchestra, St Aidan’s Church, Sudden, Rochdale
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
The NBO [Northern Baroque Orchestra,] is 40 years old. Founded by the late violinist and teacher, Linda Williams it first emerged on 22 May 1985 as a chamber orchestra based in Rochdale with players from Greater Manchester, Saddleworth, West Yorkshire and further afield.
The beautiful setting of St Aidan’s, which had benefitted from a legacy bequest to redecorate recently, was an ideal venue for a 3 pm winter afternoon concert.
Today’s line-up was essentially a string orchestra (underpinned by harpsichord by Marek Bakota) which was right for the acoustic. Vivaldi’s scintillating Concerto ‘alla rustica’ set the Baroque mood with vigour, followed by works by Geminiani and Albinoni. The latter composition also featured an accomplished oboe soloist in Chris Browne.
Conductor Paul Witkiewicz singled out the new leader, violinist Maud Hodson for her sparkling playing of Bartok’s Romanian Dances to open the second half. Recorder soloist Ian Noonan was also appreciated by the audience for his fine playing of Telemann; and the concert rounded off with Handel’s glorious Concerto Grosso Op 6 No 7.
On a sad note, Secretary David Shipp announced the recent sad death of Peter Collier. For ten years their harpsichordist, Peter also helped with advice on Baroque repertoire and even supplied music from his extensive library of musical score and parts. This he did for several other ensembles in the area. He will be greatly missed.
There are tricky logistics in gathering musicians for such wonderful music, but they aim for at least two concerts a year. Visit
www.northernbaroque.org.uk for details of becoming a player, patron or member of the audience. The next NBO concert will be Saturday 13 June 2026.
RECOMMENDED
Saturday, 29 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
Monday, 1 December 2025
Wardle Library Reading Group
Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers at this friendly and relaxed reading group.
1st Monday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss new books with other readers at our free, friendly and informal monthly meetings. Everyone's welcome.
For adults and teenagers.
No need to book, you can just turn up.
Free
6pm - 7pm
Wardle Library, 448 Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9LH
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
Heywood Scribblers - Heywood Library
Join our poetry and story writing workshops. All abilities welcome.
First Wednesday of every month. Free, friendly creative writing sessions. Poetry and story-writing workshops. All abilities welcome, whether you're new to writing or a seasoned writer.
For adults, families and teenagers.
No need to book, you can just drop in.
Free
1.15pm - 3.15pm
Heywood Library, LCpl Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW
Wednesday 3 December 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Telemann Baroque Ensemble - flute & strings
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.
Comments