WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 30 MAY 2026
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- May 30
- 7 min read
An oasis of positivity celebrating the creative arts with previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations.
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 30 MAY 2026
Previews: ACE Lips Comedy Live at the Civic plus Tiny Tim’s Stand Up Adventures – The Man Behind The Voice
Reviews: Pamela Aston’s Great Aunt Mary and Return to the Forest at Aviva Studios is magical, immersive, and family‑friendly
Pamela Aston’s Great Aunt Mary
Review by Steve Cooke
Pamela Ashton is a much loved and highly respected follower of her home town, Rochdale. She is a local heritage ambassador, a charity fundraiser for many years, a keen and very good writer and poet and a valuable champion of creativity encompassing all forms of the Arts.
If you are lucky enough to have met Pamela, you will have been immediately aware of just how passionate and proud she is about the development of her town.
I was excited to learn that she had written a new short story that she was happy to share.
Great Aunt Mary is the true story of Mary Moran a clog wearing Rochdale lass whose exploits as a footballer got full page coverage in the Rochdale Observer. The story of a John B right mill girl who became captain of their football team.
An inspiring, moving and very informative read with plenty of local dialect, a story that celebrates a local lass who became one of the pioneers of women’s football.
You can read Great Aunt Mary by visiting: https://www.allacrossthearts.com/post/pamela-ashton-s-great-aunt-mary-the-true-story-of-a-pioneering-lady-footballer-from-rochdale
Return to the Forest at Aviva Studios is magical, immersive, and family‑friendly
Review by Steve Cooke with Jade Duckworth
Return to the Forest at Aviva Studios blended puppetry, dance, music, and object‑led storytelling into a thoroughly enjoyable, vivid theatrical journey.
This five‑star, immersive adventure transformed Aviva Studios’ vast North Warehouse into a living, breathing world of puppetry, movement, and myth, engaging children and adults alike with its inventive staging and emotional resonance.
The audience began inside a museum exhibit, wandering among five artefacts before the “museum closes.”
A playful heist sequence unfolded as performers dodged alarm beams and attempted to steal the objects. When the alarm was triggered, the audience was ushered into a second space, an expansive “forest”—where the objects’ stories came alive through dance, puppetry, and music.
This two‑part structure delightfully created a sense of discovery and surprise, culminating in a moment that produced gasps from the audience.
\
Jade’s take “ The cast were fantastic dancers and incredibly versatile performers. The show was mesmerising and really drew the audience into their magical world. It was a weird and wonderful act; it was humorous and well timed with amazing choreography. The whole event was entertaining and engaging at times reminding me of the orisha works. The final immersive activity involving the children in the finalisation of the heist was superbly done and exciting for the audience members participating. An incredible concept well executed.”
Return to the Forest referenced several recurring themes:
Each object revealed its cultural or ancestral story, often rooted in global traditions.
The heist setup evoked questions about ownership and cultural memory, though the show remained accessible and joyful rather than didactic. Togetherness and community through encouraging movement, participation, and shared wonder, being playful, vibrant, and emotionally warm, with moments of both high energy and meditative calm.
The excellent Performances & Creative Team included.
Choreography: Gregory Maqoma. Direction: Sue Buckmaster, a renowned puppetry specialist. Music: Frank Moon & Domenico Angarano. Ensemble: Multi‑talented performers who blended dance, puppetry, vocals, and physical theatre. Teele Uustani’s puppetry was fluid and transformative with Xolisile Bongwana’s vocals and percussion providing the beating heart of the production. The dynamic ensemble movement, successfully integrated audience proximity and 360‑degree staging.
Although Return to the Forest was marketed for ages 8+ this wonderful production was not only children’s theatre with adults in the audience finding it rich and thought‑provoking.
The show’s interactivity as the audience moved between spaces and sat close to the action kept younger audience members engaged throughout without compromising artistic depth.
The North Warehouse was used expertly to its full potential: Divided into two contrasting environments (museum → forest) with immersive staging that surrounded the audience. Lighting and costume design burst spectacularly with colour and symbolism.
The space’s scale very effectively enhanced the sense of adventure and transformation.
The enticing, magical five star show for everyone certainly brought the WOW factor to the Aviva Studios.
\
ACE Lips Comedy Live at the Civic
Preview by Steve Cooke
“Heywood, get ready to laugh your socks off! Your comedy nights just got funnier with Live at the Civic – the borough’s very own comedy roadshow, bringing the best of the UK comedy circuit right to your doorstep! “
Curated and presented by Ace Lips Comedy, who’ve been bringing the laughs to the borough for over a decade – this promises to be the place to be for top-tier comedy, right in the heart of Heywood.
From rising stars to seasoned circuit regulars, each show is guaranteed to be “packed with side-splitting sets that’ll have you howling with laughter and forgetting the stresses of the day.”
This is a great opportunity to catch the next big names in comedy before they hit the big time! Tag your mates, grab your tickets, and go see why Live at the Civic is the place you need to visit.
Line-up of laughs:
Tony Basnett: A hugely experienced circuit favourite, known for his razor-sharp observations, quick wit and hilarious storytelling that keeps audiences laughing from start to finish.
Dawn Bailey: One of the UK comedy circuit’s most loved acts, bringing warm Northern humour, relatable life stories and brilliant crowd interaction.
Maxine Wade: Sharp, fearless and naturally funny, Maxine delivers big laughs with her unique take on everyday life.
Steve Rimmer: Smart, quick, and effortlessly funny, a crowd favourite who explodes every time.
For this show at Heywood Civic, they have three prices to choose from for the same seat:
£12: A standard price – fair pricing for the show you’re going to see
£10: A slightly lower price – for people who need it
£14: A slightly higher price – for those who want to help support our programme
You can select the right price for you at checkout: https://heywoodcivic.co.uk/event/ace-lips-comedy-live-at-the-civic/
7.30pm on Friday 5 June at Heywood Civic, Lance Corporal Stephen Shaw MC Way, Heywood OL10 1LW
You can find Heywood Civic on Peine Square in the centre of Heywood, near Heywood Library. As well as having a small car park for visitors, Heywood Civic is also close to several bus routes linking us to Rochdale, Bolton, Bury, Middleton and Manchester city centre.
Tiny Tim’s Stand Up Adventures – The Man Behind The Voice
Preview by Steve Cooke
Eight years ago, Tiny Tim decided to go on his own adventure navigating through adult life and posting about his calls on social media.
With over 250 million views on YouTube and over 10 million followers on all social media platforms, there is every chance you may have seen the “hilarious videos of the legend that is Tiny Tim’s Adventures”.
Now it’s your opportunity to join the man behind the voice on his biggest adventure to date by going along for a night with Tiny Tim. Live on stage in person at the Middleton arena.
There will be moderate swearing, adult material and sexual references throughout the performance. Suitable for 16 plus years.
General Admission – £25.00
Meet & Greet including Show – £35.00
Pre-show meet and greet to take place 6.30pm – 7pm
8pm on Thursday 4 June at Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Greater Manchester, M24 1AG
RECOMMENDED
Saturday, 30 May 2026
Kids' Club - Wardle Library
Come along and get creative at our craft table.
Last Saturday of every month. These themed Kids' Club activity sessions will include crafts, activities and challenges.
For families with children aged 4 and over.
No need to book, you can just come along.
Free
10am - 12.30pm
Wardle Library, 448 Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9LH
Monday, 1 June 2026
Wardle Library 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. For adults and teenagers.
No need to book, you can just turn up.
6pm - 7pm
Wardle Library, 448 Birch Road, Wardle, Rochdale OL12 9LH
Monday, 1 June 2026
Little Reads at Rochdale Central Library
First Monday of every month. Little Reads is a fun, interactive workshop using drama, dance, songs and play to explore children’s picture books.
families with children aged 2–6.
This is a space for you and your little ones to have fun sharing a story, singing, moving and playing. Remember to join in yourself as your children love to copy you.
No booking required, you can just turn up.
Free
10am - 10.30am
Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1XU
Wednesday, 3 June 2026
Heywood Scribblers - Heywood Library
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 June 2026
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Richard Haslam classical guitar (Hull University & RNCM)
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
Comments