previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 31 JULY 2024
Little HOME Festival
Preview by Steve Cooke
A celebration of family and creativity at Little HOME, a fun-filled family festival jam-packed with free and ticketed events, taking place at HOME between Fri 2 – Sun 4 Aug and Sat 10 – Sun 11 Aug 2024.
Little HOME invites families to embark on an adventure filled with interactive performances, hands-on workshops, and endless fun for all ages. Discover the magic of storytelling with immersive theatre performances, spectacular circus acts, get stuck into arts and crafts at HOME’s Creativity Corner, and let your imagination soar with engaging games and activities.
With both indoor and outdoor events, Little HOME is the ultimate summer festival for the whole family.
Shark in the Park
Fri 2 Aug – Sun 4 Aug in HOME Theatre 1
Fri 2 Aug 16:00, Sat 3 Aug 11:00, 14:00, Sun 4 Aug 11:00, 14:00.
Don't miss this fin-tastic family musical based on the book series!
Timothy Pope is looking through his telescope – but wait, is that a Shark, in the Park!?
From the creative team behind The Hairy Maclary Show and You Choose – see all three of Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park books live on stage!
Featuring all three of the Shark in the Park series – Shark in the Park, Shark in the Dark and Shark in the Park on a Windy Day – this family musical follows Timothy Pope (and his telescope!) on three exciting adventures…
Little HOME: Sat 3 Aug
Phoebe Foxtrot
Join community arts facilitator Phoebe Foxtrot for craft activity in the creativity corner. More info on Phoebe here.
Toby and Eunice
Have you ever petted a dragon? Or bottle fed a baby unicorn? Pop along and meet them for yourself!
The Wonderous Funderstorm is the sparkly brainchild of Rob and Gemma Bond, lifelong performers and husband and wife team. The company is driven by a wild desire to create wonderful and magical experiences through interactive theatre and walkabout entertainment.
Special Delivery
SPECIAL DELIVERY is a simple story about the delights of trying something unexpected. When a heavily laden postman is suddenly surprised by a rain shower, he discovers that all his packages have lost their labels
10:00 – 16:00 for a whole day of family fun!
Dr Frankenstein
DR FRANKENSTEIN (Ages 6+) Come and join Dr Frankenstein at his work table and watch him at work. Unsurprisingly he’s creating a new life!
Mystic Mog
Join Mystic Mog, famous feline fortune teller as she reveals your future. Will you use one of your nine lives? Or will everything be purrrfect? Find out in this fun, funny, theatre for one.
Blast Off!
Thomas Daniel Bryne will present his 2 and a half minute long ‘crankie’ piece Blast Off! This piece is similar to a theatre for one in that it is a short experience for 2 people at a time with an audio track played on headphones
10:00 – 16:00 for a whole day of family fun!
Little HOME: Sat 10 Aug
Included in the day’s events and activities are:
Phantasmagoria Magical Emporium
Phantasmagoria is a magical travel emporium based in Ashton, Greater Manchester. They will run a craft activity out of Creativity Corner and also operate a small free treasure hunt game.
Skylight Circus Skills
Discover your hidden talents with Skylight Circus Arts!
Skylight’s circus team will amaze you with their circus skills while helping you master juggling, plate-spinning, diabolo and more. Perfect for children ages 4 and up and adults too!
Cacophony Arkestra
6 piece carnival band Cacophany Arkestra was formed in 2014 from a group of talented musicians and carnival artists. They perform a high energy mix of soca & calypso tunes blended with other musical styles such as ska, jazz, and afro-beat.
Zine Making
Amy is an emerging young visual artist/mural painter based in the North West. She has a great visual style and will be running a craft activity teaching participants how to create their own story zines.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist is a light-hearted, slightly-slapstick puppet show for all ages. This gentle and magical performance has captivated audiences young and old across the UK and beyond.
Old Time Rags
A traditional one man band joins a tap dancing, singing washboard player animating any space with joyful sounds of skiffle, jazz and blues.
Raggle Taggle Arts create professional performance based projects for outdoor and indoor spaces, merging the folk traditions of the past with the present.
The Ballad of Selkie
A tale of longing and belonging in the watery world of the Selkie, who finds herself on land, an environment not made for her. She will build connections, explore, play and make a home here, all before the call of the sea takes her back, like the ebb and flow of the tide.
10:00 – 16:00 for a whole day of family fun!
Little HOME: Sun 11 Aug
Included in the day’s events and activities are:
Skylight Circus Skills
Discover your hidden talents with Skylight Circus Arts!
Skylight’s circus team will amaze you with their circus skills while helping you master juggling, plate-spinning, diabolo and more. Perfect for children ages 4 and up and adults too!
Shadow Puppet Making
The Travelling Shadow Theatre will be based in Creativity Corner running a craft activity teaching participants how to make their own shadow puppets.
Doodle Dance
Doodle Dance is a workshop that combines mindful doodling techniques with movement! Create doodles and dance moves of your own in this fun and playful workshop. Designed for children of all ages Doodle Dance is a workshop for those who love to move and for those who aren’t quite sure. So come doodle, dance, move and explore…
Never Too Old
A long-suffering Grandpa and a stubborn Grandma battle it out for your attention and affections. Gran and Gramps now perform as roaming / walking puppets (despite their age) and will delight, entertain… and chat about anything, with anyone!
Blast Off!
Thomas Daniel Bryne will present his 2 and a half minute long ‘crankie’ piece Blast Off! This piece is similar to a theatre for one in that it is a short experience for 2 people at a time with an audio track played on headphones
Mia Moon
Mia will be performing outside HOME within our café/bar seating area.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed + Live Music
The Adventures of Prince Achmed is the first full length stop motion animation film ever produced. It was made by Lotte Reiniger in 1926. Chris Davies wrote a new original score for the film and performs it live.
10:00 – 16:00 for a whole day of family fun!
Box Office 0161 200 1500
Restaurant 0161 212 3500
HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN
KHUSHI 2024
Preview by Steve Cooke
Khushi Festival will be taking over Oldham Library- a day packed with performances, workshops, games, music, and happiness!
Oldham Coliseum have commissioned three fantastic artists to co-create brand new pieces of work. Poet Nasima Bee has been working with Werneth CHAI; actor and facilitator Perveen Hussain has been working with West Oldham CHAI and the Indian Association; and folk arts and craft visual artist Maryam Hussain has been working with Yuvanis Foundation and a group from Greenhill Community Sports and Recreation Club.
Here are some of the things you can expect:
PERFORMANCE
Ghar Ghar Ke Kahani / Household Stories by West Oldham Chai Ladies
The West Oldham Chai Ladies (Women's CHAI Project) have been exploring different stories that can happen in anyone's life. Working with artist Perveen Hussain the group have created a short play called Ghar Ghar Ke Kahani / Household Stories. ‘Every household has their struggles. You are not on your own- everything will be okay!’
Jeevan Yatra (Life’s Journeys) by The Indian Association
The Indian Association presents Jeevan Yatra / Life’s Journeys, a beautiful short play in which the highs and lows of migration are told through the ladies who lived them.
The Indian Association wanted to tell their stories of migration from South Asia and Africa to the UK. Working with artist Perveen Hussain, they have created a beautiful piece which will evoke all your emotions.
Storytelling with Zoe Iqbal
Join Zoe for some fun tales from across the South Asian diaspora in this short storytelling piece suitable for all the family.
EXHIBITION
Piecing together the past by Yuvanis Foundation
Young women and girls from Yuvanis Foundation have explored the origins of traditional South Asian motifs found in fabric, ceramic and wall art. Working with folk arts and craft visual artist Maryam Hussain, the group have created unique mosaic pieces that fit together to form a remarkable masterpiece.
Cross-stitching stories by Oldham Greenhill Community Sport and Recreation Club
Folk arts and craft visual artist Maryam Hussain worked with an intimate group of women exploring personal stories and the historical significance of traditional motifs found in the Punjab. Together they have created a patchwork piece representing friendship, support, and the amazing talents and experiences of the Greenhill ladies
WORKSHOPS
Beginner friendly writing workshop with Maya
Beatboxing workshop with Faz Shah
Mixed Media Workshop with Fajar Kayani
Drop in craft sessions
Saturday 3 August 2024 - Oldham Library - 10:30-5pm - Free event - everyone welcome
Oldham Library and Lifelong Learning Centre, Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street, Oldham OL1 1AL
Phone: 0161 770 8000
Email: libraries@oldham.gov.uk
Khushi is presented in partnership with the Women's Chai Project (Care, Help and Inspire), and Oldham Council.
RECOMMENDED
Wednesday 31 July 2024
Out visit - Hare Hill House, Littleborough tour by Iain Bowden
Iain Bowden, volunteer at Hare Hill House, will be taking us round the house and showing us what work is being done. It should prove to be an interesting evening.
Free, but donations gratefully accepted.
Phone: Lynne Nield 01706 655094
7pm for 7.30pm start
Hare Hill House, Hare Hill Road, Littleborough OL15 9HE
Wednesday 31 July 2024
Rochdale Photographic Society
Tonight's session - Keith's Garden/Model Engineering
Note this meetings timings are 1830 to 2030
We meet every Wednesday at Rochdale Unitarian Church.
If you would like to see the club for yourself and meet our members, you are welcome to attend as our guest for up to 3 weeks before committing to membership. Annual subscription is £36 for single or £46 for joint membership.
A weekly room fee of £2.50 is also payable on arrival at the meeting. Refreshments are 50p.
Visit the link below for a full 2024 syllabus.
£2.50 for room fee
6.30pm - 8.30pm
Rochdale Unitarian Church, Clover Street, Rochdale OL12 6TP
Wednesday 31 July 2024
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have Lucy Farrimond soprano (RNCM) & Juanjo Blazquez Garre piano (Lorca, Madrid & 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… during the pandemic!
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
Thursday 01 August 2024
Feel Good Family Picnic
A free event for families in July and August 2024 organised by the team behind Rochdale Feel Good Festival. Fun activities, performances, music, sports and shows for children of all ages.
The Feel Good Family Picnic will be staged in local parks during the school holidays and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic. Fantastic days of free-to-attend fun and culture for families, magical days out in beautiful settings, with an exciting line-up.
To coincide with the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the theme is the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.
The Feel Good Family Picnic is staged by the council in partnership with Without Walls, a consortium of festivals and arts organisations bringing fantastic outdoor arts to people in towns and cities across England. It has received funding from UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Free
12pm - 4pm
Hare Hill Park, Littleborough OL15 9BG
Thursday 01 August 2024 - Saturday 03 August 2024
Visit Fireground Museum
Join us at Fireground this week to discover Greater Manchester's firefighting story.
Fire museum attractions are on show inside the museum including our collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, plus home-made refreshments in the new Fireground Café, and souvenirs from our fantastic new gift shop! We have a wide choice ranging from toddler to collector.
Under 4s are free, Children (aged 4-15) and Concessions £5, Adults £7 and Family (4 people) £20.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219
Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Friday 02 August 2024
The American Four Tops
The only American tribute to the four tops touring the UK!
Direct from the USA, and back by popular demand, Soul Satisfaction appear live in concert performing The American Four Tops Motown show, bringing you all the sweet soul music and Motown magic.
With powerful vocals, splendid harmonies and high stepping dance routines, you will be taken on a journey celebrating the legendary Four Tops, with hits such as Reach Out, Baby I Need Your Loving, Walk Away Renee, Same Old Song, Loco in Acapulco, Standing In the Shadow, Bernadette and other classics including songs from the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Ben E King and other icons from Motown’s golden era. Supported by their incredible band Motown Express, this is an exciting and authentic American experience!
One of Motown’s most legendary songwriters Eddie Holland, from Holland-Dozier-Holland, responsible for all of the Four Tops and Supremes greatest hits said: “This show is incredible, one of the most professional and the tightest vocal group that I have seen – and I have seen many groups in my time! Soul Satisfaction is exactly what you get”.
You will be dancing all night long! Reach out and…get ready cos here they come!
Tickets from £27
Phone: Middleton Arena 0300 303 8633
7.30pm
Middleton Arena, LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton M24 1AG
Friday 02 August 2024
Feel Good Family Picnic
A free event for families in July and August 2024 organised by the team behind Rochdale Feel Good Festival. Fun activities, performances, music, sports and shows for children of all ages.
The Feel Good Family Picnic will be staged in local parks during the school holidays and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic. Fantastic days of free-to-attend fun and culture for families, magical days out in beautiful settings, with an exciting line-up.
To coincide with the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the theme is the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.
The Feel Good Family Picnic is staged by the council in partnership with Without Walls, a consortium of festivals and arts organisations bringing fantastic outdoor arts to people in towns and cities across England. It has received funding from UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Free
12pm - 4pm
Queen's Park, Queen's Park Road, Heywood OL10 4UY
Saturday 03 August 2024
Special Summer Weekend Gathering - Waugh's Well Walk
We set off from Gincroft Lane, Edenfield, and stop every 15 minutes, or so, for a poem or a song, following the old wagon road and tramways on top before enjoying a picnic lunch at Fo' Edge.
At the well, there are more readings and songs by the walkers and others who have gathered there to await their arrival, before descending on the Coal Road via Dearden Clough, again stopping every 15 minutes or so.
A new notice board has been made to replace the now dilapidated one at Fo' Edge Farm. On this walk we will be taking the new board and replacing the old one with it.
Please come and join us.
We will read some Edwin Waugh poems on the way, too!
Donation welcome
Phone: Alyson Brailsford 07773 710325
11am
Walkers will meet at the junction of Bury Road and Gincroft Lane in Edenfield, BL0 0JQ .
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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