previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 09 NOVEMBER 2024
Beauty and the Beast – Heywood's Christmas Panto 2024
Preview by Steve Cooke
Not only one but two! Running alongside Sleeping beauty in Middleton, in our borough we have Beauty and the Beast at Heywood sports Village.
A brand new enchanting family pantomime, starring Coronation Street‘s Steven Arnold and Bruce Jones.
In a tale that’s as old as time, it’s time to discover what it takes for true love to conquer all! The mysterious Beast imprisons Beauty in his enchanted castle. Can she escape with the help of her family and melt the Beast’s icy heart before it’s too late? Will the plan work before the last rose petal falls?
So, join in the fun and boo the evil Gaston as he tries to win the heart of Beauty. Laugh out loud with the hilarious Loopy Louie le fool and Dame Polly Potts as we tell a tale as old as time, packed with songs, dance and lots of comedy.
From the team behind the last six Heywood pantomimes.
Duration: 2h 20m
Tickets from £10.50
Watch the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz3q211Bc30
Heywood Sports Village, West Starkey Street, Heywood, Greater Manchester OL10 4TW
OLDHAM COMMUNITY CHOIR AT TLC
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
Singing is good for general health and well-being. Singing in a choir brings further benefits of sociability and conviviality, etc. Singing in a choir at a concert adds fun and the satisfaction of entertaining others. Oldham Community Choir proved to be a splendid example of that in their annual visit to the Toad Lane Concerts at St Mary in the Baum.
The mixed voice choir was formed in 1985. Ten years later Edward Rigg, took over as director. He is also President of Rochdale Phoenix Opera Society and runs the Littleborough Coach House monthly concerts. Today he accompanied at the piano.
Conductor Jonathan Gibson is a freelance graduate horn player from the RNCM, he is also currently Musical Director of Rochdale Phoenix Opera Society, the ladies’ choir More than Melody, and others. His often-humorous introductions helped the flow of the varied programme of mixed-voice choral arrangements.
Some enchanted evening from South Pacific was followed by more conventional choral Hallelujahs from Martin Shaw and the reflective Cantique de Jean Racine by Faure. Having firmly established themselves as a choral group they launched into popular songs and extracts from the shows.
Two numbers from Miss Saigon were followed by You raise me up (as made famous by Westlife) and some vintage Doris Day with Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. More Boublil-Schonberg followed with a delightful medley from Les Misérables.
As conductor-come-compere Jonathan introduced the finale songs, ‘Let us take the Chattanooga Choo Choo to the traditional Spiritual ‘Oh, when the Saints.’ The audience applause showed that they were right on track for a return ticket!
The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade-1 listed building of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.
NINE the Musical in Concert
Preview by Steve Cooke
In celebration of Hope Mill Theatre’s 9th Birthday, they present NINE the Musical in the concert starring Broadway and West End star, Ramin Karimlo as Guido Contini.
Nine is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Arthur Kopit.
Movie director Guido Contini finds himself struggling to find meaning, purpose, and a script for his latest movie endeavor. With only a week left before shooting begins, he desperately searches for answers and inspiration from his wife, his mistress, his muse, and his mother. As his chaotic profession steadily destroys his personal life, Guido must find a balance between creating art and succumbing to its obsessive demands.
Featuring the songs, ‘Be Italian’, ‘Unusual Way’, ‘Cinema Italiano’ and many more.
Nine the musical won the 1982 Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Original Score and was released as a movie in 2009 and featured an all-star cast including Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Fergie, Sophia Loren and Judi Dench.
Ramin Karimloo who’s stage credits include: Piquillo in Songbird (Washington National Opera), Gomez Addams in The Addams Family (London Palladium), Nicky Arnstein in Funny Girl (August Wilson Theatre, NYC), Shams in Rumi: The Musical (London Coliseum), Anatoly in Chess (Umeda Arts Theatre, Osaka & Tokyo International Forum), Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Theatre Orb, Tokyo), Che in Evita (Theatre Orb, Tokyo & Vancouver Opera), Gleb Vaganov in Anastasia (Broadway, NYC), Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden (Lincoln Centre), Jean Valjean in Les Miserables (Toronto, London & NYC, Tony Award Nominee), The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera (London, Italy & Monte Carlo) & The Phantom in Love Never Dies (London, Olivier Award Nominee) will be playing the lead role of Quido Conti.
Ramin Karimloo, said: “I have always wanted to play Guido and do the musical NINE, I just love the story, I love the music and can’t wait to work with an incredible group of artists led by strong women. I think this is going to be an incredible process and I’m really looking forward to working with Joe and Will up in Manchester.”
From £32.50
Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard St, Manchester, M4 7JA
Box Office: boxoffice@hopemilltheatre.co.uk
Box Office: 0161 275 9141
RECOMMENDED
Saturday 09 November 2024
MiddleTones 10 Year Anniversary Concert
Come and celebrate the 10 year anniversary of The MiddleTones live at Middleton Arena. Experience the electrifying energy of this talented 4-piece band hailing from Middleton. Their captivating performances transport you back to the iconic 90s Britpop/indie era with some older classics and modern anthems thrown in as well, as they flawlessly cover songs that defined a generation.
With impeccable vocals, tight instrumentals, and a contagious stage presence, they bring new life to beloved classics from bands like Oasis, James, The Stone Roses and many more!
Get ready to indulge in a wave of nostalgia and sing your heart out to the anthems that shaped an era. Don’t miss this musical journey with The Middletones!
From £15.00
7:30pm Doors open: 7.00pm
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Manchester M24 1AG
Monday 11 November 2024
Littleborough Historical & Archaeological Society
Castleshaw Roman fort with Norman Redhead.
Light refreshments are served on arrival and non-members are very welcome to attend.
Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 8.00pm (doors open at 7.30pm) in the fully accessible (via the station ramp) History Centre on Platform 2 of Littleborough Train Station.
Free parking is available locally within the town centre and nearby streets.
Members £2.50 and Non-members £3.50
Phone: 01706 377685
Doors open 7.30pm, 8pm start
History Centre, Platform 2, Littleborough Railway Station, Railway Street, Littleborough OL15 8AF
Monday 11 November 2024
Grandparent Storytime
Calling all 0 to 5 year olds and their grown-ups to come and listen to stories read by Grandparents who will bring the story to life for the children in our communities.
If you are interested in volunteering for a story-time role, please see a member of staff or visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/libraries/library-volunteers
Free
Phone: Tracey Tomlinson 07356 182030
10am to 11am
Langley Library, Langley Children's Centre, Windemere Road, Manchester M24 4LA
Tuesday 12 November 2024
Edwin Waugh Dialect Society
A native speaker of Lancashire Dialect, Sid has been collecting dialect songs and stories from Lancashire for over 40 years.
Sid will be drilling down into the many Lancashire dialect words and explaining their history, usage and meanings .
In the Chair - Jim Saville
Waugh Reading: Marylin Moore
Edwin Waugh Dialect Society meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month (previously Wednesday) from October to June, commencing at 7.30pm at St Andrew's Methodist and United Reformed Church, Rochdale (between Rochdale Leisure Centre and Aldi). There is free onsite parking.
Annual subscription is £10, but voluntary donations at each meeting help defray the cost of the room hire. Your first meeting is free.
Formed in 1938 by a group of Lancashire Dialect enthusiasts, the objects of the society are the maintaining and increasing of interest in Lancashire.
At the meetings, members are entertained by a speaker or a performer.
Visit the link below for the full 2024 calendar.
Phone: 01706 826227
7.30pm start - 9pm
St Andrew's Methodist and United Reformed Church, Entwistle Road, Rochdale OL16 2HZ
Wednesday 13 November 2024
Rochdale Antiques Society - Victorian paintings in the British Museums - Gena Warburton
Victorian Paintings in British Museums.
Visitors are very welcome at our meetings, just turn up on the night. There is no limit on the number of meetings that visitors can attend.
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month.
Meetings run from September to May.
Visitors charge - £5
Phone: Society Secretary, Ann Lord 01706 844026
7.30pm
St Vincent's Community Centre, Caldershaw Road, Norden OL12 7QL
(Sat Nav: OL12 7QR)
Wednesday 13 November 2024
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have The Kell Wind Trio (Alastair Roberts flute, Geoffrey Smith clarinet and Ian Harvey bassoon).
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
Wednesday 13 November 2024
Free Drama Workshops
Two Shires Drama is kicking off free drama workshops.
Ever been told you should give acting a try? Or maybe you're just someone who loves fiction and drama? Whether you've always wanted to be on stage or you’re just curious, this is your chance!
No pressure, no experience needed—just come along, have fun, and see where it takes you. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the stage.
Let’s make this unforgettable!
Our workshops offer:
Theatre games.
Drama skills.
Acting exercises that aim to build confidence, self-esteem and friendships.
These session are suitable for ages 16+ and run weekly.
Free
Phone: Jules Howliston 07909 505461
6pm
Caring and Sharing Community Hub, 78 Yorkshire Street, Town centre, Rochdale OL16 1JU
Wednesday 13 November 2024
Art Group
Interested in art?
Why not come along and meet like-minded individuals, meeting each week to paint, draw, watch demos, etc.
Bring along your own artwork and join us. We are a very friendly group .
We are beginners up to very experienced artists who enjoy the sociability of meeting up and helping each other.
All abilities welcome.
Weekly programme of topics and events.
£1.00 weekly subs
Phone: Veronica Swinden 01706 640567
Visit; http://rochdaleartists.com
10.45am to 12.45pm
Castleton Library and Community Centre, 604 Manchester Road, Castleton, Rochdale OL11 3AF
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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