previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2025
Rochdale Musical Theatre Company return to the Champness Hall with Shrek the musical.
Preview by Steve Cooke.
I highly recommend that you join Rochdale Musical Theatre Company (RMTC) as they bring all your favourite fairytale creatures to Rochdale for nine unforgettable performances!
Staged at the magnificent Champness Hall, 9-17th May 2025, in the heart of Rochdale town centre, Shrek the Musical definitely isn’t one to miss.
This year’s production follows RMTC’s sell-out runs of Beauty & the Beast and Grease. Founded in 1898, the society are in their 127th year of bringing musical theatre to Rochdale.
With over 1500 tickets already sold for Shrek The Musical; the Society are heading for another highly successful run.
Shrek The Musical is a whirlwind fairytale adventure, bringing all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage, with a talented cast, spectacular costumes, fantastic puppets and a live orchestra.
Follow Shrek and Donkey on their daring quest to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona. Meet a soul singing Dragon, a Gingerbread man with attitude, Pinocchio and a whole bunch of fairytale misfits in this hilarious, heart-warming, larger than life musical!
It’s a family friendly show, for all generations to enjoy. Tickets £19 and you can book online at rochdalemtc.co.uk.
MOMORIO AT EBOR GALLERY FRANK
Preview by Steve Cooke
Mormorio - Kara Lyons, Paul Haywood, Chris Leach – exhibition at Ebor gallery Frank.
Mormorio is an Italian word meaning murmur or murmuring. For example, 'il mormorio delle onde' = the lapping of the waves.
This is an exhibition by 3 artists using different mediums and methods of working whose work is inspired by the theme of water and a variety of its associations.
Kara Lyons
Kara’s work for this exhibition is a large floor based installation made in situ in Gallery FRANK by using her feet to make patterns on a bed of wet clay in a rhythmic process that draws parallels between the mark of human passage and the continuous flow of water in our local waterways. It makes reference to the history of our post-industrial landscape and the people that inhabited and inhabit that space.
Kara will also exhibit large drawings made using a similar process with graphite and water.
Chris Leach
“My work considers notions of value, scale and proximity. These small gouache works of seascapes are nominally depictions of tidal views. I am interested in the psychological relationship between the artwork and the viewer, the shifts between place and being and the rendering of one thing into another. The works are intricate and finely detailed, they are about proximities and relativities of scale on both a psychological and material level. They are constructed to encourage an intimate response, enticing the viewer towards the surface of the composition as a point of mediation between the image and the elements that make up the work.”
Paul Haywood
Paul is exhibiting carbon drawings on wood, video projections, photographs.
All works reference the woven patterns of the ocean surface; perpetually competing, colliding, swelling and simmering. These works are studies of line, light and movement.
Preview: Saturday March 15th 2-4pm
View by appointment: March 15th until April 4th 2025
Mormorio In Conversation Wednesday 26th March 7-8pm
Listen to Kara Lyons, Paul Haywood, Chris Leach and a special guest discuss their exhibition, processes, and areas of interest with one another.
Ebor Studio, William Street, Littleborough OL15 8JP
Open Monday and Thursday11am–5pm
Phone: 01706 551 001
Email: info@eborstudio.co.uk
All events are free with no booking, everyone welcome!
Please get in touch to discuss access requirements before your visit.
HOME announces the talented cast for Kim’s Convenience
Preview by Steve Cooke
Following hugely successful runs in London and internationally, Kim’s Convenience is heading out on a UK tour!
Now a global smash hit, this hilarious and heartwarming drama about a family-run Korean store that inspired the Netflix phenomenon, is written by Ins Choi, who calls the play his ‘love letter to his parents and to all first-generation immigrants who now call Canada their home.’
More than just a comedy, it’s a deeply moving and laugh-out-loud celebration of family, resilience, and the immigrant experience.
Joining James Yi (Kim’s Convenience, Netflix; The Interview) in his role of the loveable yet stubborn patriarch Appa will be Caroline Donica, once again as his on-stage daughter Janet. Marking their UK debut, the pair’s return as the leading father and daughter duo brings an authentic chemistry to this much-loved story of family, tradition, and generational change.
Yi and Donica will be joined by Candace Leung (Spent, BBC; Criminal Minds, CBS) as Umma, Daniel Phung (Blade Runner 2099, Amazon; Rain Dogs, HBO/BBC; My Neighbour Totoro, RSC) as Jung, and Andrew Gichigi (Kim’s Convenience, Riverside Studios; Anansi Boys, Amazon) as Alex.
Written by Ins Choi
Directed by Esther Jun
Tue 8 - Sat 12 Apr
Tickets from £25
Running time: 75 minutes (no interval)
Phone: Box Office 0161 200 1500
HOME 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN
RECOMMENDED
Monday 24 March 2025
St John's Art Group
We hold an 'arts and craft group' in a side room every Monday afternoon. You are invited to come along, meet new friends, enjoy a cup of tea, and chat.
Everyone is welcome, whether you want to bring your own craft project, learn a new skill or just chat.
You can bring your own craft items, or we can provide some materials and support.
1pm - 3pm
St John the Baptist R.C. Church, Dowling Street, Rochdale OL11 1EX
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Rochdale & District Camera Club - Last chance to prep for exhibition
Session: Last chance to prep for exhibition.
Get prints made up etc.
You are more than welcome to come down to one of our club nights to see if you would enjoy joining the club.
Visit the link below for the 2025 syllabus.
Phone: Pete Williams 07967 969136
8pm - 10pm
Syke Methodist Church Hall, Syke Road, Rochdale OL12 9TF
Wednesday 26 March 2025
Rochdale Photographic Society
Tonight's session - Annual competition DPI. Judge Colin Douglas AFIAP ARPS AFIAP DPAGB BPE4
We meet every Wednesday at Rochdale Unitarian Church, starting at 7.30pm prompt (doors open from 7.15pm). The door is kept locked so please ring the bell on arrival.
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.
Doors open 7.15pm, 7.30pm start
Rochdale Unitarian Church, Clover Street, Rochdale OL12 6TP
Wednesday 26 March 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - Music from Tonacliffe Primary School. Directed by Freda Farnworth.
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.
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