previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 27 JULY 2024
Dark, Beautiful & Chaste – women’s real-life stories of adverse childhood experiences.
Preview by Steve Cooke
Dark, Beautiful and Chaste is brand-new play produced by Becky Kershaw, with an all-female cast, presented by The Captain’s Leg Theatre Company. The play is based upon women’s real life stories of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and how this has impacted their mental health. The stories are presented in the form of a patient/therapist discourse interwoven with specially composed music by local artists.
Becky Kershaw tells me ‘I’m producing a play called Darn, Beautiful & Chaste. It’s a play written by a northern lady called Maris Greenhalgh and is based in real life stories of adverse childhood experiences. With 47% of the population having experienced at least one ACE, it is hoped that the play could be the catalyst to encourage those affected to seek help and support.’
She also reminded me of a distant past with ‘Hi Steve, or should I say Mr Cooke my former history teacher?’
The play will be performed on 4 occasions in the local area where the stories originated and will be supported by a trauma informed expert.
This piece was proudly developed with the support of Manchester CC Public Health.
“It’s easier to support a child than mend a broken adult”.
DBC TEAM
Marie Greenhalgh- Writer & Director
Becky Kershaw- Producer
CAST
MICHAELA SHORT, Michaela is an actress from Sheffield and will be playing the role of Marsha. She is thrilled to be working on this
brand new play by Marie Greenhalgh, having worked in Children & Families Social services for 20 years, she understands the tagline of this play “It’s easier to support a child than mend a broken adult,” and looks forward to sharing Marsha’s story with you.
Spotlight: https://app.spotlight.com/1531-3424-5887
ANGELA HEENAN
Angela is a Manchester based actress with experience of TV, Theatre & Film. Her most recent theatre credits have been at 53Two.
Angela has recently been signed with Keddie Scott and is excited about the future. She is thrilled to have been cast as Rachel in the production of Dark, Beautiful & Chaste.
Spotlight: https://app.spotlight.com/4775-7833-6618
CHLOE ATKINSON
Chloe is an actress based in Manchester represented by Urban Talent and will be playing the role of Young Marsha. She began acting when she was 10 years old and has been loving it ever since. She is very excited to be joining the DBC team in bringing the amazing play to life.
Spotlight: https://app.spotlight.com/4212-1204-3960
TICKETS
Priced at £10/ £8 available from Ticket Source
CONTACTS
Email: DBCcasting@hotmail.com
Social Media (X): @Darkbeauti81313
4 PERFORMANCES
Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th and Friday 27th September 2024
7pm at The Empty Space, Kansas Ave, Media City, M50 2GL
Saturday 28th September,
2pm at Gallery 19, Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley St, M2 3JL
TICKETS
Priced at £10/ £8 available from Ticket Source
Material covered may contain potential triggering content for ACE trauma survivors – a Trauma informed professional will be available after each performance
FRAG – Fine Dining with Friends
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
FRAG (Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery) made grateful use of Rochdale Music Centre, which has welcomed them whilst Touchstones is being renovated, as they persevere with their monthly programme. Talks by collections staff and speakers on forthcoming exhibitions have helped to keep them informed of the considerable progress in planning, preparation and work in the community, which augurs well for the reopening.
On the theme of food, friendly and informative speakers gave succinct explanations and fascinating morsels without making a meal of it. It was fine dining with Friends.
For starters, the new Heritage Coordinator for Touchstones Laura Mansfield whetted their appetites with a foretaste of the new Touchstones.
The former museum part of the building (from 2000) will be stripped back to high ceilings and big windows (the old library of previous times) and will be designated The Dining Room. This is where a smorgasbord of artistic projects based around reaching out and coming together through food will be served, as well as other events.
The main course was served up by artist Alijah Hussain, who specialises in ceramics (other commissioned artists will work in textiles and digital portraiture).
Alijah’s work has included several interactive projects such as making food and related objects into fridge magnets, toast racks, cups, platters etc. right up to full dinner services, and even cabinets to house them.
Inspired by food utensils through the ages in the Touchstones collections from everyday items to Rochdale Pioneers’ commemoration pieces, she will develop a suspended multi-object installation for the new space. She has been encouraging local participants to freely share their ideas, stories, and objects around Rochdale’s food heritage, from the Cooperative movement to modern South Asian cuisine.
More information and background to Aliyah’s work can be found on the YourTrust website.
Forthcoming FRAG TRIP: Thursday 8 August Visit to Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre PLUS the nearby Fusiliers Museum Arts Quarter, Moss Street, Culture Quarter, Bury GM BL9 0DR. Meet 10:15 for 10:30 - watch for details later.
RECOMMENDED
Sunday 28 July 2024
Pure Elite Manchester
Join us for an inspiring and exhilarating day as Pure Elite returns to the Middleton Arena.
Celebrate the incredible journeys of amateur bodybuilders at Europe’s most inspirational federation.
Those lucky enough to receive their pro status will qualify for this year’s world championships.
Categories:
• Female Categories: Bikini (17-23), Bikini Short/Tall, Bikini Diva (35+), Bikini Masters (45+), Bikini Wellness, Bikini Tattooed, Bikini Fitness, Fitness Model Short/Tall, Female Fitness Diva (35+), Female Fitness Masters (45+), Wellness, Fitness Model Tattooed, Transformation, International Model – 2 Rounds, Mums That Lift.
• Male Categories: Athletic Physique, Fitness Model Under 75kg/Over 75kg, Fitness Model 35+, Fitness Master 45+, Fitness Model Tattooed, Muscle Physique, Muscle Physique 35+, Muscle Physique Tattooed, Men’s Physique, Men’s Physique 35+, Classic Physique, Transformation.
Pure Elite is a full day event.
From £30.00
1pm Doors open at 12.30pm
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Manchester M24 1AG
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
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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