previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
WEEKEND COLUMN SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 2024
JIMMY CRICKET COMING TO HEYWOOD LIBRARY
Preview by Steve Cooke
Heywood Library, Rochdale will be the setting for an audience with famous funnyman Jimmy Cricket.
Jimmy will talk about his autobiography, Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian, released last year.
His autobiography, that I had the immense pleasure of editing and writing the forward for, tells the heart-warming story of his illustrious life and 50-year career, including how he came here to live among us.
Jimmy tells me ‘There'll be a bit of stand up and question and answer and a meet and greet, I am looking forward to seeing you there! Come ere' there's more, I was going to write a book about trees - because my next door neighbour has written one, and I was going to take a leaf out of his book!'
The book will be on sale at the library on the day and Jimmy will sign purchased copies.
Tickets for the event are free but limited, so make sure you reserve your place now!
To book, email heywood.library@rochdale.gov.uk or ring 01706 927260.
You can also call in at the library before noon on Friday 6 September to sign up (if there are still places available by then).
Jimmy is not charging members of the audience for the talk.
However, in lieu of a fee, he would be grateful if those attending could make a small donation to Mary’s Meals. This is optional.
In addition, one pound from the sale of every book will go to Mary’s Meals https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/
Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries. The promise of a good meal attracts these hungry children into the classroom, giving them the energy to learn and hope for a better future.
They are already feeding more than 2.4 million children every school day – ‘together, we can reach the next hungry child waiting for Mary’s Meals’.
The paperback version of Jimmy’s autobiography costs £11.99 at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Memoirs-Irish-Comedian-Theres-Cricket/
It is also available via eBook and audio formats.
Signed copies (£15.99 including postage and packing) can be purchased at https://www.jimmycricket.co.uk/go-shopping/
It is also on sale at Jimmy’s live gigs for £10 where he will sign it.
1pm on Saturday 7 September
Heywood Library, Lance Corporal Stephen Shaw M C Way, Heywood OL10 1LL
Mozart, Made in Manchester
Preview by Steve Cooke
Manchester Camerata and Chetham’s School of Music have embarked on a multi-year collaborative project to perform and record all of Mozart’s piano concertos, bringing together eminent pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Camerata Music Director, Gábor Takács-Nagy, to perform at Chetham’s exceptional concert venue, The Stoller Hall.
Having been to the previous two concerts in this series I can thoroughly recommend this as a not to be missed event.
Bavouzet, Takács-Nagy and Camerata have established a vivid and theatrical performance style, which inspired a unique idea from the Hungarian musicologist, László Somfai, that each disc pair the concertos with Mozart’s less well known and extraordinary Opera Overtures, which will be the first to be recorded in Manchester – a unique legacy. Only a handful of artists and orchestras have embarked on this in the world (Barenboim, Brendel, Perahia, Ashkenazy and Mitsuko Uschida). The cycle will be recorded on the Chandos label.
A quartet of Chetham’s students will join Manchester Camerata to bring to life this series of concertos. Eight quartets will also receive up-close masterclasses from Gábor every year, a fantastic opportunity to learn from one of the world’s leading chamber music coaches.
‘To celebrate our trip to China in September 2018, a string quartet also performed a specially commissioned piece, inspired by the country’s transformational Belt and Road Initiative, before each concert on our tour. This piece was specially composed by Chetham’s student, Harry Harrison.’
This partnership offers artistic and educational, audience and reputational benefits over a minimum of five years. It celebrates the inspirational leadership of Gábor Takács-Nagy for the next generation, creating an environment in which world-class musicians and the next generation of talent can inspire and develop each other.
Programme
Mozart La finta semplice, Overture K.51 (46a)
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 7 for three Pianos in F major K.242
Mozart Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in D major K.382
Mozart Overture – Idomeneo, re di Creta K.366
Mozart The Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in A major K.386
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 10 for two pianos in E-flat major K.365
Performed by
Conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy
Piano Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
Piano Andrea Nemecz
Piano Rose McLachlan
Mozart, Made in Manchester, Fri 20 September 2024, 7:30pm, Stoller Hall 8, Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1DA [opposite Victoria Station
Bolton’s Octagon Theatre has warmest welcome in UK! Venue nominated for esteemed UK Theatre Award.
By Steve Cooke
The Octagon Theatre have deservedly been shortlisted at the 2024’s prestigious UK Theatre Awards.
The annual awards celebrate outstanding achievements in theatre across the UK.
The Bolton venue is one of just three venues, chosen from across the country, to be nominated in the coveted UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre category – with previous winners including Nottingham Playhouse, Leeds Playhouse and Storyhouse Chester.
Other nominees in this category for 2024 include: Hall for Cornwall and Polka Theatre.
The winner will be selected at the UK Theatre Awards ceremony which takes place in London later this year, on Sunday 20 October.
The Octagon has gone from strength to strength since re-opening following their re-development, after scooping the Leading Arts & Culture Venue of the Year Award at last year’s This is MCR Awards, as well as winning the Best Customer Service Award at the 2022 Bolton Business Awards. They were also shortlisted for the acclaimed Theatre of the Year Award at 2023’s The Stage Awards, where their longest serving employee, James Whaite, picked up an Unsung Hero Award, which recognises individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their work in the performing arts industry.
The theatre has made numerous steps towards improving access to the arts, including announcing a £4 affordable ticket scheme earlier this year, and Sharing Stories, an ambitious programme to improve children’s literacy and communication skills. There is regular provision for people with additional needs, refugees and asylum seekers, unpaid carers, and young people.
Octagon Chief Executive, Roddy Gauld commented on being nominated: “We truly believe the Octagon is for everyone. From ensuring we have some of the most affordable theatre tickets in the country, our work with carers and refugees, through to working with families in communities across Bolton – we are constantly striving to include as many people as possible. Our team really does care about giving people fantastic experiences, whether they are coming to see a show in our intimate auditorium, or taking part in one of our many groups, or if they’re working here on a show. So, we’re absolutely delighted to be nominated as themUK’s Most Welcoming Theatre. My heartfelt thanks to supporters, audiences and our brilliant team, who all make the Octagon the warm and friendly theatre that it is.”
The UK Theatre Awards is a key annual event in UK theatres calendar, with awards presented for work both on stage and off stage, including the coveted UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award and the Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre accolade, which are awarded by the UK Theatre Board.
The winner will be announced on Sunday 20 October.
Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft South, Bolton BL1 1SB
Visit: octagonbolton.co.uk
Phone: 01204 520661
RECOMMENDED
Saturday 31 August 2024
Summer of M24 Presents – CHAMELEONS + Middleton Supports
The Chameleons return to Middleton after decades.
Performing at SUMMER OF M24 – Middleton’s Community Wealth Building Festival.
All proceeds will go towards grass roots music/venue development in Middleton.
All support acts will be from M24 too!
From £33.00
6.30pm Doors open at 6pm
Middleton Arena, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton, Manchester M24 1AG
Sunday 01 September 2024
Whitworth Rushcart
Featuring numerous traditional morris dance troupes (including the famous Britannia Coconutters and the Whitworth Morris Men) and will travel up the main road, led by the Rushcart itself, arriving at the Ashcroft at approximately 1.20pm.
From 1.15pm until 4.30pm, the car park of The Ashcroft will be cordoned off for stalls, entertainments, and performances from the various morris dancing troupes including the Whitworth Rushcart Men and the Britannia Coconutters, plus the Whitworth Vale and Healey Youth Band.
St Bartholomew’s Church will be providing traditional hot food as well as Bombay Brew’s Mama Chilli’s food truck, and the Ashcroft bar will be open for liquid refreshments. There will also be an Arts and Craft Fair, featuring a variety of artisan stalls in the Ashcroft main hall. There will also be rides, children's crafts and other entertainments.
All are welcome.
The Whitworth Rushcart is one of only four such celebrations which still take place in the UK, the others being in Sowerby Bridge, Littleborough and Saddleworth. Whitworth’s cart is unique in that it is the only one in the UK to be covered in beautiful local heather that is in bloom at this time of year, collected by the Whitworth Rushcart Men from the moors above Darwen before the event; Rushcarts in the other areas are covered with rushes or tatters of cloth.
Free
Phone: Whitworth Town Council Office 01706 852018
1pm - 4.30pm
Starting at Whitworth Museum, North Street, OL12 8RA. Proceeding to The Ashcroft, Market Street, Whitworth OL12 8DP
Tuesday 03 September 2024
Poetry Café
All poetry lovers welcome to read or listen.
Running on first Tuesday of the month.
Email lizwhiteart@gmail.com or Seamus@onepoetvision.co.
6-8 p.m.
Coffee on the Corner, Hare Hill Road Littleborough, OL15 9AB
Wednesday 04 September 2024
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have Voci Voices: Elizabeth Ambrose, Margaret Ferguson sopranos, Eric Cymbir tenor, Mackenzie Paget baritone, and Jonathan Ellis piano.
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 04 September 2024
Rochdale Photographic Society
Tonight's session - Digital KO – Judge Adrian Hendley CPAGB
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: https://www.rochdaleps.org.uk/syllabus for a full 2024 syllabus.
Doors open 7.15pm, 7.30pm start
Rochdale Unitarian Church, Clover Street, Rochdale OL12 6TP
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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