Families in Rochdale are invited to a free, drop-in nature play event at Broadfield Park Slopes on Wednesday, August 12, from 11am to 3pm, where they can build dens and discover local wildlife. The workshop, titled "Broadfield Park Slopes: Play in Nature," will be led by Russ Hedley from Nature Talks and Walks, an organisation specialising in wildlife experiences, environmental education, and nature connection activities, alongside Mitch Robinson, a visual artist and arts facilitator with expertise in print, den building, creative workshops, and storytelling.
The event is part of the Broadfield Park Slopes Restoration Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It takes place at Broadfield Park Slopes, Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale. Attendees will have the opportunity to construct dens as a playful space to learn about local wildlife, with these skills then applied during a fascinating nature walk led by the experts.
Side-by-Side Festival and Other Community Events
In addition to the nature play event, residents are encouraged to explore more of Rochdale’s creativity at this year’s Side-by-Side Festival, themed "It belongs to you," taking place from Thursday, August 13 to 15 on Rochdale Town Hall Square. The festival is part of a broader cultural programme in the borough.
Other notable events in the area include a reading group at Littleborough Library on August 8, meeting monthly on the second Saturday to discuss various authors, genres, and themes. This free adult session runs from 10.30am to 11.30am at Hare Hill Park, Littleborough. Additionally, Rochdale Central Library hosts a Code Club every other Saturday, starting August 8, from 11am to 12pm, offering fun and informal coding sessions for families with children aged 7 and over, and teenagers.
Toad Lane Concerts Continue Weekly Lunchtime Music
On August 12, the popular Toad Lane Concerts series will feature the More than Melody Ladies Choir, conducted by Jonathan Gibson with piano by Brian Mulligan. Held at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale, the concert runs from 12.30pm to 1.30pm, with doors opening at noon. Tickets cost £6, and attendees can contact Dr Joe Dawson at 01706 648872 for more information. The concert series has been held at St Mary’s since 2001 and was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.
Rochdale Writing Scene Celebrated at ROCH TALES
The vibrant writing scene in Rochdale was recently celebrated at ROCH TALES at the Ukrainian Club, an evening reviewed by Sue Smith, a Riverside writer and art co-ordinator at Syke Community Base. The event, compered by Sarah-Clare Conlon, featured story readings from six local published short story writers, including Reshma Ruia’s "Rochdale Love Story," where a modern librarian becomes involved with Charles Howarth, a pioneer of the Co-Operative Movement in the 1840s. The highlight for many was Rosie Garland’s "This is How I Fight," which powerfully encapsulated female disempowerment in the classroom, with a triumphant conclusion likening endless waiting to shifting tectonic plates.
The evening also included an ethereal sound installation by Ebor’s Maryanne Royle and an open mic session featuring Riverside Writers, including Seamus Kelly’s "Welcome to Rochdale." Attendees left with a sense of pride in Rochdale’s literary talent, many purchasing signed books from the featured authors.
Touchstones Rochdale Redevelopment Progresses with New Contractor
The redevelopment of Touchstones Rochdale, the borough’s major arts and heritage venue, is progressing with the appointment of construction company Schofield and Sons, who will work on first-floor galleries and carry out further roof repairs. The Greater Manchester-based firm moved on site in July, aiming to improve gallery spaces for better artwork conditions and a lighter, brighter visitor experience. The ground floor, basement, and some roof work have already been completed by H.H. Smith and Sons Ltd, including new flexible performance spaces, a 130-seat studio, meeting rooms, education facilities, reception, dining and collections space, kitchen, and artwork storage.
The project, due for completion in summer 2027, is funded by the Cultural Development Fund (a DCMS fund administered by Arts Council England) and Rochdale Borough Council. Touchstones became an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation for the first time in 2023. Improvements to the first-floor galleries are supported by The Wolfson Foundation, while The Dining Room, a combined museum, dining, and events space, was made possible by a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "Appointing Schofield and Sons is another milestone as this amazing project moves into its final year and I am excited to see the improvements to the gallery spaces over the coming months. These galleries will house major exhibitions and significant collections, and they are often what residents remember so well when reflecting on their memories of this building." She added: "I cannot wait to see the transformation continue over the coming months, turning the building into something truly wonderful and fit for the 21st century, creating more opportunities for everyone to enjoy the culture and the history of our borough in a more modern public space."
Estelle Rowe, chief executive of Your Trust, the organisation responsible for running the building when it re-opens, said: "These new galleries will enable artists to present exceptional artworks, and we have exciting plans for them. The spaces will help us connect past and present art and ideas, engaging residents and visitors and bringing more world class artists to the core of our activities."
The Touchstones project is a key part of establishing a creative district in Rochdale town centre, including the refurbished Town Hall, new town hall square, Fire Up digital and creative co-working space, new artist workspaces on Richard Street, and new public art, signage, and marketing. The project is developed in partnership between Rochdale Borough Council, Your Trust, and Rochdale Development Agency (RDA).
Macbeth Reimagined in Oldham Nightclub
Oldham Coliseum is launching an exciting new programme this autumn/winter, led by Creative Director Nick Bagnall's first production: a new staging of Shakespeare's Macbeth, reimagined inside one of Oldham's most iconic nightclubs, Liquid & Envy. Exploring ambition, masculinity, power, and identity through a contemporary Oldham lens, the production aims to speak to everyone. "I want to blow the dust off Shakespeare," says Nick. "We want people who have never set foot in a theatre to walk into Liquid & Envy and feel this story belongs to them." Tickets start from £15, with performances from October 23 to November 7 at Liquid & Envy, Retiro St, Oldham OL1 1SA.
Fringe Hits at HOME Manchester
For those missing Edinburgh Fringe, HOME in Manchester is showcasing performers who have already won over Fringe audiences. Team Viking, a comic ode to death, friendship, and the absurdity of life, tells the story of how James Rowland gave his best mate the Viking burial he wanted. The show premiered at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe and became a breakthrough hit, and its special anniversary edition runs from Thursday, October 15 to Saturday, October 17. Another Fringe hit, Louise Orwin’s FAMEHUNGRY, will be at HOME on Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20. The show simultaneously takes place in HOME’s theatre 2 and on TikTok Live, leveraging audience interaction to create a chaotic, hilarious night out. Louise enlists Gen Z TikToker Jax Valentine to guide her through the digital age, questioning what it means to be an artist now. The show is a helter-skelter nosedive into social media, fusing performance art with live TikTok experiences.
