What's On in the Arts - winter 2021

What's On in the Arts by Steve Cooke, Arts Columnist

Museums play an essential role in helping us understand and shape culture. They connect us to the past and encourage us to think about the future.

The Rochdale Pioneers Museum will be celebrating the 177th anniversary of the opening of The Rochdale Pioneers Store on Toad Lane on Tuesday 21st December from 2pm. To celebrate, the museum will be running an animal handling Christmas adventure in the learning loft (by Zoolab). This adventure is about 'Zola the Christmas Elf' and is all about a Rat who, with the help of their animal friends, saves Christmas. Booking required. They will also be serving Pioneers Soup and the museum will host several craft stalls. Visit: www.co-operativeheritage.coop

Fireground is the new and improved fire service museum for Greater Manchester, boasting unique features such as a purposebuilt library and archive, and an educational suite for young people. The museum in Maclure Road, [the site of the old fire station], Rochdale and is every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Visit: www.fireground.org.uk/visiting-museum

Touchstones following the highly successful Grayson Perry extravaganza have new exhibitions on until 13th February 2022 - Gallery Three Jasleen Kaur Gut Feelings meri jaan, and in Gallery Four Helen Cammock, Concrete Feathers and Porcelain Tacks.

In the new year, we can look forward to The Football Art Prize, 12th March 2022 – 26th June 2022 in Gallery Three & Four. To coincide with 2022 World cup year Touchstones Rochdale, with generous support from Arts Council England, have created The Football Art Prize to celebrate art and football. Visit: www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk

UK artist Luke Jerram's internationally renowned 'Gaia' installation will see a huge work of art depicting the Earth exhibited at Number One Riverside in Rochdale town centre from 20th November until 24th December.

A specially made surround sound composition by British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award-winning composer Dan Jones will be played alongside the sculpture.

Measuring 7 metres in diameter and created from detailed NASA imagery of the Earth's surface, it will provide the opportunity to see the planet on a big scale, floating in 3 dimensions. The name 'Gaia' comes from Greek mythology, meaning the personification of the earth.

The exhibition is being staged in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council and Your Trust (formerly Link4Life).

During Gaia’s five-week Rochdale residency, television presenter and Gastronaut Stefan Gates will perform his ‘Extraordinary Insects’ show.

Rochdale’s M6 Theatre Company will tour local secondary schools as well as stage a public performance of ‘The Storm,’ at Number One Riverside, their powerful live theatre production that creatively confronts the climate emergency.

Skylight Circus will stage their new production ‘Mammoth’, combining acrobatics, music, and stunning lighting effects to tell a thought-provoking story about the big climate issues including extinction and protection of our natural environment. There will be a spectacular production called Global Circus performed beneath ‘Gaia’ also by Skylight Circus Arts. Animated with specially commissioned music it will be presented live by a local group of asylum seekers and refugees.

You’ll even be able to relax and look up to the sky, with a yoga session with a difference - underneath Gaia! It will be accompanied by a visual arts session with Cartwheel Arts and a chance to capture your own visual interpretation of Gaia. Visit: events@rochdale.gov.uk

Continuing the Art theme Ebor Studio are having a Christmas Market on Saturday 4th December. Handmade items by local artists and Ebor Members will be on sale. Crafts, home decor, photography, clothing, and accessories, prints and more. Visit: www.eborstudio.co.uk/whats-on

Your Trust [formerly Link4Life] are hosting a Christmas Makers’ Market 11th & 12th December, featuring artists and makers selling unique gifts for Christmas, plus on 11th - 12th & 18th – 19th December a Christmas Grotto including a story with Santa, crafts, and a gift for children.

Middleton Arena's annual pantomime returns 30th Nov to 28th Dec. Treasure Island will star X Factor finalist Lloyd Daniels as Jim Hawkins, Hollyoaks’ Jazmine Franks as the Magical Mermaid, Coronation Street’s Scott Wright as Long John Silver, comedy star Ben Coles as Silly Billy Bones, the hilarious Matt Siveter as Captain Smollett and singing sensation Ella Holt as the Island Chief.

This magical pantomime features great songs, dazzling dance routines, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and amazing special effects; an unforgettable experience for children and adults alike. Visit: www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/treasure-islandmiddletons-christmas-panto-2021

Heywood Sports Village, Heywood's annual pantomime, Cinderella, Saturday 18th December to Tuesday 28th December 2021 Visit: www.yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/whats-on/events/cinderellaheywoods-christmas-panto-2021

Rochdale’s very own M6 Theatre presents a brand-new show for family audiences from February 2022. Featuring an unforgettable day at the seaside, community performances of Pebble on the Beach will take place at M6 Studio, Albert Royds Street, as part of a prestigious national tour. An exciting mix of dancing, singing and puppetry, this lively show for ages 3 and over will magically transport audiences to a day at the seaside. A beach hut filled with treasures, sandcastles, seagulls, and the waves lapping on the shore, tell a heart-warming tale that helps us all feel safe in the world and know that we matter. Visit: www.m6theatre.co.uk

Whether you are a poet, a playwright or just have a thing for words, Falinge Writers could be for you. A new group, meeting weekly on Thursday mornings 10 am until 12 noon in the café in Falinge Park - no booking required, light refreshment available plus free parking Email: eileen.earnshaw@yahoo.co.uk.

This is just a small selection of what we can look forward to. Keep your eyes and ears open and get involved!