What's On in the Arts

As our town centre continues its exciting development we are looking forward to the reopening of the Town Hall and awaiting the redevelopment of Touchstones. We continue to have high class music in our iconic town centre parish churches, stimulating talks, spooky and informative ghost walks plus a new podcast!

The redevelopment of Touchstones, Rochdale’s arts and heritage venue is progressing, with a planning application now submitted.

The building is set to be transformed into a creative and cultural hub with new flexible performance and production spaces for artists, improved areas for training, live events, and exhibitions. The plans also include a new dining space integrating the borough’s collections on the theme of food heritage, co-created with Rochdale’s diverse communities. There will be vital works to improve accessibility and sustainability. If approved, work is due to commence at the beginning of 2024.

The plans are part of an £8.5 million investment into arts and culture in the borough over the next three years thanks to Arts Council England and Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) funding. In addition to Touchstones, Heywood Civic Centre will receive a major makeover.

The Touchstones project forms a key part of the establishment of a creative district in Rochdale town centre, which includes the refurbishment of Rochdale Town Hall and the new town hall square, the Fire Up digital and creative co-working space, new artist workspaces on Richard Street as well as new public art, signage, and marketing.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “We know Touchstones is a much-loved space, but it has a great deal more potential than is currently being realised and is in much need of updating. This investment will help to make much more of the asset we already have, creating more opportunities for local people and visitors from across the region to participate in and enjoy culture here.”

TOUCHSTONES PODCAST

As the doors of the physical Touchstones building have temporarily closed, the new "Touchstones Tapes" podcast serves as a virtual gateway, enabling listeners to immerse themselves in Rochdale’s cultural and artistic heritage.

The Touchstones Tapes podcast amplifies the voices of those who tirelessly contribute to the wellbeing of their communities. Delving deep into the essence of art, culture and community, the series will engage in heartfelt conversations with individuals who stand at the forefront of community initiatives. From amazing youth workers who aim to better the opportunities for our young people, to artists who curate cultural events that spark unity.

The first episode of The Touchstones Tapes landed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts on Friday 1 September.

MUSIC IN OUR ICONIC PARISH CHURCHES

In our town centre we are lucky to have two iconic parish churches that also are home to outstanding music. On Wednesday lunchtimes Toad Lane Concerts in St Mary in the Baum and at St Chad’s Music on Saturdays.

Toad Lane Concerts dates for your diary...

4 Oct - John Powell baritone (Cambridge University & BBC Singers) Elin Rees (RNCM) piano

11 Oct - Richard Haslam guitar RNCM (plus Anna Chiu piano (Hong Kong & RNCM) to accompany Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto)

18 Oct - Oldham Community Choir

25 Oct - Freda Farnworth soprano (London Guildhall) & J Edward Rigg piano

1 Nov - Hanna Csermely piano (third year RNCM)

Toad Lane Concerts every Wednesday at St Mary in the Baum Church OL16 4DZ - 12:30-13:30. Enquiries 01706 648872

St Chad's Music on Saturdays dates for your diary...

7 Oct - Lainton Trumpet Quartet from classical favourites to modern arrangements.

14 Oct - Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists

Association Anthony Gray (The Brereton Memorial Recital)

Doors open 2.20pm. Admission charge tbc.

28 Oct - Dimitra Ananiadou (Violin) and Richard Whalley (Pianoforte)

18 Nov - Reisling Piano Quartet

Doors open 11.20am & admission £6 unless otherwise stated. Refreshments available before each concert.

CASTLETON LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY

Since 1894, the Castleton Literary and Scientific Society has presented meetings and lectures to "enable members to be in touch with modern thought and criticism in all branches of general culture and scientific research."

The Society was founded as the Castleton Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society in 1894. Meetings were held in the church schoolroom with a view to improving adult education, and by 1897 the Society had become the Castleton Literary and Scientific Society - reflecting its widening appeal.

Meetings are now held in the Castleton Community Centre on Friday evenings at 7pm from October to March.

Dates for your diary...

13 Oct - The history of theatre in Manchester looks at the various buildings and characters and the plays and themes of this rich and unique tradition (John Alker).

27 Oct - The history of the whole area we now know as Castleton, from Sudden to the Norton Grange from early 1700's to the present (Leon Macleod).

10 Nov - The Inn at the Top. This is a laugh a minute tour of the quirks and foibles, highs, and lows of running Britain back in the 1970s and 1980s (Neil Hanson).

24 Nov - "Uncle Percy and the Cats Eyes" Percy Shaw OBE was an English inventor and businessman. (Diane Shaw)

8 Dec - "it's behind you". A peek into the history of pantomime (Mark Llewellin).

Contact: Diane Cornforth 01706 650343 or Barry Hobson 07724135099.

Steve Cooke - All Across The Arts Celebrating creative arts and artists. www.allacrossthearts.com