One of the biggest events on the borough’s cultural calendar – Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival kicks off on Friday (23 October) with three days of workshops, music, readings, children’s shows, interviews, talks and more.
Under the theme ‘expand your mind’ the festival, which runs until Sunday 26 October, aims to excite audiences of all ages and tastes with more than 30 events.
Friday highlights include an evening of comedy and conversation with a performance from actress Helen Lederer. The Absolutely Fabulous star will be taking to the stage as well as being interviewed about her first novel ‘Losing It’.
The Flying Horse Hotel hosts Andy Kershaw’s acclaimed one-man live show about his amazing life and adventures on the front lines of rock and roll. World-renowned poet Lemn Sissay will be at Hopwood Hall College Theatre in Middleton, while the stunning neo-Gothic setting of Rochdale’s grade 1 listed Town Hall, will host award-winning children’s author, SF Said, talking about William Blake, one of our most influential artists and writers.
Over the weekend look out for playwright Bonnie Greer OBE, comedian Dom Joly and author Jonathan Harvey. Other highlights include ‘Emmerdale’ star and photographer Bill Ward and on Sunday evening the Poet Laureate, Dame Carol Ann Duffy, will appear alongside special guests for an eagerly anticipated performance of her work in the beautiful Church of St Mary in the Baum.
Other shows include appearances from guests including playwright Ian Townsend, artist Jim Medway, poet Andrew McMillan, plus authors Frances Brody and Sathnam Sanghera. The programme even includes a guided ghost walk around the darkened streets of Rochdale!
Shows by author and poet Gervase Phinn, historian David Starkey and children’s author Kristina Stephenson are already sold-out.
There’s a full programme of free events for children and families themed ‘Pirate Adventures’ and an exciting family theatre adaptation of ‘Around the World in 80 Days.’ The live children’s theatre show featuring stars from television and stage and commissioned by the festival, funded by Arts Council of England and supported by First Bus Manchester will premiere at Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre following Phileas Fogg, Passepartout and Inspector Fix as they journey to Egypt, India, Hong Kong, Japan, San Francisco, Omaha, New York and back to England in an adventure, full of humour and thrills.
A On Saturday 24 October children aged between three and 11 can play pirates at family-friendly events across Rochdale town centre.
In Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre there will be pirate-themed activities and a pirate ship will be docked by the centre’s Lord Square entrance. This is a chance to meet real pirates too – you might even hear sea shanties if you listen closely!
The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre hosts ‘Pirate Island’ where youngsters can make crafts, dress up as a pirate and more.
Rochdale Central Library is holding puppet shows with Captain Kipper and his parrot at 11am and 3pm on the Saturday. You can also check out their collection of pirate-themed books so that youngsters can continue their pirate journeys.
Until Sunday local shops are taking part in a ‘Pieces of Eight – Hunt the Pirate Challenge’. Find them on the map inside the children’s programme and follow the trail around 10 shops who will be displaying the name of a pirate – fill in any eight on your programme and then collect your treasure from Rochdale Library – a badge and certificate for everyone who completes the challenge!
Councillor Daalat Ali, Rochdale Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, said: “It’s going to be another fantastic festival with something for everyone …I’m looking forward to another amazing few days.”
The festival is funded through the generosity of Annie and Frank Maskew, a Rochdale couple who shared a passion for reading and thinking, who originally met in Rochdale Library. They left a sum of money to be used on resources and events related to literature and philosophy to ensure classic works are available for future generations.
Tickets are available every day of the festival at the box office at Number One Riverside, at Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre or online at www.rochdaleliteraturefestival.co.uk
