RECOMMENDED
Modern twist on regency classic
●●NORTHANGER Abbey stage. Renowned playwright Zoe Cooper infuses the plot and spirit of Austen’s original novel with her own unique voice creating a brilliantly funny new play you will not want to miss out on this spring.
Cast for Northanger Abbey: Tessa Walker (Ravenscourt and Big, Big, Sky, Hampstead Theatre, Run, Rebel Pilot Theatre, tour) directs.
Rebecca Banatvala (Sap, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Soho Theatre, UK Tour, Much Ado About Nothing, RSC) playing Cath.
AK Golding (Twelfth Night, Nottingham Playhouse,
The Messiah Complex, VAULT Festival) as Iz.
Sam Newton (A Woman Walks into a Bank, Theatre503, Good Day, VAULT Festival) who plays Hen.
Playwright Zoe Cooper said: “Northanger Abbey is a novel about friendship, love, romance, and fantasy and how those things collide. What struck me on my first reading as a queer nineteen-yearold, was that the central romantic relationship, one filled with lust, anger, and betrayal, is between the romantic heroine and her best friend, Isabella. It is that version of the book
I wanted to explore in this reimagining.”
Director Tessa Walker added: “I am delighted to be working on Zoe’s vivid, funny, and inventive reimagining of Austen’s classic with this fantastic cast.
“It’s a wonderful, playful tale of romance, gothic adventures, growing up, and the importance of stories and who gets to tell them.”
Northanger Abbey comes to the Octagon from Friday 1 - Saturday 23 March 2024. Tickets start from £15 and are onsale now. Box office: 01204 520661. ●●THURSDAY/FRIDAY 18/19 January 2024
Have You Been Here before? - The Time Traveller
Audiences prepare to be truly amazed by Tony Rae (The Time Traveller) in an Evening unlike anything you have ever seen, the show will totally mesmerise and captivate those who are curious about having lived before and how our experience from past lives contributes to and effects our choices and decisions in this life.
“The love that you withhold is the pain that you carry lifetime after lifetime.” The world master of regression will give a brief introduction of discovering previous lives, some dating back to 3000BC.
Audience members will then be selected to time travel on a journey to their past lives, will anyone speak in a foreign language they know nothing about, or write in the styles of days gone by?
The fascinating experience is then directly relayed by audio and video to present one of the most astonishing events in theatre history and a night you will never forget.
Tickets from £23.50 Phone: Middleton Arena 0300 303 8633 Visit: https://www.yourtrust rochdale.co.uk/whats -on/events/the-time -traveller/ 7.30pm Middleton Arena, Lcpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton M24 1AG
●●THURSDAY 18 January 2024 Talks: Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery
Although Touchstones closed in August 2023 for refurbishment, FRAG is keen to stay alive.
Funding is coming through for the New Touchstones, which should open in 2025.
Here is a chance to talk through some of the proposals and meet Mark Doyle (Director of Arts, Heritage, and Wellness) and Sarah Hodgkinson (Senior Curator - Exhibitions and Collections) and have a conducted tour of the Collections at the Centre.
Further details from 01706 648872.
13.00 Arts & Heritage Resource Centre, Unit 4 Scotts Industrial Park, Fishwick Street, Rochdale, OL16 5NA
●●THURSDAY 18
January 2024 - Saturday 20 January 2024
Visit Fireground Museum
Join us at Fireground this week to discover Greater Manchester’s firefighting story.
Fire museum attractions are on show inside the museum including our collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, plus homemade refreshments in the new Fireground Cafe, and souvenirs from our fantastic new gift shop! We have a wide choice ranging from toddler to collector.
Under 4s are free, Children (aged 4-15) and Concessions £5, Adults £7, and Family (4 people)
£20.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219 Visit: https://www.fireground. org.uk/ Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN
●●SATURDAY 20
January 2024
Fastlove - A Tribute to George Michael
Direct from London’s West End, this is the world’s favourite George Michael Celebration!
Few shows have reached the dizzy heights of Fastlove, now touring in 18 countries, selling over 250,000 tickets worldwide.
Join us for one very special night as we celebrate the late great George Michael.
This show has it all, the power, emotion, and star quality in this stunning production with full video and light show, as we try and respectfully recreate the soundtrack to your life.
Playing all the hits, from Wham right through his glittering career, including, Wake me up, Too Funky, Father Figure, Freedom 90, Faith, Knew you were waiting, Careless Whisper and many more.
This is a tribute show and is in no way affiliated with any original artists/ estates/management companies or similar shows.
Tickets from £29. Phone: Middleton Arena 0300 303 8633 Visit: https://www.yourtrust rochdale.co.uk/whats -on/events/fastlove-a -tribute-to-g...
7.30pm Middleton Arena, Lcpl Joel Halliwell VC Way, Middleton M24 1AG