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Rochdale

Friday 25 November 2005
COMEDY NIGHT
A great night of stand up at Touchstones Rochdale. On the bill is the
explosive comedian, from London, Howard Read - very tall and very silly,
with his homages to lesser known fruit and vegetables and snippets of
subverted classic hits. He is also an award-winning animator and often uses
his talents to great effect in his comedy performances. He will be joined by
Jason Manford - a regular on the UK circuit, Jason is naturally funny and
has a strong, original set with wry observations and a genuine respect for
the old comedy greats. Licensed bar. Two minutes from Rochdale town centre.
Venue: Touchstones Rochdale, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AQ
Price: Tickets £5 in advance, £7 on door
Time: Doors 8pm, Show 8.30pm
Bookings: 01706 864928

Museums and places to visit

Rochdale Council Site - check it out.

They have an events calender listing what's on in Rochdale

'EAST MEETS WEST'
Monday 16 May 2005. Performance 7.30pm
Touchstones Rochdale, The Esplanade, Rochdale
Tickets: £3 in advance / £5 on door
Bookings: 01706 864928 - Rochdale Tourist Information Centre

The Bhangra sounds of Shola share the stage with folk band Moot for an
evening of music spanning the continents - culminating in a jam session that
will raise the roof.

Shola
Shola are a band of musicians who specialise in plating, recording and
performing popular Asian film and Bhangra music.

Moot
Moot is an old English word meaning a gathering from across the Shires. They
are a five piece music group playing acoustic music from traditional sources
both old and new, predominantly Irish but also Scottish and English tunes
and also self-composed tunes and songs.

Part of Rochdale's 'Carnival of Cultures' from 13 - 22 May 2005 - full
programme details at www.rochdale.gov.uk.

An excellent comedy line up at Rochdale's award winning Arts and Heritage
Centre with Paul Sinha, Jarred Christmas, Rob Riley and Peter von Natzmer.

Paul Sinha - rumoured to be the only overweight Bengali GP on the comedy
circuit. He says he's a 'fat, gay, Indian' - and he's very funny! Hackney
Empire New Act of the Year Runner Up.

Rob Riley - One of Oldham's finest with a dark humour sees a multitude of
sacred cows kicked squarely on all four shins. City Life Comedian of the
Year Finalist.

Energetic and surreal - a unique comic talent with a character of his own.
Finalist, BBC New Comedy Awards.

A German with a sense of humour? Life makes sense when Peter explains it!
Winner, Frog & Bucket Beat the Frog World Series.

Part of Rochdale's 'Carnival of Cultures' from 13 - 22 May 2005 - full
programme details at www.rochdale.gov.uk .

Spend the afternoon in Rochdale town centre on this Saturday and you may not
believe your eyes! Strange experiences and magical sights will be all around
you.

Carnival of Cultures 2005 brings to Rochdale the very best in street theatre
with acrobats, music and performance artists. A singing robot? Giant
seagulls? This is a day not to be missed.

'Marche Francais', a visiting traditional French Market will be on The Butts
from 13-15 May.

Performers

Cyberstein - Discover the values and benefits of having a Cyberstein Robot
in your home! Using the latest Audio Technology Cyberstein shows off his
memory capacity by serenading a lady with an opera song and a must see
impression of My Way. See the demonstration of a lifetime.
'Has to be seen to be believed' The Guardian

De Ramos - With their outstanding acrobatic stunts and knife diving, De
Ramos have a totally breathtaking act that has been enthralling people from
all over the world. A powerful performance with mind-blowing stunts that
shows the ultimate in daredevil skills.

Moot - Moot is an old English word meaning a gathering from across the
Shires. They are a five piece music group playing acoustic music from
traditional sources both old and new. Predominantly Irish but also Scottish
and English tunes and also self-composed tunes and songs.

Phoenix Spirit Percussion - are a community drumming group who have played
together for 5 years. Their repertoire includes samba, African and original
pieces developed by their leader Geoff.

Seagulls - Totally surreal giant seabirds. They have already flown twice
around the world and now they are landing in Rochdale.

Skylight Circus - Winged Wonders Skylight Circus present a sensory feat of
wheeled vibrant creatures and towering winged wonders, bobbing and weaving
their magic.

Sounds of Rochdale - Sounds of France - see, and try, the Can Can.

Springhill Drama Group - On the Beach. The group takes a day trip to
Bridlington. Come and meet the characters...

St. Joan's Ambulance - Accident prone and ready to serve, Joan and John,
having failed the most basic of first aid courses, have set forth with
crates of crepe bandage and piles of plasters - and they will have you in
stitches.

Sunflower Show - Quirky street theatre for under fives and their families. A
gardener lifts a lid on her wheelbarrow to reveal a world where seeds grow
into extraordinary plants and battle with mischievous garden pests for
survival.

Wardle High School Training Band - The training band started in September
last year, some of the students had already played in local primary school.
They are all aged 11/12. They have done a lot of concerts already and just
last month were at Norden Methodist church for the Tsunami Appeal with the
Mayor in attendance. On the 15th May they are competing at Gulliver's
World, Warrington in their Battle of the Bands.

'A DIFFERENT PLACE'
Wednesday 18 May 2005. Performance 7.30pm
Touchstones Rochdale, The Esplanade, Rochdale
Tickets: £3 in advance/£5 on door
Bookings: 01706 864928 - Rochdale Tourist Information Centre

This comic and touching one-man show - currently on national tour - follows
asylum-seeker Abel's attempts to create a new life for himself in Britain.

In Manchester he meets Janey. Is love to be found here, as well as a new
home? Can Abel find a way to deal with the tragedy of his past life and
learn to laugh again?

The piece deals with the whole issue of asylum - showing the human and
personal side of a refugee's life. It also questions the current trend of
detention without trial, which when the play was written, was seen as
something that only happened in 'non-democratic' countries. But also the
play is a love story that shows that the human spirit can triumph over any
obstacle.

The Show is not suitable for children under 13 years.

Performed by Mark Stevenson, who has worked with numerous British theatre
companies, appeared in many TV shows and can be seen in cinemas in The Last
Horror Movie and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Written by Robin Graham, currently associate writer at the Green Room,
Manchester and Poet in Residence at Clitheroe Castle Museum.

Directed by Zoe Reason
Produced by Ampersand Media and Greenhouse Northwest

Winner of the Yvonne Arnaud/Stop-Gap Theatre 'Feet First' competition

'Compelling and vivid' - The Stage
'A better advertisement for Amnesty International would be hard to find'
Frances Russell.

Website: www.differentplace.co.uk.

'CARNIVAL OF CULTURES' PARADE
Saturday 21 May 2005. Starts 1pm, arrives town centre 2.30pm approx or music
and dancing
Rochdale Town Centre
Tickets: Free entertainment
Enquiries: 01706 864928 - Rochdale Tourist Information Centre
Website: www.rochdale.gov.uk

The Carnival Parade is at the heart of Carnival of Cultures. Carnival is an
event shared the world over. It is an old festival, which brings communities
together to show, through their entries, their dreams and their values.

More than 20 groups will be taking part in Carnival of Cultures 2005.
International carnival bands will join with groups, both local and from
visiting towns in the region, to give the town the 'Rio Feeling'.

The larger than life costumes of Shademakers Carnival Club will once again
be visiting Rochdale from its twin town Bielefeld to lead the parade with
their award winning costumes from carnivals as far apart as Notting Hill and
Trinidad.

The Parade focuses on Rochdale Town Centre leaving from Hopwood Hall College
at 1pm - travelling along College Road, Newgate and a tour of the Esplanade.
It arrives on the Butts at approx 2.30pm with music and dancing. For
visitors to the region follow the signs for town centre car parks; Rochdale
bus station is just two minutes away.

FREE CARNIVAL WORKSHOPS
Join artists Gowri Savoor and Rachel Vincent to create costumes and
accessories and be part of the Carnival of Cultures Parade. To be held at
Touchstones Rochdale on 14 and 15 May, 2pm - 4pm. Book places on 01706
864986.

Part of Rochdale's 'Carnival of Cultures' from 13 - 22 May 2005 - full
programme details at www.rochdale.gov.uk <http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/>

Carnival Parade - Participating Groups

Capoeira - Danny Henry leads this group of young dancers who perform the
Brazilian Martial Arts style dance to perfection.

Carnival Exchange Project - Young people from Bolton, Oldham and Rochdale
worked with the Oldham percussion band Bang Drum and members of the
Brazilian group, Los Meninhos to create the atmosphere of Carnival in
Brazil.

G6 - Bolton's own giant turtle - a lantern created for the Luminocity
(Lantern Parades) project last autumn. An international team of Bolton based
artists worked on this project - large-scale thinking - large-scale
creativity. Exciting, inspirational and wow!

Geet Kala - International Bhangra/Bollywood dancer/choreographer, Geet Kala
is an international artiste and performs with her dance troupe nationally
and internationally. In addition to this, she works closely with S W Storm
performing at many events delivering a sense of cultural unity and
diversity, demonstrating that music and dance is a universal language. Geet
Kala has also produced 2 DVDs, "BHANGRAfit" and "BHANGRAsize", using
Bhangra and Bollywood dance as a medium in these keep fit DVDs.

Hopwood Hall College Special Needs Group - Students from 16 plus are
studying the entry level curriculum at Hopwood Hall College. The students
are on a two-year course called 'Ideal opportunities' where expressive arts
is an integrated part of their life skills programme. The entry level
curriculum supports students who may experience learning problems. The
students, who are from all the local communities of the Borough have been
busy designing and constructing a spectacular costume and they are keen to
have their artistic creation on show. The costume ideas are based upon
simple shapes like squares, circles, ovals, oblongs that have been
exaggerated and dramatised using colours and different fabrics. Every
student has created at least one section for the costume and some students
have produced many more interesting and intricate panels. The project is run
by Sue Dean and Eileen Lee.

Irish Dance Group

Luther School, Bielefeld - During the last months a group of 15 young people
(age 15 - 18) have developed their Samba skills to perfection and they are
ready to show off their instruments and their music!!!

A huge thank you to the head of the school. He allowed the group to travel
and to participate in this international cultural exchange - although it is
term time.

Middleton Popstars Academy - The group has been in existence for 5 years and
is aimed at children and young people from 5 - 21 years of age. It gives
time, space and expertise to all aspects of performing arts, from the
technical side to the actual performance.

Langley Skylites - The three cheerleading groups of Langley Theatre Workshop
meet every Saturday for practise. There are different age ranges: 5 - 7
years, 8 - 12 years and 12 - 16 years old. In March all groups took part in
a Cheerleading Competition at the Velodrome in Manchester - and came home
with 5 trophies!!!!

M6 Theatre Youth Theatre Group - M6 Theatre offers weekly workshops for 8 -
12 years olds, where young people can develop theatre skills, make new
friends and have lots of fun.

Newbold Sure Start Group - 'Butterfly world' - parents and children from the
Newbold Sure Start Group worked with artist Rachel Vincent on the creation
of a magical and colourful world of butterflies.

Pandemonium - Rhythms from all over the world - Pandemonium is a well-known
local drumming band working and performing in and with the community. They
recently became interested in running drumming circles as a way to bring
music to everyone and support social and health issues.
It's LOUD! It's FUN! It's LOCAL!
If you would like to get involved: Come and have a bash! No experience
necessary. All abilities welcome. Instruments provided. For more information
call: 01706 521731 or e-mail: pandemonium@rochdaleonline.org

Rochdale Youth Service - Tribal Vibes Dance Project
Cast Youth Group from Middleton, Boarshaw Youth Group from Middleton, Deaf
Youth Group, Demesne Youth Group from Middleton, Falinge Youth Group, Greave
Youth Club, Milnrow and Newbold Youth Club, NDC Dance from Heywood (New Deal
for Communities), Rochdale Arts 4 Youth Dance Project

Royal Scottish Country Dancing

Shademakers Carnival Club, Bielefeld - Shademakers Carnival Club is a
costume and performance group. It was founded in 1990 in Manchester by the
artist and designer Paul McLaren. Five years later the group re-established
themselves in Bielefeld, Germany. Presently the group has 30 regular
members. The main activities of the group are costume design and production,
artistic(Mas) workshops and seminars.
Since 1992 Shademakers have regularly taken part in the famous Notting Hill
Carnival in London. In 2002 Shademakers was part of the Rochdale entry for
the Queen's Jubilee Parade in Manchester and London and in 2003 they
launched, together with the Arts Development Service of Rochdale Council,
the first 'Rochdale Carnival of Cultures' as part of the 50th anniversary
celebrations of the Town Twinning between Bielefeld and Rochdale.

Skylight Circus - Winged Wonders Skylight Circus present a sensory feat of
wheeled vibrant creatures and towering winged wonders, bobbing and weaving
their magic.

Soca Saga - These London DJ's are specialists in Soca and Zouk. Their roots
go back to New York and Trinidad.

Sounds of Rochdale / Academy of Dance - The group was founded in 2004. It
provides dance, drama and music activities for young people aged 10+.
Training, entertainment, performance and FUN. For details of how to get
involved call: 01706 667898.

Spiral Dance - Trash it - Fix it!
Rochdale Youth Dance Company have created a piece which has been
inspired by the young people's opinions of where they live. It is based
on contrasting ideas and incorporates urban and contemporary style. Co-
ordinated by Spiral Dance artists Romina and Rebecca. For more
information about the work of Spiral Dance please contact Catherine on
01706 838426 or email catherine@spiraldance.co.uk

Steel Tempo - The Steel Drums from Oldham

S W Storm - International Soca artiste based in London. With his fusion of
Soca, flavoured with blends of R&B, Indian, Bhangra, Turkish, Reggae and
Rock, Storm has developed a sound that is moving audiences worldwide. This
artiste continues to go from strength to strength and can be found far and
wide delivering powerful performances at festivals and concerts all over the
world.
Since his first release in 1997, Storm has been a consistent artiste with a
number of hits over the years in many Territories including Trinidad and
Tobago. After 7 albums, 3 music videos and a number of singles all written
and produced under his own label "SWS Music" there will be no calm before or
after this Storm!
" S.W Storm will make them 'dance', will make them 'sing', have them
'jumping', 'waving' and leave them totally entertained.", City Limits

Tapetenwechsel, Bielefeld

Top Secret - Operation TAPP is in place. Bury Met's best intelligence agents
joining international spies from across the world at the 'Top Secret Annual
Spy Convention'.
If you are not a spy do not - repeat - do not read the above.
(Operation Theatre Arts Performance Project, Tel: 0161 761 7107)