Working group to bring Champness Hall back into community use backed by Sue Devaney

Date published: 09 March 2021

A new working group is being put together to bring the iconic Champness Hall back into use – which has the backing of Rochdale actor Sue Devaney.

In its heyday, the Art Deco hall hosted numerous performances from the likes of Halle Orchestra and Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochdale’s most famous daughter, Dame Gracie Fields, and many, many others throughout the 1940s to the 1970s, including the infamous cancelled Sex Pistols concert of 1977.

It then largely fell out of use and became forgotten, bar from several charitable organisations which used the building.
 

Read more: Bringing the iconic Champness Hall back into public usePublished: 10 May 2019

Gemma Singleton, who runs her own dance academy, and has been campaigning for a theatre space in Rochdale for many years, sees the potential in the hall.
 

Read more: Theatre hope splits committeePublished: 10 January 2014

Gemma said: “Champness Hall is a massive space. There’s a saying that if you’re over the age of 45, 50, you’ll remember Champness Hall, but if you’re under that age, you likely won’t know it exists.

“After having a meeting with the trustees, we’re hoping to breathe new life into the hall by turning it into a community centre with a stage. It will still be a charitable organisation and it does need a lot of work to make it a useable space. There’s no heating in the hall which makes things difficult to begin with, and it’s costly too, to the tune of £50,000.

“We also want working group volunteers to help with the ambitious plans we have: people who can sew to help make weighted drapes to make the room dividable, so it’s a smaller, easier space to heat, a joiner to work on the fire doors, people to give ideas and help look after the hall as a sub-committee.”

One of Gemma’s first aims, Covid-permitting, is to host Christmas markets in the hall to tie in with the annual Christmas lights switch-on.

Gemma added: “This is not to compete with the Gracie Fields Theatre. I’ll continue to run the panto there. The aim is for Champness Hall to be a community centre with a stage, to host dramas, singing, choirs, filming, dance and supporting businesses.

“The co-operative spirit is our vision for Champness Hall, which hosts so many charities within it.”

The working group's vision has also been backed by Sue Devaney, who gave her first performance at the hall when she was just 10.

Sue grew up in Rochdale and landed her first big acting job as Debbie Webster on Coronation Street, when she was 17-years-old and became a familiar face on television screens with regular roles on Casualty and Dinner Ladies.

Sue is also a successful theatre actor and completed an international tour playing Rosie in Mamma Mia in late 2015, as well as playing Rochdale’s own Dame Gracie Fields in Oldham Coliseum’s 2016 production of Our Gracie.

Sue said: “Recently I was given a tour of Champness Hall. I walked into the main room, a very impressive performing space and it took me back to my 10-year-old self. I played the oboe, very badly, in my school band competition which was held on that very stage sometime way back in the seventies, when Elvis was rocking and Rochdale was buzzing with creativity.

“Sadly, today, this amazing building is a shadow of its former self. My dream has always been to have a community hub of activity held in a safe environment where people from all backgrounds and cultures can get together and mix and mingle. This would be the perfect property.

“When I was a teenager, I was very lucky. Oldham Theatre Workshop was my theatrical haven; I had somewhere to go to be myself, be creative and make new friends. I would love to offer a Champness theatre school for anybody and everybody in our Rochdale community: an all-inclusive place for young people who want to connect and explore their talents and skills. A community café where likeminded people can meet up. Poetry nights, jazz bands, comedians, open mic events, knitting classes, yoga, singing workshops, storytelling and much much more.”

Sue continued: “Why do many people not know about this hidden treasure? Why can it not be restored to its former good-looking self? This would mean schools, dance schools, touring companies, television companies, sports events and many more companies can use this iconic auditorium.

“I suppose, like anything, it has to be worth people’s while to contribute and offer their services to restore this historic building. If I won the lottery, I would restore this beautiful building into its grandiose former self. Are there any builders, joiners, plumbers or businesspeople out there with big dreams and hopes for the future of Rochdale?

“Basically we need money to provide this space with radiators and lights and seating and blackout curtains, oh, and a lovely new stage area. Champness Hall needs a much needed makeover, but the rewards would be limitless.

“Our town needs a performing space. The Gracie Fields theatre is too expensive to hire. If you want to hire it, it would cost thousands. What community event can afford that? Oldham has the Coliseum, Bolton has the Octagon: Rochdale, with all its raw talent and wonderful creative vibes needs Champness Hall.”

Get involved

Anyone who wishes to volunteer time, join the working group, or think they can help in any way can contact Alistair Lorrimer on:

• 07519 114197
• alastairchampnesshall@aol.com
• www.facebook.com/ChampnessHallTrust