FestiDale 2024: A celebration of Rochdale's stories

Photo: Joel Fildes

Royal Exchange’s mobile theatre will present Rochdale’s “FestiDale” 2024 in August

This August, the Royal Exchange’s mobile theatre will present Rochdale’s “FestiDale” 2024 at Kingsway Park High School.

The Rochdale ‘ambassadors and champions’, who have been collaborating with the Royal Exchange’s Local Exchange programme since 2023, have curated an exciting festival featuring both emerging voices and established talents.

The festival aims to unite and provide a platform for people from Rochdale and beyond, creating joyful moments and highlighting local artists and opportunities.

A highlight of this year’s programme is the headlining production, Tales of the Dale. Directed by award-winning theatre and audio directors Nickie Miles-Wildin and Polly Thomas, this production promises to be a standout.

In collaboration with Shahid Iqbal Khan (known for Love Across The Ages on BBC Radio 4 and 10 Nights at the Bush Theatre), the team will collect stories from across Rochdale in community centres, hospices, libraries, sports centres, schools, clubs, and other civic spaces.

The first in-person story gathering will take place on Tuesday 28 May at Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside, Rochdale town centre from 11am – 4pm.

These collected stories will be transformed into a live audio experience, performed over three days in the Den by a mix of professional actors and community members. This unique performance will celebrate and centre the voices of Rochdale’s residents.

Stories will be gathered both in person and digitally through the Royal Exchange website, email, or text. If you have a story about Rochdale – its hidden gems, your favourite spots, a day-in-the-life, or places that hold special meaning – you can share it with the Story Collectors in person or online. More details can be found here: www.royalexchange.co.uk

Tales of the Dale also offers an opportunity for Rochdale residents to perform and be part of the show's creation. Community members will work with professional actors to bring these stories to life. 

Minimal rehearsal is required, with participants learning stagecraft and microphone techniques, performing script-in-hand. This opportunity is open to anyone in Rochdale over 14, with no prior performing experience needed.

Performances are scheduled for 15-17 August, with rehearsals and casting sessions starting in mid-July. Interested individuals can sign up here: www.royalexchange.co.uk/project/rochdale-community-performers

The Royal Exchange is proud to partner with various organisations to make this festival possible, including Rochdale Development Agency, Culture Coop, Kingsway Park High School, and Touchstones (Your Trust), with contributions from Bridgewater Hall, Cartwheel Arts, M6 Theatre Company, and Skylight Circus.