Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival Programme

Martine Bradford from Skylight Circus Arts, Colin Meredith, Vicky Lomax, Arts Director, Compere Norman Warwick, Mohammad Sarwar from Multicultural Arts & Media and Helen Chicot from the council

Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival, a festival of literature, drama, dance, music, theatre, film and visual arts runs from 25 to 27 October and aims to excite and engage audiences with over 40 events and to mark the launch of the festival programme, festival organisers joined some of the participants due to take part in the inaugural event, on the roof of  Number One Riverside.

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Customer Services, said the festival programme is impressive: "We have a fantastic line up, and as you flick through the programme you can't help but be impressed.

"Early sales are already really encouraging and I know there will be people from all across the borough and the North West getting excited about coming to Rochdale to see some of the biggest names, with many shows free and none more than five pounds.

"Events like this can help local businesses too, so I hope people come and support it.

"I will be proud to welcome the performers and audiences to Rochdale. The library will be full of activities for all ages, so come along and experience the festival, even if you don't get a ticket for one of the main events."

The main festival venue will be Rochdale Central Library at Number One Riverside. The library and first floor Hollingworth conference suite will stage the majority of performances, including talks by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and television personality Gyles Brandreth. The ground floor coffee shop will also be hosting events.

The festival will showcase performances and art from local groups, and includes Saturday warm up events in Littleborough, Middleton and Heywood.

The programme covers workshops, music, readings, children's shows, debates, talks and more from other guests including Dragons' Den winner Mark Champkins, poet Simon Armitage, MOBO award-winning rapper Akala and former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy.

There'll be the chance to meet multi-award winning author and playwright Trevor Hoyle, inspiring poet James Nash and former rugby league international and author of 'Tries and Prejudice', Ikram Butt. Events for families include The Wimpy Kid Show, a puppet theatre performance of The Pied Piper and Grandpas Railway - by M6 Theatre, plus top children's storyteller Susanna Oldfield. There's even a special Rochdale Ghost Walk on the Sunday evening.

It has all been made possible by the generosity of Annie and Frank Maskew, a Rochdale couple who shared a passion for reading and thinking and 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 that classic works would be available for future generations.

Tickets are available via the website and there are no booking fees.

The programme is available in a variety of formats. You can download an electronic version from the link below. To order a paper copy email rochdalelitfest@rochdale.gov.uk or pick one up free from your local library, or one of the many other stockists across the area, including:

Rochdale

Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre
Number One Riverside
Rochdale Town Hall
Number Ten Gift Shop, Baillie Street
Sandifords, Drake Street

Littleborough

Littleborough Coach House

Heywood

Heywood Civic Centre
The Phoenix Centre

Middleton

Middleton Arena
Middleton Library

Download