Red hot day of fun at Langley Library

A week before the first Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival comes to the borough, Middleton residents get a sneak preview with a special warm up event being held at Langley Library on Saturday 19 October.

Langley Library will host a celebration of theatre and dance based on the theme of ‘fire’ with live performances, storytelling, comedy, theatre, poetry and more. There’ll be lots of hands-on activities for all the family, including a workshop where you can make your own lanterns and poetry torches. Langley Writers will present a Monty Python style sketch and Langley Theatre Workshop will start the event with a cheerleading display.

Other local community groups taking part in the day which runs from 11am until 3pm, include Middleton Youth Council and Rochdale Pioneers Museum.

The event is free to attend, fun is guaranteed and no booking is required!

Peter Williams, Cabinet Member responsible for libraries at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival really does have something for everyone, and as part of the warm up we’re holding preview events like this one, across the borough. It really will be an un-missable day as well as a chance to find out more about this month’s festival.”

The preview event is being held during the run up to Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival, staged from 25 to 27 October, which will feature workshops, music, children’s shows, talks and more from guests including Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, television personality Gyles Brandreth, 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 inspiring poet James Nash and former rugby league international and author of ‘Tries and Prejudice’, Ikram Butt. There’s a full range of shows for children including The Wimpy Kid Show and Grandpa’s Railway - by M6 Theatre, top children’s storyteller Susanna Oldfield plus a collage and puppet workshop led by children’s illustrator Leigh Hodgkinson.

The event is organised by Rochdale Borough Council, funded by the Maskew Bequest and the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts Award.

For more details visit www.rochdaleliteraturefestival.co.uk