Festival previews bring something different to libraries

Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival is only weeks away, but you don’t need to wait -  special free preview events are being held across the borough and further details of the first two have been announced.

National Poetry Day will be celebrated at Rochdale Central Library on Thursday 3 October with imaginative workshops, live performances and readings covering arts, creative writing and poetry, based on the theme of ‘water’. There will also be a visual arts exhibition – called ‘World Knowledge’, looking at how cultures from across the globe have influenced the way we live and learn.

Local community groups, including the Youth Council, Touchstones’ volunteers and Just Poets will be showcasing their creative work and there’ll be a chance to help create a watery world mural.

Activities run from 12 noon until 4pm on Thursday 3 October at Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside.

That’s all followed on Saturday 5 October from 11am until 3pm with a day dedicated to ‘earth’ at Littleborough Library. This event will feature visual arts and film from local community groups exploring the planet we live on, and there will be lots of chances to get involved with hands on activities for all ages including creative writing, animations, clay model making and more.  There will also be a Grimm Tales artwork and storytelling workshop for adults.

Both events are free, and no booking is required.

The preview events are being held during the run up to Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival, staged from 25 to 27 October, which will feature workshops, music, readings, children’s shows, debates, 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 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 Grandpa’s Railway - by M6 Theatre, plus top children’s storyteller Susanna Oldfield.

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