Press release -

Save the dates! – Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival, 24-26 October

Dates for Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival were announced today. The festival will run from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October this year, with organisers promising a feast of events and another stellar line up covering drama, comedy, dance, music, theatre, films, visual arts and children’s shows. Preview events will also be held across the borough earlier in October.

The festival will include special guest speakers, authors and writers and is aimed at encouraging more people to engage in thought and philosophy. It will include events at venues in Rochdale town centre and boroughwide.

Authors, acts, performers and workshops will start to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Economic Development at Rochdale Borough Council said the festival is a fantastic showcase for the borough and added: “This new festival enjoyed a fantastic debut last year and I am sure that in 2014 Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival will provide another feast of culture for everyone to enjoy.”

Last year thousands attended the festival, which featured over 40 events on a diverse line-up that included the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, rapper Akala, actor and musical star Kevin Kennedy and poet Simon Armitage.

The festival is due to 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 classic works are available for future generations.

Linda Fisher, Deputy Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, said she hopes 2014 will be bigger and better and added: “The second Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival will be full of life and inspiration, offering something for everyone, from history to fiction, poetry to music, and plenty of humour in between. We received a great deal of visitor feedback following our first festival, which we are using to help make this year even better. We will be putting together another fabulous programme, getting lots of talented local people involved and we will include some new festival venues too. It’s a great opportunity for residents, groups or local businesses, so I urge people to get in touch with us now.”

For information about appearing at the festival or getting involved in other ways, email rochdalelitfest@rochdale.gov.uk

For a look back at last year’s event visit www.rochdaleliteraturefestival.co.uk For festival updates on Twitter connect with @RochdaleLitFest
The festival is organised by Rochdale Borough Council, funded by the Maskew Bequest.


Topics

  • Library, Museum

Categories

  • rochdale literature and ideas festival
  • heywood
  • middleton
  • pennines
  • rochdale
  • libraries
  • rochdale council
  • rochdale borough libraries

Regions

  • Greater Manchester

Head to our website.

Rochdale Borough Council - A council which builds success and prosperity with our citizens and partners, whilst protecting our vulnerable people.

Contacts

  • RETURN: Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival will be held 24-26 October.
    License:
    © All rights reserved
  • ACTS: Gyles Brandreth entertained a packed audience at last year’s festival.
    License:
    © All rights reserved
  • Save the dates! – Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival, 24-26 October
    License:
    © All rights reserved
    File format:
    .docx

Related content

  • Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival 2014 confirmed

    Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival will return this year, with organisers promising another feast of events covering drama, dance, music, theatre, films, visual arts and children’s shows. The three day festival will be staged this October, with dates to be announced next month.

  • Rochdale’s first Literature and Ideas Festival off to flying start

    A passion for literature and ideas was there for all to see in Rochdale as arts lovers descended on the town at the weekend. Rochdale was full of inspiration, laughter and creativity from Friday to Sunday as the town staged their first Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival.

  • MOBO award-winning ‘Akala’ ready to rap in Rochdale

    Acclaimed MOBO award-winning rapper Akala is on his way to Rochdale and will be performing tracks from his last 2 albums ’The Thieves Banquet’ and ‘Doublethink’ on Saturday 26 October at 4pm during Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival.

  • Children Get Animated About Library Mural

    Artists have been harnessing schoolchildren’s imagination and creativity to craft cheerful wall murals at Rochdale Central Library to form a lasting legacy to last year’s first Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival.

  • Going Bonkers for the Bard

    Rochdale Borough Libraries will be going bonkers for the Bard during activities to celebrate Shakespeare Retold Week.

  • Dave Spikey’s festival show

    Double British Comedy Award Winner Dave Spikey will be performing at Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival this autumn.