Wonderful walk: Rochdale’s culture, music and history celebrated

Running twice nightly over 2 weeks, the guided audio walk performance was produced by local company Breaking Barriers as part of Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, telling the story of Rochdale through real memories, voices and lived experiences of local people.

4 years on since a similar experience debuted in the town’s Deeplish neighbourhood, this new edition reflected on what has changed, what has remained and tales that continue to shape Rochdale’s identity. Featuring real stories, archive images, video and audio recordings shared by residents, the experience re-imagined the streets in new and unexpected ways. Described as a ‘love letter to Rochdale,’ the experience began at Rochdale Railway Station with participants donning headphones and listening to powerful sounds while buildings and streets came to life. There were multiple illuminations and projections on the hour-long tour that included the hustle and bustle of Milkstone Road, Drake Street and Baillie Street, before the finale on Rochdale Town Hall Square.

Each night audiences were taken on journey, encountering stories of belonging, change and hope, featuring voices from residents who have lived in the town for generations, alongside recent arrivals talking about the warm welcome they received, the buzz of the place, Rochdale’s fascinating history (it was mentioned in the Doomsday Book) and how it has changed for the better in recent years. Tales ranged from deeply moving personal accounts of how much the town and community means to them, to humorous recollections, including former mayor councillor Billy Sheerin recounting memories of living in one of the College Bank (Seven Sisters) towerblocks in the 1970s, and watching the cricket from his balcony, “that cricket pitch is now an Asda.” he quipped.

The route included a look inside St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church.

The experience was complete with the sound of traffic, crowds and music, with little gems of information revealed at every turn. The route included a look inside the magnificent Grade II-listed St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church for a beautiful light show. Next there were tales of Rochdale Fire Station, which has staged numerous sold-out gigs by famous names, with lighting effects to simulate how its glittering ballroom would have dazzled on a Saturday night. There were musical interludes by local artists including guitarist Ed Jamil, rapper Micah Stalgic and indie-folk band Syncere, outside Voltalab Music Studios on Kenion Street as visitors heard about its history between 1977–2001 where trailblazing artists including OMD, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, Inspiral Carpets, A Certain Ratio, The Fall and many others recorded some of their most memorable work.

A mural by Hayley Garner was one of a number of stunning pieces of art to feature on the walk, created as part of last year’s Common Walls International Mural Festival.

Stops at 2 stunning pieces of wall art that form part of the Common Walls mural trail were also included. Hayley Garner, street mural artist and curator of last year’s hugely popular Common Walls International Mural Festival, said:

“Rochdale is one of those places I always want to come back to.”

Rochdale institution San Remo featured, with audiences invited to visit at the end of each performance for a complimentary hot chocolate.

Rochdale institution San Remo, the cafe that has been in the same Italian born family for decades also featured, along with its well-preserved menu reflecting industrial Lancastrian tastes, open for visitors to enjoy after the tour each night. A wander along the listed buildings of ‘Northern Quarter cool’ Baillie Street followed with Rochdale Town Hall itself the location for the final projection, showing more local people, memories and illustrations from the town’s cultural history.

Guitarist Ed Jamil playing outside Voltalab Music Studios on Kenion Street as visitors heard about its history between 1977–2001 where trailblazing artists recorded.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation, said:

“There’s another side to Rochdale, stories that need to be told, a history and a future that should be shouted about. This was an amazing production by Breaking Barriers and a powerful way to honour our past, celebrate the present and keep the stories of our community alive for future generations. I couldn’t help but be captivated by the stories and the real lives they represented, and also by the affection that so many people have for the town they call home. As we move towards the final few weeks of what has been a breathtaking year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture this really has been another one of the highlights.”

The project was supported by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency, with funding provided through the Community Regeneration Partnership from the UK Government, and supported by Arts Council England.

Parvez Qadir, artistic director of Breaking Barriers, now hopes to take the Stories We Tell model to more towns and cities:

“This project was born here, shaped by local people and rooted in the everyday stories that make Rochdale extraordinary. It shone a light on the rich creative diversity and resilience that has always existed in this town. Feedback has been amazing, tickets for every session were snapped up within the first 2 weeks of release, so we know the demand is there and we’d like to bring something like this back in the future. It also provided opportunities for fantastic young producers, production staff, sound designers and engineers and film-makers, supporting the next generation of local creatives too. I also must thank our incredible team of volunteers who looked after our audiences so well during the experience.”

Rochdale: Stories We Tell was part of a spectacular line up of festivals, live performances, exhibitions and art during Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26. The title, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, celebrates the town’s rich history, creativity, talent and diverse arts scene.