All the World is a Stage

Posted By: Dale Mulgrew
Date Posted: 07/03/2007

'All the world is a stage' a famous playwright once wrote, well not all the world is one because I think that Rochdale has missed out and has been left in 'the wings'.

Why? Well in my opinion the Gracie Fields theatre, although it is currently going through a refurbishment, will never feel enabled to be a major arts venue for the people of Rochdale because of so many practical and physical obstructions –

Location – A constant refrain, but there is legitimacy to this argument because a popular venue needs to be an accessible venue which is central to the town ensuring that it is well serviced by the local transport network; the present site is not.

Size – The current theatre is simply too large with almost 700 hundred seats; an auditorium which is half the size will be much more manageable and likely to have a greater success in reaching capacity and building an atmosphere which in theatre is hugely important.

Inflexibility – The Gracie fields theatre is not a space which can be changed, it is a rigid formed auditorium. We need a space which can be adapted to have a concert one evening and a play on the following evening – a multi-functional space; and of course this could be a conference venue by day which our area has long craved.

Tenure – This is quite an obstacle because the present theatre cannot be used during the day as it is managed and owned by the school.

With the regeneration of the town centre and the application of a bid of £100 millions for this purpose, this is a moment to seize. Why can’t we provide Rochdale with a multi-functional, multi-dimensional, performing arts and conference venue?

Furthermore, we could have a bar/foyer and gallery which could be a dedicated area to exhibit our rich cultural heritage with displays of Gracie fields, Norman Evans, Don Estelle and Lisa Stansfield.

We have a nationally acclaimed theatre in education company 'M6' who could present to their home audience in a venue which befits their reputation; our award winning Rochdale music service would hold concerts; the Borough’s group of arts companies able to present art across the full spectrum; a music society granted with a permanent home; youth orchestras who could rehearse and give recitals; dramatic societies who are enabled to excel in state of the art facilities to showcase their latest productions, notwithstanding the potential for a programme of touring professional theatre companies and music organisations.

This is why I have asked the managing director of the Borough’s new cultural Trust - 'links4life' (which goes live on April 1st), to place a new civic arts centre high on the agenda of the strategic planning for Rochdale.

A constant refrain I hear is that the town centre needs to be reclaimed for family usage after dark as a contrast from the pub/club culture which seemingly dominates. I would hope by brining an attraction of such magnitude as part of the economic development of the town centre that this would be a catalyst to a much more conducive atmosphere for more restaurants and cafes to thrive.

There will be shortly news to report on how a study will proceed for this intent.

In the meantime if you wish to join this vision and offer a statement of support then you can do so at dale.mulgrew@rochdale.gov.uk or by sending me a letter marked for my attention to the Town Hall.

I will now exit stage right!