This winter, Rochdale’s streets are being transformed into a night-time immersive story-telling experience.
Running from the end of January, large scale projections, moving images and 3D sound will kick off its year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture.
Stories We Tell: Rochdale will invite residents and visitors to explore the borough through the real memories, voices and lived experiences of local people.
“Rochdale is one of those places I always want to come back to,” said Hayley Garner, street mural artist who contributed to the project.
“Stories We Tell: Rochdale will be a powerful way to honour our past, celebrate the present and keep the stories of our community alive for future generations.”
The project is 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.
The creative has been produced by Rochdale-based production company Breaking Barriers and returns 4 years after its original debut in Deeplish.
This latest version has been created to reflect on what has changed and what has remained.
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“Bringing Stories We Tell back to Rochdale as part of this special year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture is hugely significant,” explained Parvez Qadir, Artistic Director of Breaking Barriers.
“Rochdale has long been an underserved community, and this is an opportunity to shift the narrative. This project was born here, shaped by local people, and rooted in everyday stories that make this place extraordinary. It hands the microphone back to residents and shines a light on the rich creative diversity and resilience that has always existed in this town.”
Two performances will be held nightly at 6pm and 7.30pm from Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 January 2026, and from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 February 2026.
