Rochdale to be transformed by immersive nighttime storytelling experience

Rochdale will host a major public art installation this winter, as the town’s streets become the stage for a free, after-dark audio-visual experience led by local voices.

Stories We Tell: Rochdale will run from Wednesday 28 January to Friday 6 February 2026 and invites residents and visitors on a guided walk through some of the town centre’s most recognisable locations. Featuring large-scale projections and 3D sound, the experience will reimagine buildings and streets as living canvases for stories of belonging, change and community resilience.

The 90-minute walk will begin at Rochdale Train Station and finish at Town Hall Square, passing along Milkstone Road, Drake Street and Baillie Street. Two sessions will run nightly at 6pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance.

The project is produced by Rochdale-based creative company Breaking Barriers and is part of the borough’s official Greater Manchester Town of Culture programme. The initiative is backed by Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Development Agency, Arts Council England, and the UK Government through the Community Regeneration Partnership.

Stories We Tell first launched in 2022 in Deeplish. This new expanded edition builds on local voices and archived materials to create a walk-through experience combining soundscapes, real interviews and animated projections.

Parvez Qadir, Artistic Director of Breaking Barriers, said the project gives power back to Rochdale’s communities:

“This is about telling our own stories in our own way. Rochdale has always been rich in creativity and culture, and this project celebrates that. It reflects who we are, what’s changed, and what continues to bind us together.”

Contributors to the new edition include street mural artist Hayley Garner, who said the experience would “honour our past, celebrate the present and keep the stories of our community alive for future generations”.

The production also involves a number of emerging artists from Breaking Barriers’ Young Company, with five assistant roles filled by Holly Copping, Jordan Sheard, Hope Chiguvo, Hannah Thomas-Byrne and Saleem Miah.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation, said the experience would be “one of the real highlights” of Rochdale’s Town of Culture programme in 2026.

“Wrap up warm and prepare to be amazed,” she said. “We’ve had brilliant feedback from previous Breaking Barriers projects, and this one promises to be even more ambitious.”

The walk is fully accessible, with a step-free route, trained volunteers, and headphones provided to ensure inclusive participation. It is suitable for wheelchair users and families with prams.