August 2024, saw The Den take over Rochdale with 2 weeks at Kingsway Park High School,
Eight days of events, performances, workshops and activities, co-created and delivered by a 12-strong Local Exchange Ambassador team of residents from Rochdale.
For the first time, all tickets to shows in The Den were Pay What You Can (PWYC), which ranged from £1 – £10. All workshops and other activities were completely FREE.
The programme included exhibitions, films, drop-in craft and writing activities, tabletop games, and PWYC food, snacks and soft drinks (no alcohol). As well as access to a prayer room throughout the festival.
The highlight of the festival was TALES OF THE DALE – a three-month culmination of stories, memories, poems about Rochdale that had been collected and curated to create this brand-new immersive audio and script-in hand theatre experience. TALES OF THE DALE was created by the award-winning team of director Nickie Miles-Wildin, curator Shahid Iqbal Khan and audio producer Polly Thomas. All four unique performances featured real voices from the community, professional actors and a community cast.
The FestiDale was supported by Arts Council England, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Esmee Fairbairn and The Oglesby Charitable Trust.
