The Royal Exchange Theatre's mobile venue will host The FestiDale at Kingsway Park High School in Rochdale, 8–18 August 2024.
The event was programmed by the Rochdale Ambassadors and Champions, who have been working with the Royal Exchange’s Local Exchange programme since 2023, and aims to showcase local artists and opportunities.
For Tales of the Dale, helmed by Nickie Miles-Wildin and Polly Thomas and curated with Shahid Iqbal Khan, the team will be collecting stories from across the borough of Rochdale, which will then be woven together into a live audio experience and performed in the Den over three days, by a company comprising both professional actors and "community members".
Anyone who has a story to tell about Rochdale—"its undiscovered gems, your favourite bits, what a day-in-the-life looks like or the places that mean the most to you"—can meet the Story Collectors to share their stories in-person or go through the Royal Exchange web site.
The Royal Exchange is also looking for people to work alongside professional actors to bring these stories to life, open to anyone in Rochdale over the age of 14 with no performing experience necessary. The performances would be 15–17 August with rehearsal sessions within the weeks before and casting sessions from mid-July 2024. There is a form to sign up and full details on the Royal Exchange web site.