Roch-Tales - new short stories about Rochdale

Roch-tales is a set of six brand new short story commissions on the theme of Rochdale by established authors Rosie Garland, Reshma Ruia, Abi Hynes, Nicholas Royle, Benjamin Judge, and David Gaffney, and a brand-new sound installation by Rochdale artist Maryanne Royle, a resident of Ebor Mill artists in Littleborough.

The writers have also delivered seven writing workshops in Rochdale libraries over the last few months.

Schedule

6.30 – enjoy Maryanne Royle’s sound installation in the bar

7. 00 – live readings

7.30 Break

7.45 - live readings

8.15 break

8.30 – open mike – please sign up on the night

9.00 - ends

Roch-Tales is a co-supported by Arts Council England and Rochdale Libraries

The artists

Reshma Ruia is the author of two novels, Something Black in the Lentil Soup, and Still Lives, winner of the 2023 Diverse Book Readers’ Choice Award and a short story collection, Mrs Pinto Drives to Happiness, shortlisted for the 2022 Eastern Eye Award.

Rosie Garland writes poetry, fiction, song lyrics & is lead singer of post-punk band The March Violets. Her work has featured in the Guardian, Mslexia, Bronte Parsonage Museum and commissions include Tate Modern and Whitworth Art Gallery. Her latest collection, This is How I Fight, was the Observer Poetry Book of the Month.

Abi Hynes’ first collection of short stories, Monstrous Longing, was shortlisted for the Edge Hill Prize 2024.

David Gaffney is the author of three novels, most recently Out of the Dark, plus a number of short story collections, as well as several graphic novels with Dan Berry, most recently Rivers. His collection of short stories, Concrete Fields, was longlisted for the Edge Hill prize.

Nicholas Royle is the author of five short story collections and seven novels. He founded Nightjar Press, which publishes original short stories as limited-edition chapbooks.

Benjamin Judge is a writer of short fiction and non-fiction who lives in Rochdale. He is a graduate of the Centre for New Writing at the University of Manchester. Drinking Coffee With my Father in the Most Expensive Cafe in Manchester won the Real Story Prize.

Maryanne Royle is an artist from Rochdale whose practice spans visual art, performance, and music. Maryanne’s work explores history and heritage using sound and performance to create site-specific experiences. She has worked with Leeds 2023, Pioneers Museum, PRS Foundation, and The Whitaker Museum.

Design by Leah Curran

Photography on the night - Nic Chapman

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Host or Publisher David Gaffney