Brand new Rochdale artist development programme launches
Rafia Hussain Productions (RHP) and Touchstones have teamed up to deliver Future Rochdale Theatre Makers – the first ever training programme of its kind in Rochdale, led by two independent producers who hail from the town.
The pilot programme, for artists aged 18+ (no upper age cap) has been running since January 2025, with the inaugural cohort attending two sessions per month delivered by independent producer Rafia Hussain (founder of RHP and from Rochdale) and co-delivered with Porl Cooper (Senior Producer/Programmer at Your Trust). The course has been designed by Rafia Hussain, shaped by her own experiences of entering the industry via a non-traditional route. Designed to give new and early career artists from Rochdale the tools they need to self-produce their work, the programme is a combination of workshops, mentoring and seeing/critiquing shows.
Rochdale is expected to welcome two new cultural venues opening in 2026 and 2027. RHP together with Touchstones is developing theatre makers so that when they do open, they will host performances from Rochdale artists alongside national touring work.
The four artists on the cohort:
Leah Wild – a singer/songwriter
Sam Jamil – writer and performer
Suzanne Hassett – writer and producer
Becky Kershaw – writer and producer
RHP will continue to support the 2025 cohort to develop their ideas into tangible projects, with a showcase of their work in development planned for July 2026.
Rafia Hussain says: “When I was interested in pursuing a theatre career in Rochdale, it just wasn’t possible at the time. I had no choice but to leave in order to develop the skills, knowledge and experience I now have. And now I can pass on what I have learned over several years to new artists, a crucial pathway that didn’t exist for me but now can for others. The support also won’t stop here, RHP will continue to support this cohort beyond the programme before we run it again in 2027.”
Porl Cooper adds: “I’ve had a similar story to Rafia in that previously, limited creative opportunities in the borough meant that for well over 30 years, despite hailing from the town, all my theatre work and experience has happened elsewhere. Recent exciting developments in Rochdale are changing all that and I’ve joined Your Trust and the Touchstones team at a really pivotal time. I was so excited to join forces with Rafia when she pitched us this project – it’s exactly what the town needs ahead of our new cultural venues opening in 2026 and 2027”.