We’re excited to introduce the talented young creatives who will be shaping our next outdoor production, Stories We Tell: Rochdale. This new Young Company brings together five emerging artists aged 18–25 with a connection to Rochdale, providing them with a unique opportunity to develop their skills, collaborate with professionals, and contribute to an ambitious, community-centred project.
What the Young Company Will Be Working On
The Young Company will play a key role in Stories We Tell: Rochdale, an immersive guided audio and visual tour through Rochdale Town Centre. Using techniques such as window-front storytelling, video projections, binaural sound, and film, the streets of Rochdale will be transformed into a canvas that brings the town to life through the voices and stories of local residents.
The cohort will be directly involved in:
- Filming and documenting oral histories from local people
- Creating soundscapes and audio elements to enhance the immersive experience
- Assisting with production and project management to bring the creative vision to life
- Supporting direction and creative development across the outdoor performance
This is a hands-on opportunity for the Young Company to gain experience across multiple areas of arts production, including film, sound design, direction, and community engagement. It also offers the chance to collaborate with other young creatives, learn from experienced practitioners, and help deliver a project that celebrates Rochdale’s community, culture, and stories.
Meet the Young Company
Assistant Director – Saleem Miah
Saleem is an early career director passionate about telling stories that centre on often overlooked and underrepresented voices. He’s excited to support the project by collaborating with other young creatives and helping shape the way the stories of Rochdale are brought to life.
Assistant Producer – Holly Copping
Holly is a freelance production assistant and art graduate from Rochdale. She will be supporting the Young Company by coordinating creative workflows, assisting with filming and production, and helping bring innovative ideas to the project.
Assistant Production Manager – Jordan Sheard
Jordan is a dancer, director, and community arts producer based in Manchester. She will be helping manage the practical aspects of the production, ensuring the team can deliver an accessible, engaging, and well-executed performance experience.
Assistant Sound Designer – Hope Chiguvo
Hope is a music producer, artist, and musician. He will create immersive audio experiences, working with recordings of local voices and ambient sound to transform Rochdale’s streets into a living, breathing story.
Assistant Filmmaker – Hannah Thomas-Byrne
Hannah loves capturing real stories and local voices on film. She will document the project, contribute to filming for projections and digital elements, and help ensure the stories of Rochdale’s residents are authentically represented.
On our first day with the Young Company, we introduced them to the project with a preview of some of the route and locations. The team got a sneak peek of how the streets will be brought to life – and they were buzzing with ideas!
🎬 Sneak clips from the behind the scenes of the first walk through give a taste of the magic to come. Videos by Hannah Thomas-Byrne.
This Young Company is an exciting opportunity for emerging artists to gain professional experience, explore creative collaboration and support a high-profile commission as part of Rochdale Town of Culture, made possible with support from Arts Council England and Rochdale Development Agency.
Welcome our new Young Company!