Spine chilling horror to be screened at Rochdale Town Hall

Posted by on 24 Oct 2024

The Gothic splendour of Rochdale Town Hall will serve as the backdrop for a special screening of a famous silent film this Halloween.                                     

The 1922 silent classic, ‘Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror’ (1922), a German vampire film based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, will be shown with a musical accompaniment from international multi-award-winning organist, Aaron Hawthorne.

Aaron will be playing the film’s soundtrack on the town hall’s magnificent JJ Binns organ, to create the perfect spooky night out this autumn.

Aaron Hawthorne is an in-demand silent film and concert organist from North Lanarkshire, Scotland, with a Master of Arts degree in Music from the University of Glasgow. He is well-known for his accessible and engaging organ recitals, concerts, and silent film accompaniments. He performs throughout the UK, mainland Europe and the USA.

Councillor Sue Smith, Cabinet Member for Communities and Cooperation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “With its imposing gothic architecture, you couldn’t find a better setting for the screening of this cult classic spine chiller than Rochdale Town Hall. In addition, our recently restored organ will be the perfect instrument to showcase the talents of Aaron Hawthorne, who has been awarded countless accolades throughout his musical career.”

The screening will take place on Saturday 2 November at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm. Tickets, at only £5 per person, are available now.

The Halloween screening is part of the town hall’s packed events programme, with thousands of visitors enjoying the spectacular space since it reopened in March this year following a council and lottery funded restoration. Regular tea dances take place on the first Wednesday of every month, while music fans can enjoy a Christmas organ concert on 18 December. The Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas lights switch will transform the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall on 22 to 24 November and the Rochdale wedding show returns to the building next March.

In addition, the town hall’s new restaurant, The Martlet Kitchen, is now open for brunch and lunch from Monday to Saturday, with a fine dining menu being served on Friday and Saturday nights.

Visitors can book their tickets for the screening, and find more about town hall events and the Martlet Kitchen, at: rochdaletownhall.co.uk