WHAT'S ON AT WATERSIDE, MANCHESTER
What's On at Waterside, Manchester
Waterside Arts Centre is a thriving venue in the heart of sale, boasting a theatre, studios, art galleries, and workshops. It hosts touring theatre productions, comedy, exhibitions, dance, music, an audience with evenings, family shows, premieres, and numerous classes and opportunities for the local community.
Opening in 2004, Waterside is nestled alongside the Bridgewater Canal on the Waterside Plaza, making it a stunning location. This modern arts venue has a 350 seated theatre and is home to the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive exhibition where you can meet much loved children’s characters including Postman Pat, Danger Mouse, The BFG, Wind In The Willows, Chorlton 7 The Wheelies, and Count Duckula.
Productions, shows and events coming up include the family show The Bear, The Totally Improvised Pantomime, Su Pollard, Far From The Madding Crowd, and Clinton Baptiste. See what’s on at Waterside Arts below and book tickets online.
Waterside Arts Centre is a thriving venue in the heart of sale, boasting a theatre, studios, art galleries, and workshops. It hosts touring theatre productions, comedy, exhibitions, dance, music, an audience with evenings, family shows, premieres, and numerous classes and opportunities for the local community.
Opening in 2004, Waterside is nestled alongside the Bridgewater Canal on the Waterside Plaza, making it a stunning location. This modern arts venue has a 350 seated theatre and is home to the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive exhibition where you can meet much loved children’s characters including Postman Pat, Danger Mouse, The BFG, Wind In The Willows, Chorlton 7 The Wheelies, and Count Duckula.
Productions, shows and events coming up include the family show The Bear, The Totally Improvised Pantomime, Su Pollard, Far From The Madding Crowd, and Clinton Baptiste. See what’s on at Waterside Arts below and book tickets online.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Waterside, Manchester
What's On at Waterside, Manchester
Daddy's First Gay Date
Robert Bolt Theatre
Thursday 17 - Friday 18 July 2025
Is it selfish to leave someone you might love in order to find yourself? An uncomfortable restaurant break-up becomes a pressure-cooker first date in this brand-new comedy written by Sam Danson (BI-TOPIA) and Directed by the award-winning ...Jekyll & Hyde
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 6 September 2025
In a new and enthralling one-man stage adaptation of the classic tale of terror, acclaimed actor Jonathan Goodwin plays both Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde in this production from Don't Go Into The Cellar! Victorian theatre company. Journey...Counting Sheeps
The Chambers
Sunday 7 September 2025
A sleepy, sheepy show from Herd Theatre for babies and toddlers (and very tired grown ups). Two sheep think they know everything about sleep. They're experts in the field. But tonight they're wide awake. Snuggle up and join two sheep on a j...Ed Patrick
Robert Bolt Theatre
Friday 12 September 2025
In "Catch Your Breath: The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist", NHS anaesthetist, comedian and author (oooooh check him) Ed Patrick injects you with a gut-punch hilarious show about becoming a junior doctor, the NHS, the pitfalls of mo...Alex Voysey
Robert Bolt Theatre
Saturday 13 September 2025
Cheltenham blues guitarist Alex Voysey has a reputation for exhilarating and virtuosic blues rock live performances - exciting audiences wherever they go. Their new show 'Best of the Blues' combines tracks from Alex's IBBA no.1 album 'Blues...
The Stars Of Irish Country
Robert Bolt Theatre
Thursday 25 September 2025
 Featuring the Queen of Country Music Philomena Begley who is celebrating 60 years in the music business and has had a glittering career that spans over 6 decades at the top, the accordion maestro and hugely popular Sean Wilson who makes ...Kerry Ellis
Robert Bolt Theatre
Friday 26 September 2025
 Kerry Ellis is the Queen of the West End. From My Fair Lady to We Will Rock You, from Les Miserables to Wicked, in both the West End and on Broadway, she has starred in musical theatre's biggest roles, making shows her own and earning ...Barbara Dickson
Robert Bolt Theatre
Saturday 27 September 2025
 Barbara Dickson returns to perform both classic and more recent material from her extraordinary canon of music across both pop and folk, all with her exceptional band. As a multi-million selling recording artist with an equally impressiv...Tales From The Lighthouse
Robert Bolt Theatre
Sunday 28 September 2025
Written and performed by Oliver Bishop, with original songs by David Gibb, and live music from two-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Nominee Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Tales From The Lighthouse is the perfect voyage into the world of theatre, pu...National Production Company - Hamlet
Robert Bolt Theatre
Wednesday 1 October 2025
Prepare to be spellbound by this timeless masterpiece, brought to life in a thrilling and unforgettable production by National Production Company Ltd. A full-scale production set in the shadowy medieval court of Denmark, where love, power, ...Bristol Old Vic - Hamlet
Waterside, Manchester
Wednesday 1 October 2025
Filmed in 4k, in front of a live audience at Bristol Old Vic, and with a new sound mix exclusively for cinema, director John Haidar's spellbinding adaptation of Shakespeare's seminal tragedy stars rising star Billy Howle (The Serpent, On C...Touching The Void's Simon Yates - Pleasure & Pain
Robert Bolt Theatre
Monday 13 October 2025
 Join legendary mountaineer Simon Yates, of the Touching the Void docu-drama, as he recounts a decade of thrilling new climbs across the globe. From the frozen extremes of the north and south to summits in South America, Central Asia, and...John Lydon - I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right
Waterside, Manchester
Thursday 16 October 2025
He's a legend and an icon, a revolutionary and an immortal. John Lydon - aka Johnny Rotten - changed the face of music and sparked a cultural revolution. The frontman and lyricist of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd (PiL) caused a poli...Mama Afrika
Robert Bolt Theatre
Friday 24 October 2025
Zimbabwean born singer, musician and storyteller Anna Mudeka tells the remarkable life story of an iconic South African singer, songwriter and civil rights activist, Miriam Makeba, charting her rise from the townships of Johannesburg to glo...Martin Harley
Robert Bolt Theatre
Saturday 25 October 2025
Known for his spellbinding slide guitar and ability to blend Americana, Blues, and Folk, Harley has captivated audiences for three decades, recording albums in Texas, Nashville, and his native Wales. His sold-out shows at venues like London...Nick Cope - I've Lost My Bobble Hat
Robert Bolt Theatre
Sunday 26 October 2025
Help Nick find his beloved bobble hat in this fun filled musical hour with all your favourite Nick Cope hits and more. Nick Cope has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over ...Adventures in Modern Recording: An Intimate Evening with Trevor Horn
Waterside, Manchester
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Book Now One of the world?s greatest music producers ? Trevor Horn ? is going on an exclusive tour this autumn. Horn is a bona fide pop legend having worked with everyone from Seal to Frankie Goes t...Nik Kershaw: Musings & Lyrics
Waterside, Manchester
Sunday 9 November 2025
Book Now Nik Kershaw exploded onto the UK pop scene in 1984. A string of global hit singles including ?Wouldn?t it Be Good?, ?The Riddle? and ?I Won?t Let the Sun Go Down on Me? saw him languish for 62 weeks on the UK Singl...Brett Tippie
Robert Bolt Theatre
Monday 10 November 2025
Brett Tippie is a multi-talented professional extreme sports athlete - a pioneer of Freeride Mountain Biking who kicked off his career while simultaneously competing on the World Cup circuit for Giant Slalom & Snowboard Cross for the Canadi...Pete Firman
Robert Bolt Theatre
Friday 20 March 2026
Pete Firman is one of the UK's most popular magicians and he's back on the road! You've seen him on television, now experience his trademark blend of laugh-out-loud comedy and jaw-dropping magic live on stage. As seen on ITV1's Tonight at ...How to get to Waterside, Manchester
Waterside Frequently Asked Questions
1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Manchester, M33 7ZF
The nearest carpark to Waterside Arts is Q Park Waterside.
Waterside ticket holders can claim a 20% discount by requesting a ticket upon entry to the car park and showing it to the Waterside box office.
Sale metrolink tram stop is just across the road.
The theatre capacity at Waterside is 350.
If you lose your tickets for seated events at Waterside, you can request replacements to be printed out for collection on the day of the performance (ID required upon collection). This service will be charged per ticket.
For further ticket information you can contact Waterside team for further information.
If you would like to buy a ticket in person from Waterside Box Office, they open Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm.
Alternatively, you can see what's on and book online here.
When we know of a duration of a show, we add it to the description of the show on our event pages. For example, on our Wicked event page, after the description of the show we have added the duration of the show in large capital letters. If the time isn't listed, we do not have the information yet. We update our pages daily so it maybe a case of knowing closer to the performance itself, so keep checking.
Please click here for more information on accessibility at Waterside Arts.
Whether you have positive or negative feedback you would like to feedback to Waterside, please click here for more contact information.
If you have lost an item during a visit to Waterside Arts, click here to contact the venue.
Waterside Arts Centre can welcome you to their Sup Bar & Coffee House.
There are also eateries at Watersale Plaza.
With loads of great places to eat in Manchester and decent pre-theatre menus, you should check out our Manchester Restaurant site here!
Sup Bar & Coffee House within Waterside arts is a great place for a re show drink.
There are also bars on Waterside Plaza.
Manchester is full of great bars and pubs and some decent ones close to the venue. check out our Manchester Bar site here!
Either use the map at the side of the FAQ section as it has all types of accomodation or click here for hotels in Manchester
You can also check out the recommended local accomodation by Waterside Arts.
If you need further information, you can contact the Waterside team directly.
Please note that ManchesterTheatres.com isn't the venue itself. We promote what's on at the Waterside and all other venues in Manchester and the local region. Feel free to contact us if you need more help though and we'll do our best to support you.
Most Popular Shows and Events at Waterside, Manchester
