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 Ben Hart, Kerry Ellis, Barbara Dickson, Hamlet, Nik Kershaw, and Justin Moorhouse. 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 Ben Hart, Kerry Ellis, Barbara Dickson, Hamlet, Nik Kershaw, and Justin Moorhouse. 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
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...Creatives Brunch Club
Waterside, Manchester
Tuesday 14 October 2025 - Tuesday 17 February 2026
A monthly brunch club for artists and creatives. Expect a casual affair, with some delicious mid-morning treats to enjoy. We'll hear from some local creatives about the exciting projects they are working on and an opportunity to connect w...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...Copyright & Intellectual Property: A Guide for Artists
Waterside, Manchester
Thursday 16 October 2025
Book NowLow Availability Suzanne Oliver of Scintilla IP leads this introductory session on copyright and intellectual property rights for artists and creatives. Protecting creative works is central ...Havisham
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 17 October 2025
Who was the woman behind Charles Dickens' most monstrous female creation? What was it that condemned the hopeful young Miss Havisham to her cruel and fractured fate? Experience her heartbreak as we delve into her childhood trauma and follow...Funny Stuff
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 17 October 2025
Book Now LipService presents Funny StuffWritten & performed by Sue Ryding Sue Ryding is one half of legendary comedy duo LipService. In 2022 her comedy partner Maggie Fox died and Sue was left with ...Alfie Moore: Acopalypse Now
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 18 October 2025
Book Now The Four Horsemen of Rising Crime, Global Warming, AI and Culture Wars are galloping towards us. Are we on the road to hell? And can we avoid the potholes? In his brand new tour show ?Fair Cop? Alfie has the antido...Alfie Moore: Apocalypse Now
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 18 October 2025
Book Now The Four Horsemen of Rising Crime, Global Warming, AI and Culture Wars are galloping towards us. Are we on the road to hell? And can we avoid the potholes? In his brand new tour show ?Fair Cop? Alfie has the antido...Room: Inside The Creative Mind of Virginia Woolf
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 18 October 2025
Book Now Room ? A journey into the creative mind of Virginia WoolfWritten and performed by HEATHER ALEXANDER. DIRECTED BY DOMINIQUE GERRARD. A woman must have money and a room of her own. Cambridge ...Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver
Waterside, Manchester
Sunday 19 October 2025
Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver, a dynamic duo, fuse their deep-seated love for English and Irish folk traditions into a vibrant project that's as grounded in tradition as it is daring in innovation. With Knapp's distinctive voice and her skill ...Write Out Loud
Waterside, Manchester
Monday 20 October - Monday 15 December 2025
Book Now Open Floor Poetry Evening Poetry open floor nights, come along and read your work or just listen. The bar is open throughout the evening....Making A Career in Writing Workshop
Waterside, Manchester
Tuesday 21 October 2025
Book NowLow Availability Led by writer and editor Natalie Beech (Channel 4 Writing for Television Award, 2022, editor Flourish Magazine), this workshop will explore how to utilise your creative skills to build a sustainable...threads
Waterside, Manchester
Tuesday 21 October 2025
Book Now Diving into the challenges of growing up and the importance of friendships and support when navigating adolescence, Threads shines a light on mental health and reminds us that none of us have to face difficult time...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...Happy Hour
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 24 October 2025
Book Now Happy Hour. It's more than an hour, and it's not always happy. One man?s odyssey, to save his son and his own sanity, from the sinister forces he?s exposed them both to. Bernie wants his pu...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...ComedySportz
The Chambers
Saturday 25 October 2025 - Saturday 14 February 2026
You've seen football. You've seen tennis. But have you seen Comedy as a sport? Then you don't want to miss this all ages, all action, all improvised competitive comedy show! Two teams battle it out for laughs with quick-witted gags, games, ...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...Steve Knightley (Show of Hands)
Waterside, Manchester
Thursday 30 October 2025
 Renowned Westcountry songwriter Steve Knightley, the former Show of Hands frontman, goes back on the road with a new solo tour. After bidding a fond farewell in 2023 to a remarkable 30-year stint of non-stop touring with his old band, K...Buzz Comedy (Nov 2025)
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 1 November 2025
Book Now Waterside's legendary comedy night showcasing new and established talent Matt Rees + El Purnell + Ryan GoughHeadliner Matt Rees is a multi-award winning comedian from Wales, witha high rate...Buzz Comedy November 2025
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 1 November 2025
Book Now Waterside's legendary comedy night showcasing new and established talent Matt Rees + El Purnell + Ryan GoughHeadliner Matt Rees is a multi-award winning comedian from Wales, witha high rate...The Witch Who Couldn't Sleep
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 1 November 2025
Book Now The Witch Who Couldn't SleepBy Steven LeeA "Story Time" family musical from the creators of There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly. Being a witch is super exciting. There's always so mu...JS80 - Guys and Dolls
Waterside, Manchester
Tuesday 4 - Saturday 8 November 2025
Book Now In their 40th anniversary year, Junior Stage 80 proudly presents the dazzling Broadway classic Guys and Dolls! Following their smash hit production of Beauty and The Beast in 2024, JS80 returns with another spectac...Acting for Animation workshop with Joseph Wallace
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 8 November 2025
Book NowLow Availability Whether you work in stop motion, 2D or CG, this workshop will help you create more expressive characters and provide new ways to think about blocking and composition. We pre...Puppet Masters Masterclass: Acting for Animation with Joseph Wallace
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 8 November 2025
Book NowLow Availability Whether you work in stop motion, 2D or CG, this session will help you create more expressive characters and provide new ways to think about blocking and composition. Join BA...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...Ultimate Coldplay - Tribute to Coldplay
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 14 November 2025
A live tribute to Coldplay and performing all the Coldplay hits and more in a brilliant sound and look-a-like show. The vocals, mannerisms and atmosphere these guys deliver are second to none. Giving the audience that same high energy perfo...Broua
Waterside, Manchester
Sunday 16 November 2025
Book Now BROUA is a band that blends traditional Tunisian and Arabic music with Mediterranean and contemporary influences. Comprised of Tunisian, Dutch, and French musicians, the group creates a uni...Curator Incubator Advice Sessions
Waterside, Manchester
Tuesday 18 November 2025
Book Now If you're interested to apply for CIT's Curator Incubator scheme, you can book a free 30 minute advice session with the team behind CIT, the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive and Waterside's galleries. ...Bloom After Dark
Waterside, Manchester
Thursday 20 - Saturday 22 November 2025
Book Now A brand new commission for Prism Festival 2025, in partnership with Night People Welcome to the world of Night People, where bold beats, electric visuals, and fierce dance energy take over....Happy As The Day Is Long
Waterside, Manchester
Thursday 20 - Saturday 22 November 2025
Book Now Happy as the Day is Long is a breathtaking larger-than-life mirrorball which will transform Waterside Plaza into an enchanting environment. Made from a kaleidoscope of brightly coloured mir...Mishra ft Deepa Shakthi
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 21 November 2025
Book Now In 2022, Danny Kyle award winning global-folk band Mishra began a new cross-cultural collaboration with international fusion vocalist Deepa Shakthi. The resulting album 'Turn O Spinning Whe...Buzz Comedy (Dec 2025)
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 6 December 2025
Book Now Waterside's legendary comedy night showcasing new and established talent El Baldiniho + Kevin Daniel + Dominic WoodwardEl Baldiniho is a mind-bogglingly daft magician a la Tommy Cooper, so ...Buzz Comedy December 2025
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 6 December 2025
Book Now Waterside's legendary comedy night showcasing new and established talent El Baldiniho + Kevin Daniel + Dominic WoodwardEl Baldiniho is a mind-bogglingly daft magician a la Tommy Cooper, so ...Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 6 - Saturday 27 December 2025
Book Now Step inside the bloomin? brilliant world of Raymond Briggs? Father Christmas this winter! Children of all ages will delight in Briggs? grumpy but loveable Father Christmas as he gets ready ...The Totally Improvised Pantomime
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 13 December 2025
Bored of the same pantomimes every year? The ComedySportz team are back this Christmas for more Totally Improvised Pantomimes! Heroes, villains, songs and silliness are guaranteed this December as the gang create brand-new pantomime adventu...ComedySportz Improvised Panto (Juniors)
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 13 December 2025
Book Now Bored of the same pantomimes every year? The ComedySportz team are back this Christmas for more Totally Improvised Pantomimes! Heroes, villains, songs and silliness are guaranteed this December as the gang create b...The Totally Improvised Adult Pantomime
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 19 - Saturday 20 December 2025
Bored of the same pantomimes every year? The ComedySportz team are back this Christmas for more Totally Improvised Pantomimes! Heroes, villains, songs and silliness are guaranteed this December as the gang create brand-new pantomime adventu...Gaudete: Songs Tunes & Carols from Yuletide Past
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 19 December 2025
Book Now Following on from GreenMatthews' 10 years of successful touring Christmas shows, Gaudete! is an expanded lineup playing new and exciting arrangements of Chris and Sophie?s popular festive fare. ...A Pleasing Terror
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 6 February 2026
Book Now A Pleasing TerrorTwo ghost stories by M R JamesPerformed by R M Lloyd Parry Over a century after they were first published, the ghost stories of M R James retain their power to terrify and ...Buzz Comedy (Feb 2026)
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 7 February 2026
Book Now Waterside's legendary comedy night showcasing new and established talent Sully O'Sullivan + Karen Bayley + Tony VinoInternational star Sully O'Sullivan is the quintessential Kiwi comicwith ...Buzz Comedy Feb 2026
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 7 February 2026
Book Now Waterside's legendary comedy night showcasing new and established talent Sully O'Sullivan + Karen Bayley + Tony VinoInternational star Sully O'Sullivan is the quintessential Kiwi comicwith ...Mark Watson
Waterside, Manchester
Sunday 8 February 2026
Comedian and novelist Mark Watson's 12-year-old son has just got a phone. His 70-year-old dad has been through the most frightening experience of his life. Both a dad and a kid himself, around the midpoint of his life, the Taskmaster star a...Leo Houlding: Exposed
Waterside, Manchester
Monday 9 February 2026
Book Now Join legendary climber Leo Houlding for Exposed, a gripping live experience with stunning visuals, film, and storytelling from the world?s wildest places. After three decades on the edge of...Parody of the Rings
Robert Bolt Theatre
Wednesday 11 February 2026
A Hilarious and Epic Adventure! What happens when a cinema's Lord of the Rings marathon goes terribly wrong? At the local cinema, all hell breaks loose when the ushers misplace the DVDs of The Lord of the Rings trilogy - every single copy! ...The Parody of the Rings
Waterside, Manchester
Wednesday 11 February 2026
Book Now A Hilarious and Epic Adventure!What happens when a cinema's Lord of the Rings marathon goes terribly wrong? At the local cinema, all hell breaks loose when the ushers misplace the DVDs of T...RESCHEDULED: Barbara Dickson
Waterside, Manchester
Thursday 12 February 2026
Book NowLow Availability Due to illness this event has been rescheduled to Thursday 12 February 2026. In this special semi-acoustic performance, Barbara Dickson and her pianist Nick Holland explore ...Night Terrors
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 20 February 2026
Book Now Night Terrors is a chilling evening of supernatural tales from E.F. Benson?s brilliant collection of ghost stories The award-winning actor, Gerard Logan, will transport you to a dark, sinis...The Enormous Turnip
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 20 - Sunday 22 February 2026
Book Now Join Mr and Mrs Chickweed and save the day as they pull The Enormous Turnip out of the ground before it takes over the planet! Living in their tiny shed squeezed in amongst the garden tools...Shaparak Khorsandi
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 27 February 2026
 One of Britain's most beloved and most scatterbrained stand-ups lets you back into her mind! Shaparak Khorsandi is here to walk you through her life as a Scatterbrain... Having reassessed her life through the prism of an ADHD diagnosis,...Curator Development Scheme
Waterside, Manchester
Thursday 5 March 2026
Book NowLow Availability CIT?s Curator Development Scheme returns in 2026 with a special two-day course exploring all aspects of a curator?s career path. Each day will feature a mix of talks and wor...Daliso Chaponda
Waterside, Manchester
Wednesday 11 March 2026
 Hilarious Manchester-based Zambian-born Malawian comedian Daliso Chaponda shot to fame in 2017 when he finished third in Series 11 of Britain's Got Talent, and was the Golden Buzzer choice for Amanda Holden. As a result of his appearance...1984
Waterside, Manchester
Thursday 12 March 2026
Book Now ?To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free: From the age of uniformity, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink? greetings!? Winston Smith, insignificant...Ireland The Show
Waterside, Manchester
Sunday 15 March 2026
Join an all star cast of Ireland's most talented singers and performers accompanied by the fabulous Keltic Storm band and world champion Keltic Fusion Irish dancers for an unmissable Ireland the Show that will take you on a journey throug...The Simon & Garfunkel Story
Waterside, Manchester
Wednesday 18 March 2026
Few shows have experienced the phenomenal global success of The Simon & Garfunkel Story, with multiple sold-out shows in over 50-countries worldwide and over 20 headline performances in London's West End, including multiple appearances at t...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 ...The Second Best Bed
Waterside, Manchester
Friday 27 March 2026
Liz Grand ("Where is Mrs Christie") stars as Anne Hathaway on the night of Shakespeare's funeral in this superb one-woman play, written by Avril Rowlands and directed by Chris Jaeger. Full of both humour and pathos, it has received great c...Justin Moorhouse
Waterside, Manchester
Saturday 28 March 2026
Get ready for an unforgettable experience as Justin returns with "The Greatest Performance of My Life". After a successful and extensively extended tour of his 2022 show Stretch and Think (which you can catch in full on YouTube), he's back ...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
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
