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Castlefield Follies at Castlefield Basin

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Castlefield Follies

30-31 July 2022

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Free
Castlefield Follies
Image courtesy of Joe Armitage.
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Roll up, roll up…for a fabulous and free weekend of street theatre taking place across Castlefield.

Following a pandemic-induced three-year hiatus, Streets Ahead are back with Castlefield Follies, a two-day festival featuring all manner of performance.

A fabulous and free weekend of street theatre

From the sublime to the wonderfully ridiculous, Castlefield is set to be flooded with creativity, street theatre…and other entertaining goings-on. Refreshing and eccentric, Castlefield Follies is just the sort of festival we love.

The event is completely free, with events taking place in the Roman Fort, Castlefield Bowl and all around the Castlefield Basin.

You’ll find traditional street theatre, contemporary dance and puppetry (with a gruesome twist) alongside plenty of food and drink stalls, and even a Castlefield Gymkhana.

Festival-goers will get the chance to enjoy much-delayed work from Manchester favourites Avanti Display who will bring their classic show Full Circle. Mischievous, experimental and comic, Full Circle aims to blur the boundaries between the performer and the audience.

Castlefield Follies
Image courtesy of Avanti Display.

An action-packed and brilliantly bizarre line-up of street theatre

Kapow Dance Circus Theatre will present Mayfly, a powerful outdoor work that harnesses the power of water to tell a story of female empowerment and the ephemeral cycle of life. Meanwhile, Frolicked Outdoor Theatre will perform Seeing Red, a modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a mini mob of original puppet characters and a sprinkling of feminism.

Castlefield Follies
Image courtesy of Andy Delaney.

Using circus physicality, comedy and feats of strength, Strong Lady Productions will present Strong Enough, an inspiring show celebrating the ability to find courage when we least expect to. There will also be music from the Merlin Shepherd Klezmer Quartet, featuring “Britain’s finest klezmer Clarinetist”.

The action-packed and brilliantly bizarre line-up of street theatre is further bolstered by a giant wolf and an even bigger lobster, and Altered States’ The Invisible Man. Featured companies at the festival include Whalley Range All Stars, Artizani and Madame Zucchini & her amazing Vegetable Entertainment.

Enchanting and intriguing, Castlefield Follies offers a full weekend of free entertainment. Try something different this summer.

Where to go near Castlefield Follies at Castlefield Basin

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Indie Makers, located in Leads’ corn exchange, trades in art and gifts from independent makers across the UK.

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Plant Point is designed to help you bring the jungle into your urban or suburban space. The home of beautiful plants in Leeds.

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Eat Your Greens

Eat Your Greens is a vibrant, organic restaurant bringing a hint of European flair to the city’s plant-based dining scene.

Sela opened in 2004 with an idea to provide quality imported beers from around the world, fun cocktails to compliment the beer selections and a stage for the region’s finest and most talented musicians to play on.Over ten years later, we’re still all about the beer, cocktails, live music and pizza!We carry over a selection of over thirty different beers spanning the globe from Pickering with The Great Yorkshire Brewery’s Yorkshire Blackout, to New York with a selection from Brooklyn Brewery, and Belgium with longtime Sela favourite, Vedett.Our cocktails change regularly too. Our best-sellers are joined by fun, new offerings and our pizza menu is regarded as one of the best the city of Leeds has to offer.As for the live music, Sela has had not only the great and the good from the region. Local funksters, The New Mastersounds are regular visitors and we stage the amazing Mojah Reggae Band for their weekly Wednesday residency. Our other long running programming incl
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Sela Bar & Pizzeria

Sela Bar is a cosy Leeds basement spot with live music, great drinks, and a cool, laid-back, atmospheric vibe.

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Leeds Beckett Student Union

Leeds Beckett Student Union hosts big-name artists and supports students through events, live music, and a vibrant campus venue.

Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There's ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and entertainment facilities, making for a great evening out! Watch the latest film releases and enjoy the industry-leading Sony 4K Digital screens, boasting spectacular picture quality, along with enhanced audio quality courtesy of Dolby 'Profound Sound'. Stepped SuperVue seating means you will never miss a second of the action while VIP seating guarantees you an extra touch of luxury whenever you want to upgrade. Three of the nine screens showcase the newest 3D releases while Vue Classical brings the latest stage sensations to the big screen, and parents can save as they go with Family Tickets and Kids AM screenings offering great value for money.
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Vue Cinema – Leeds Kirkstall Road

Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There’s ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and

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Empire Café

Empire Café is located in Leeds’ ‘home of day dining’- Fish street!

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Phranakhon

Phranakhon Thai Tapas is a revolutionised Thai dining restaurant with a combination of European indulgence and authentic Thai tastes.

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Wen’s

Wen’s is a family owned Chinese restaurant specialising in authentic, home cooked cuisine.

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