Castlefield Follies at Castlefield Basin

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Visit now

Castlefield Follies

30-31 July 2022

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

Castlefield Follies
Image courtesy of Joe Armitage.
Book now

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

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
Leeds
Restaurant
Sela Bar & Pizzeria

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

Leeds Beckett SU
Leeds
Restaurant
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.
Leeds
Cinema
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

Restaurant 2
Leeds
Café or Coffee Shop
Empire Café

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

Restaurant
Leeds
Restaurant
Phranakhon

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

Restaurant
Leeds
Restaurant
Wen’s

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

Stevenson Square
Manchester
Stevenson Square

Stevenson Square, the central hub of bars and cafes in Northern Quarter. Home to some of the best bars in the city.

CUPRA City Garage DJ Decks
City Centre
Café or Coffee Shop
CUPRA City Garage

Already based in Paris, Mexico City, Sydney and Vienna, CUPRA’s international expansion is driven by culture as much as cars, and Manchester’s creative energy has clearly caught their attention.

Ancoats
Restaurant
Bruco

Bruco is a new restaurant in Ancoats, serving up stylish Italian small plates.

Samsi
Manchester
Restaurant
Samsi

Long-standing Japanese restaurant on Whitworth Street in Manchester with a pleasingly affordable menu.

The Pavilion Gardens, which also houses the Pavilion Arts Centre, is a beautiful, historic venue dating back to 1871 which superbly shows off the Victorian splendour of Buxton. Set within twenty three acres of magnificent, landscaped gardens and play areas, the venue provides the perfect setting for fun and relaxing family days out, with great food and drink, shopping and over 100 events and festivals throughout the year.
Buxton
Cinema
Pavilion Arts Centre

A historic gem in Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens, Pavilion Arts Centre houses an intimate 360-seat theatre and cinema.

Leeds
Gallery
The Sculpture Gallery

The Sculpture Gallery is an outstanding new gallery, of pure sculpture, showcasing the work, not only of the six owners but guests also.

What's on: Theatre

Culture Guides

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

European Poetry Festival European Camarade
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.