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Pride in Trafford 2025

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Pride in Trafford
Image courtesy of Dawn Kilner.

Pride in Trafford at Waterside, Manchester 13 — 18 May 2025 Tickets from £0.00 — Book now

Exploring and celebrating LGBTQ+ arts, we’re thrilled that Pride in Trafford is back for 2025. Packed with comedy, storytelling and performance alongside family activities and networking events – the festival is now in its seventh year and brings an exciting blend of performers and artists to the borough of Trafford.

Running for six days this May and hosted by our friends at Waterside, this year’s festival spills beyond Sale to include events in Altrincham. Driven by community engagement and championing emerging Queer talent, we love that this year’s festival is brighter and bolder than ever – bringing an eclectic mix of familiar events and some brilliant new additions.

I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar
I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar. Image courtesy of Lucy Ridges.

Performance highlights include Holly Redford-Jones’ I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar (16 & 17 May), a witty, heartfelt celebration of sapphic nightlife past and present, and BUFF (15 May), a solo show tackling body image, online dating, and the search for self-worth with honesty and humour.

Don’t miss the wonderfully absurd The Wheel of Nouns (14 May) – Hook’s cabaret-style game show exploring gender and queerness with puns, prizes, and playful chaos. Equally unmissable is A Northern Tr*anny Hootenanny (13-17 May), a genre-smashing parody musical from trans artist Hunter King, filled with twisted fairytales, Disney bangers, and cowboy hats.

A Northern Tr*nny Hootenanny
A Northern Tr*nny Hootenanny. Image courtesy of Hunter King.

The festival also features A [Cupboard] Full of Tomboys (16 May), a brand-new solo show from performance poet and writer Jay Farley – blending storytelling, comedy and verse in a heartfelt look at gender, growing up, and finding pride in the spaces in-between.

And on Saturday, the Family Block Party takes over Waterside Plaza (17 May). Expect an afternoon of free, outdoor fun with live music, circus performers, arts and crafts, and a feel-good BIG FATT Dance Party guaranteed to get the whole family moving.

From punchy performances and artistic showcases to moments of reflection and joy, Pride in Trafford offers a welcoming and dynamic space. Whether you’re here to be moved, entertained, or inspired, there’s something for everyone.

Pride in Trafford at Waterside, Manchester 13 — 18 May 2025 Tickets from £0.00 Book now

Part of this event

BUFF at Waterside
TheatreManchester
BUFF at Waterside

A funny, moving solo play about body image, dating apps, and the messy road to self-acceptance, happening as part of Pride in Trafford.

from £13.00

What's on at Waterside

BUFF at Waterside
TheatreManchester
BUFF at Waterside

A funny, moving solo play about body image, dating apps, and the messy road to self-acceptance, happening as part of Pride in Trafford.

from £13.00

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