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Refract 25 at Waterside

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Refract Festival 2025

Waterside, Manchester
22-27 July 2025

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

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Hikapee's Everywhere's a Beach. Image courtesy of Matthew Kaltenborn.
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With the arrival of the summer festival season, award-winning venue Waterside Arts bring us the 2025 edition of Refract Festival. Taking place over six days this July, Refract 25 is a unique and eclectic arts festival packed with a handpicked programme of experiential theatre, dance, live music and family activities.

The festival is based in Sale with all of the events taking place inside and outside of Trafford’s canalside creative hub, Waterside. Bringing together audiences of all ages, Refract 25 has been carefully curated by Waterside and aims to offer audiences innovative new ways to experience arts, music and performance.

Refract Festival 2025 at Waterside
Ben Hart. Image courtesy of Matt Crockett.

Headlining this year’s festival is world-famous mime-comic TAPE FACE (23 & 24 July), whose Edinburgh-bound solo show blends silent stand-up, physical comedy and absurdist charm. Magician Ben Hart also returns with his “most astonishing and impossible” work yet – a dazzling new illusion show previewing before its Edinburgh run. Elsewhere, Bay Bryan brings theatrical storytelling and folk-infused music to the Cabaret Club (25 July).

Refract 2025 at Waterside
HUG by Levantes Dance Theatre. Image courtesy of Roswitha+Chesher.

Outdoors, the free al fresco programme transforms Waterside Plaza into a carnival of creativity. Catch Levantes Dance’s circus show HUG and Stoptoi’s musical juggling performance, Pocket Loop  (24 – 25 July), followed by Hikapee Theatre’s aerial parasol show Everywhere’s a Beach (25 – 26 July). Autin Dance’s Out of the Deep Blue (26 – 27 July) tackles climate change through physical theatre and puppetry, while Batala Manchester (26 July) bring thunderous Brazilian beats to the plaza. Plus, Linden Dance present a striking outdoor dance piece performed in and around a giant birdcage (27 July).

Refract 2025 at Waterside
Arun Ghosh launches Refract 25. Image courtesy of Dawn Kilner.

There’s live music throughout the festival too: clarinettist Arun Ghosh and band launch the festival, The Thingumajigs deliver a joyful family sing-along (26 July), and Global Grooves close out the carnival weekend with big, feel-good rhythms (27 July). The final note comes courtesy of Rodina (Aoife Hearty) with a soulful set on the Refract Bandstand.

Check out the full listings and book early – this one’s always a summer highlight.

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Where to go near Refract 25 at Waterside

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Bean and Brush Art Café

Bean & Brush is a family art café in Sale which serves simple, tasty food with ingredients sourced from local suppliers. The bonus for parents is the arts and crafts studio which keeps the kids busy being creative while they can join in or relax with a coffee.

Manchester
Park
Grosvenor Square

Grosvenor Square is one of the few open spaces along Oxford Road Manchester; on sunny days, students from the nearby Manchester School of Art come out to bask.

Manchester
Park
Walkden Gardens

Walkden Gardens in the Manchester suburbs has all the makings of a fairy tale garden. As a venue, it’s hard to imagine a more magical gateway, a wonderful escape only a short(ish) stroll from the Brooklands Metrolink stop..

Sale
Restaurant
Meze & More

An intimate supper club in Sale, South Manchester, with a specialist focus on Middle Eastern and Greek cuisine.

shop
Stretford
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Stretford Mall

Stretford Mall has undergone a major transformation, turning a 60s shopping centre into a vibrant, community-led town centre. Led by Trafford Council and Bruntwood Works.

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Manchester
Park
Longford Park

Longford Park in Stretford was created in the grounds of Longford Hall, the grand entrance steps of which remain.

Manchester
Park
Wythenshawe Park

With a 17th Century hall set in 109 acres of open parkland, Wythenshawe Park makes a super day out for all ages. Explore the historic woodlands, lush grasslands and meadows; take a stroll around the many themed gardens and check out the sports and leisure facilities on offer.

Beech Road, Chorlton
Bar or Pub
97 Chorlton

97 is a smart new cocktail bar from the team behind Tariff & Dale and The Lead Station, based on Beech Road in Chorlton.

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