The Hidden Garden at Waterside Arts

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

Book now

The Hidden Garden

Waterside, Manchester
28-29 September 2024
Date
Time
Session Features
28 Sep 2024
2:30 pm-3:30 pm
29 Sep 2024
11:30 am-12:30 pm
29 Sep 2024
2:30 pm-3:30 pm

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

The Hidden Garden at Waterside Arts drawing of child and man gardening
Theatre Co Blah Blah Blah
Book now

Step inside The Hidden Garden at Waterside Arts on 28-29 September and enjoy a magical tale of a blossoming and unlikely friendship, in a heartwarming production for families with youngsters aged 5 and up.

The production is by Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah, who collaborate with artists, schools, families, and arts organisations to share and explore stories that matter to children and young people. The Hidden Garden just does this, as urban living and nature combine based on a garden created on waste land.

Tucked away within the towering concrete high-rises and redbrick buildings of the city lies a beautiful, unexpected oasis.  This hidden garden is a is bursting with colour, where flowers, fruits, and vegetables can be found in every corner—climbing up walls, twisting around handrails, and growing in the most unusual places.

A curious child stumbles upon this secret garden and meets the man who has transformed it into his own little paradise, to bring brightness to the grey city and provide food for those in need.

It’s a story that will inspire young people and adults too, but is also just a great opportunity to laugh, imagine, and be immersed in fantastic storytelling and a budding friendship, as this unlikely pair take you on a special adventure in the most beautiful, urban garden.

The Hidden Garden at Waterside Arts is recommended for children age 5+ and their grown ups.

Please note, this production is also at Z-arts Manchester on 21-22 September.

What's on at Waterside

Arun Ghosh launches Refract 25. Image courtesy of Dawn Kilner.
MusicManchester
Live Music at Refract 2025

Refract returns to Waterside this July with a genre-spanning music programme that’s as playful and unpredictable as the festival itself – and much of it is completely free.

From £0.00

Where to go near The Hidden Garden at Waterside Arts

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
Shopping Centre
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.

longford park ben williams
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.

What's on: Families

Haphazard 2025 at Z-arts
FamiliesManchester
Haphazard 2025 at Z-arts

A free day of bizarre behaviour and exciting live performance at Z-arts. Expect the unexpected. Playful, unpredictable, and not easily forgotten.

Free entry
Topsy Turvy
Families
Topsy Turvy 25

Theatre Porto’s joyful outdoor celebration returns to Whitby Park this summer with another wonderfully topsy-turvy weekend of art, performance and playful surprises. Taking over the park from 7–10 August, Topsy

From £5.50

Culture Guides

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.

Blondshell by Hannah Bon.
Music in the North

From Lyra Pramuk’s sacred synths to the sugar rush of YAANG, our latest music picks bring ritual, rebellion and ridiculous levels of fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Monumental sculptures, charcoal confessions and a show of two paintings only - all this and more in this month's exhibition picks.

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.