Comedy

Following the success of its first ever Refract festival last summer - Waterside is today delighted to announce the exciting and eclectic line-up for Refract:18.  Promising ten jam-packed days of the very best in summer programming, Refract:18 is bursting with experiential performance, live music, comedy, theatre and family events inviting you to see things differently at Trafford’s vibrant arts venue.

Refract:18 runs from Thursday 19 to Saturday 28 July, bringing together a carefully curated programme, jilted from convention, for audiences of all ages.  Expect the unexpected, from miniature theatre in a magical canvas dome, a pop-up cabaret club, mini music festival for kids and arts and craft meets silent disco as well as music from cult British band Tankus the Henge, an immersive gig from multi-instrumentalist Minute Taker and Manchester’s finest Reggae pop outfit Jeramiah Ferrari.

Kicking off Refract:18 is award-winning PanGottic’s ‘catupultastic’ evening of clowning, contraptions, comedy and courage in Long Shot while later in the festival Cabaret From The Shadows sees the theatre transformed into a pop up cabaret club for one night only to present this hilarious, mischievous, sexy and unnerving show.

Music lovers are in for a treat with Manchester’s most exciting genre weaving group – Jeramiah Ferrari. The North West based band has forged a superb reputation for live sets, fusing styles of reggae, rock, ska and pop to make a truly memorable and essential new sound. Singer-songwriter and multi- instrumentalist Minute Taker (Ben McGarvey) also makes his Refract debut with his immersive show. Inspired by imaginative artists such as Kate Bush, David Bowie, Tori Amos and Bjork, McGarvey creates haunting piano songs with multi-layered ethereal vocals, distorted electronic beats and otherworldly synthscapes. Rock, Funk, blues, ska, roots and gypsy rhythms unite on stage with Tankus the Henge.  Combining wild showmanship, stories of wonder and musical dexterity, this live musical experience is something to behold.

Laughs a plenty are also on offer at this year’s Refract:18 with all tastes catered for. Queer cabaret mayhem is guaranteed with Mother’s Ruin and we will see comedy mixed with musical madness in Showstopper!  – The Improvised Musical, a brand new musical created from scratch and performed live from audience suggestions.

Families with kids big and small can enjoy a bumper programme of theatre, crafts, puppetry, music and more, including Our Kids Social’s Make, Do & Bop who will bring us silent disco fun to let imaginations run wild!

For arty adults with a penchant for doodling, grab a pen, or a brush and get your creative juices flowing in Overdrawn , a free and one-off interactive art event.  Lovers of art can also experience re:cast - a series of art installations around Waterside’s spaces during the festival.

Darren Adams, Producer of Refract and Manager of Waterside comments: “We are absolutely thrilled to present our second Refract festival bringing more artists and performers to our venue, presenting a bold and ambitious programme. Our inaugural festival last year drew in over 20% of new audiences and welcomed many of our loyal visitors to experience unexpected and innovative work. Building on last year’s success we’re delighted with the quality and diversity of the Refract:18 line-up.”

Waterside are offering a lucky few the chance to join the Refraction Club to enjoy discounted tickets, special offers on drinks and other special events.  More information at refract.org.uk.

Tickets go on sale from today, Thursday 5 April 2018.

 

Thursday 19 July  –  Saturday 28 July

Ten days of experiential performance, music and events that challenge you to see things differently.

 DAY ONE

 PanGottic presents

LONG SHOT

Thu 19 July 19:00

£10 / £8

Join us for a catapultastic evening of clowning, contraptions, comedy and courage, as one man’s belief in the near impossible is put to the test. Part non-verbal circus performance, part behind the scenes ‘making of’, Long Shotwill have you on the edge of your seat. Or hiding behind it. Either way, it’s going to be a blast.

Age 7+ | 55 mins

DAY TWO

MESSY PLAY

Fri 20 July

11:00 – 12:00 for toddlers; 1.30-2.30 for babies 3 months +

£5 / £4 Family Club members

Art-based messy play babies and toddlers.

Age 3 months – 3 yrs

MOTHER’S RUIN

Fri 20 July 20:00

£12 (with gin & tonic) / £10 (ticket only)

Outrageous and fiercely entertaining night of cabaret mayhem. A top bill of subversive Queer artists present everything from comedy, music, drag and poetry to the unpredictable!

Age 16+

In the Chambers

TANKUS THE HENGE

Fri 20 July 20:00 doors

£12 adv / £10 OTD

Combining wild showmanship and musical dexterity their sound incorporates rock, funk, blues, ska, roots and gypsy rhythms and their songs tell stories of wonder and woe.

A standing event in the Robert Bolt Theatre

DAY THREE

REFRACT ART CLUB

Sat 21 July 10:00 – 12:00

£2.50 / £1 Family Club members

Have fun with optical illusions. Cut out and colour a collection of optical illusions and create your own, on paper.

Age 4+

Knaive Theatre presents

WAR WITH THE NEWTS (PREVIEW)

Sat 21 Jul – Sun 22 July 18:30

£12 / £10

Produced in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre, Square Chapel Arts Centre & Waterside.

Based on an original 1930s novel, set in the hull of a fishing vessel, the plot follows the unfurling of events after the discovery of an intelligent race of newts, who are shipped around the globe as cheap substitutes for human labour.

This piece is site-specific - the venue will be announced ahead of the show

MINUTE TAKER

Sat 21 July 20:00

£10

Alternative singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ben McGarvey creates haunting piano songs with multi-layered ethereal vocals, distorted electronic beats and otherworldly synthscapes in an immersive show.

In the Chambers

CABARET FROM THE SHADOWS

Sat 21 July 21:00

£12

Political, comic, sexy and strange, Cabaret From The Shadowsis a kaleidoscope of dark comedy, satire and live music, pulling you through a crazy hall of mirrors. Tonight no subject is taboo.

Age 16+ | 60 mins

Cabaret in the Robert Bolt Theatre

DAY FOUR

Artful Playground presents

MINIFEST

Sun 22 July 13:00 & 14:30

Free event

Minifest will have family members of all ages up on their feet having a lovely, jolly, musical party together! With original songs written especially to stimulate young imaginations and encourage physical activity, played by the brilliant Artful Playground Band, you are treated to a wide variety of musical styles ranging from Rock and Roll, to Gypsy Jazz, to Rap! So bring your Mini ones and get some festival vibes – no wellies required! – and we’ll do the steam train conga ‘till we drop!

On the Plaza

Mumblecrust Theatre presents

THE TALE OF THE COCKATRICE

Sun 22 July 13:30 & 15:30

£9 | £7

“Deep in the vaults of an ancient priory, a hideous creature awakens. The deadly Cockatrice is born”. Breath-taking puppetry and spine-tingling live music in this dark and winding fable for monster-lovers young and old.

Age 5 – 12 years (and upwards) | 60 mins

In the Chambers

DAY FIVE

Tmesis Theatre presents

HAPPY HOUR

Mon 23 July 19:30

£14 | £12

The workers on Level 3 are racing against the clock to reach their quota of Smiley Faces, but are they really happy enough? A poignant, fast paced, comedy exploring our 21st century obsession with happiness and success. Can we learn to be happy?  The ‘happiness industry’ would have us think so...

Age 13+ | 70 mins

In the Robert Bolt Theatre

DAY SIX

Superfanpresents

STUNTMAN

Tue 24 July 20:00

£14 / £12

A new performance about movie violence and masculinity. It is an intensely physical, funny, and tender duet by two men who wrestle with their relationship to violence – both onscreen and off. Stories of real-life experiences of violence are interwoven with exaggerated, high-octane stunt fights, movement, and (fake) blood.

Age 14+ | 55 mins

In the Chambers

DAY SEVEN

Mimika Theatre presents

SMALL WORLDS

Wed 25 July 10:15, 11:45, 13:15, 14:45

£7 / £6

Extraordinary theatre inside a magical canvas dome. Meet five characters - a bug, a goose, a fox cub, a cat and a six year old girl - and watch their wordless stories unfold. Unforgettable visual theatre, using puppetry, miniature landscapes and original animated film and music.

Age 5 – 11 | 60 mins

DAY EIGHT

OVERDRAWN

Thu 26 Jul 19:00 – late

Free

An interactive art event with established artists, illustrators and designers from Manchester.  Expect pound portraits, calligraphy, local artists drawing live, humorous prompts and much more! Grab a pen…we’re getting creative together!

In the Chambers

SHOWSTOPPER – THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL!

Thu 26 July 19:30

£18 / £15

Direct from the West End, a brand new musical comedy is created from scratch at each performance as audience suggestions are transformed on the spot into all-singing, all-dancing productions with hilarious results.

Age 12+ | 90 minutes plus interval

In The Robert Bolt Theatre

DAY NINE

MAKE, DO & BOP

From Our Kids Social

Fri 27 July 10:30 & 13:30

£6

A two channel silent disco will have all your favourite summer time hits to set the mood with all the latest kids’ pop for them to bop along to.  Plus there is creative arts and crafts to whisk your imaginations away to the sea-side, let your family innovation flow and your community relationships grow!

All Ages | Each session lasts 90 mins

Standing event in the Robert Bolt Theatre

Gag Reflex Management presents

ROB KEMP: THE ELVIS DEAD

Fri 27 July 20:00

£12

The multi-award-winning EdFringe cult hit is back. Rev up the Delta and come on a trip to a cabin in Tennessee, to witness the classic horror movie Evil Dead 2 reinterpreted through the songs of Elvis Presley.

Age 14+ | 60 mins

In the Chambers

JERAMIAH FERRARI

Fri 27 July Doors 20:00

£10 adv / £12 OTD

‘A unique force and a live sensation that never disappoints’ The Mancunion

Manchester’s most exciting genre weaving group!  North West based Jeramiah and have forged a superb reputation for live sets, fusing styles of reggae, rock, ska and Pop to make a truly memorable and essential new sound.

Jeramiah grew up on a diet of Bob Marley, The Police and Michael Jackson. Expect a great calypso-ska style dancing party at any Jeramiah Ferrari Show!

Standing event in the Robert Bolt Theatre

DAY TEN

Tessa Bide presents

PERFECT

Sat 28 July 11:30 & 14:30

£9 | £7

A young boy waits for the birth of his new baby sister... He can’t wait to run and jump with a new playmate. The touching story of a boy meeting his disabled sister for the first time, with puppetry, live music, animation and physical theatre from the award-winning Tessa Bide.

Age 5 – 9 | 50 mins

In the Chambers

THROUGHOUT REFRACT

Until Sat 18 August

RE:CAST

A series of art installations have been specially commissioned for Refract:18. Katie Nelson’s and Grace Igoe‘s exhibition showcases new and recent ceramic work posing questions on social and political issues in the Lauriston Gallery, while other sound and digital art commissions will be installed in around different spaces at Waterside from 19 July.  The call out for these commissions opens on Thursday 5 April.

Lauriston Gallery and other spaces at Waterside

Waterside

Waterside is a thriving and vibrant destination for performance, culture and events in the heart of Sale in Trafford, Greater Manchester.

Waterside opened in 2004 and has built a strong reputation for delivering high quality and engaging work, ranging from family theatre, interactive arts activity, performance, live music and regular comedy as well as high profile visual arts exhibitions.

The space houses a main auditorium (the Robert Bolt Theatre), a versatile conference and studio performance space (the Chambers), three exhibition spaces and a number of studios, meeting and workshop spaces, all used by a variety of different groups.

The Lauriston Gallery (our main exhibition space) is open to the public six days a week and is free to visit.

The venue is funded by Trafford Council and supported by Arts Council England, Manchester Airport, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Lauriston School Trust.