There’s very few people I’ve ever met who haven’t enjoyed a visit to Sale. Not only is there an abundance of convertible Mini’s but there is the lovely Water Park which is great for a stroll with a pedigree dog, topped off with a visit to TGI Friday’s for your birthday.
In addition to all this though is the fantastic Waterside Arts Centre which, all joking aside, continues to provide a fantastic calendar of arts, music and theatre for all the family.
So as the sun retreats back towards the Southern Hemisphere and leaves us alone until around May 2018, Waterside have announced their Autumn line-up featuring sensational music, classic and contemporary theatre, big names in comedy, fabulous family theatre and much, much more. Here’s a selection of just some of the things planned:
No Petticoats Here
Thursday 14th September
Here we have stories of First World War women told through Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Louise Jordan, telling the stories of inspirational women who challenged expectations during The Great War. There will be stories ranging from the woman who dressed as a soldier on the Western Front to the women football players banned by the FA, as well as the ambulance drivers running the gauntlet of enemy fire in Flanders and the so-called ‘surplus million’ single women.
A Night of Dirty Dancing
Thursday 21st September
It’s been 30 years since Patrick Swayze hobbled into the Summer of ’63 and started moving his hips like Tom Jones with a hoola hoop and this production looks set to celebrate the hit movie in style. Few films have captured the hearts of a generation like Dirty Dancing so relive the passion, the romance & joy of the cult classic and celebrate the music of one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time.
Featuring all your favourite songs such as She’s Like The Wind, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Hey Baby, Wipe-out, Hungry Eyes. And of course, the Oscar Winning (I’ve Had) The Time of my Life.
Joe Stilgoe: Songs on Film
Friday 6th October
Another film one here and softer selling-out at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the internationally acclaimed singer, pianist and entertainer Joe Stilgoe has decided to take his smash hit show on tour. Songs on Film pays tribute to much-loved movies as self-confessed film buff Joe raids his own collection and adds his own original orchestrations to some of the most memorable moments in cinematic history. If it was my collection it would just be songs about Critters 4.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
Thursday 12th & Friday 13th October
The Waterside will be hosting this thrilling adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s dark psychological fantasy, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Immersing you in the myth and mystery of 19th century London’s fog-bound streets where love, betrayal and murder lurk at every chilling twist and turn. Gripping, stylish and thought-provoking, this is unmissable theatre.
Soul Sessions with Apphia Campbell
Sunday 15th October
Direct from sell-out performances all around the world, Apphia Campbell returns to the Waterside with the companion piece to her hit show ‘Black Is the Colour of My Voice’. In this Soul Sessions cabaret, Apphia celebrates the music of Nina Simone’s with live piano accompaniment.
‘Campbell may wear Simone’s trademark head wrap but her performance goes beyond impersonation.’ The Times
Sentinel: A Sound & Light Performance
Thursday 19th October
Written & performed by Richard Evans (formerly a keyboardist with James), Sentinel is a soundtrack of analogue synths, electronic rhythms and ethereal vocals combined with data visualisation, video projection and lasers for a performance inspired by themes of climate change and migration.
Paul Foot: ‘Tis A Pity She’s A Piglet
Friday 27th October
This is straight from the Waterside brochure and the sentence completely baffles me: “In Paul’s first new show in two years, Professor Ketchup and his camembert piglet join forces as he tackles the big issues such as terrorism, Ant ‘n Dec, immigration, X-Factor and breakfast.” Whoever Professor Ketchup is and whatever a camembert piglet is I’m sure it will be a bit of a giggle looking both a Paul Foot’s face, and his previous work.
Michelle McManus: Reloaded
Friday 10th November
Titled after the unwelcome sequel to The Matrix, I wondered whether the public will find X-Factor winner Michelle McManus a welcome addition to the Autumn line-up at Waterside. Well consider me misinformed because it seems that the singer, presenter and columnist has sold out Edinburgh Fringe and has been taking her unique mixture of song and comedy all over the country, featuring stories from her life over the past twelve years seen through the eyes of her delusional alter ego who truly believes she is an international mega star. Sounds decent to be fair.
A Christmas Carol
Tuesday 21st November
The Muppets did it. The Simpsons did it. Bill Murray in the 80’s did it. My school in 1993 did it. Everyone knows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his fateful Christmas Eve featuring the ghosts of the past, present and the future so there is no point in me explaining it here. What you can expect though it a lavish theatre production complete with beautiful period costume, song, dance and a magnificent musical score.
Chopping Chillies
Friday 24th November
A mystical tale of love, loss & soul food. A hit in Edinburgh, Chopping Chillies: From Kerala to Camden, is an epic, mystical tale of love, loss and soul-food. A cobbler and a cook concoct a delicious transcontinental enchantment as tragedy and chance entwine. Katie dreams of curries and chapattis; Ajna, of holy souls and reincarnation… A delightful, poetic, magical yarn that conjoins the spirit of India with the heart of London.
Raymond Brigg’s The Bear
Tuesday 5th December to Saturday 6th January 2018
Ever wondered what it would be like to sit on a polar bear’s lap? Or ride on its back? Have you ever tried to give a polar bear a bath, or clear up its poo? One night when she’s fast asleep, Tilly is visited by an enormous bear. It has a big black tongue and a yawn as big as your head. But Tilly’s not scared.
Featuring inventive design, original music, and magical puppetry, the story of a little girl who befriends a mischievous polar bear, this playful, funny and heart-warming tale is one of imagination and growing up.
For more information and to book tickets, visit the Sale Waterside website: https://watersideartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/
Waterside Arts Centre, 1 Waterside, Sale M33 7ZF
0161 912 5616
