Waterside has finally reopened its doors after 14 months and is delighted to offer a fantastic mix of family theatre and outdoor entertainment for big and little ones this summer.
Highlights include fantastic theatre from Half Moon Theatre who bring The House That Jackson Built to Waterside. Celebrating books and the joy of reading, this is Justin Coe’s brand new spoken word show for children, and is a magical spoken word theatre show about the power of imagination, family, memory – and recycling!
The power of stories is also the theme for When Another Dragon Roars from Altered Scale Theatre. It’s a story of a mum and boy learning emotional resilience and how stories help us figure out a complicated world. Told with charm and humour and with the companies’ unique visual storytelling style, it is a thoughtful and heart-warming show for children and adults alike.
The Moomins are coming to Waterside this summer! Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley offers magical puppetry, an ingenious pop-up book set, original music and interactive play, along with snow, surprises and plenty of Moomin mischief!
Paper Aeroplane, a Lot of Odds Theatre production from Half Moon, has been developed with children who have shared their experiences of losing loved ones, and sensitively explores loss and bereavement, the challenges we face when trying to move on, and how we can help one another along the way.
Waterside stalwart and firm family favourite, ComedySportz return with their all ages, all action, all improvised competitive comedy show to keep big and little kids entertained with a show for Tots and a later show for over 7s.
Waterside’s vibrant arts festival Refract, running from 22 – 31 July, also offers plenty to animate a family summer holiday at home. Free, outdoor drop-in events on Waterside Plaza include D.O.C (Doctor On Call) – a talking Ambulance with a wonky algorithm and a woefully haphazard Doctor; The Weather Machine -a playful outdoor work where two witty characters make magic out of dance and weather; and Grow- a lively, energetic and vibrant dance theatre duet by Kapow.
Indoor shows for families during Refract include The Noise Next Door’s Run Wild! – where audiences take control in the comedy show where anything can happen; an animated and live-action magical, musical adventure in Groove into the Woods and We All Wobble – a bold and colourful performance with two lovable human-sized clown weebles who never topple!
This Autumn Waterside’s Family Club will be available to new members again. From August, families will be able to join the membership scheme to receive discounted tickets and take part in other exclusive events.
Waterside continues to prioritise the safety of audiences, artists, visiting companies and staff with robust Covid prevention measures in place. In keeping with current Government guidelines, these measures will remain in place at least until 21 June.
See full summer season for families at watersidearts.org/families
