We are really proud of the collaboration we have had with theatre-makers, which may be through our theatre commissions programme, or just some seed funding and/or space to develop and make new work.

Commissioned Work

BI-TOPIA

Premiered 17 May 2023

  • Written & Performed by: Sam Danson
  • Directed by: Rikki Beadle-Blaire MBE
  • Produced by: Sam Danson in association with Emmerson & Ward Productions
  • Original commission by: Waterside Arts & Pride in Trafford
  • Production partners: Manchester Pride’s Superbia Fund, Emmerson & Ward Productions, SICK! Festival, Contact, Blackpool Grand

A MOMENT: The Film

Premiered 25 September 2021 – United We Stream

  • Created by Hawk Dance Theatre
  • A Film by Jason Lock
  • Choreography by Josh Hawkins
  • Performed by Jack Hilton & Josh Wild
  • Original Music by Lee Allen
  • Film Produced by Darren Adams
  • Original commission by: Waterside Arts & Pride in Trafford
  • Production Partners: Imperial War Museum North, Brewery Arts Centre, Northern School of Contemporary Dance

A PERFECT WORLD: Dunham Massey

Premiered 25 September 2021 – United We Stream

  • Written and performed by Matthew Bellwood
  • Directed by Jason Lock
  • Edited by Phil Peden
  • Film Produced by Darren Adams
  • Production Partners: The National Trust / Dunham Massey

WOLF HOURS: Minute Taker

Premiered 18 July 2019

  • Written and performed by Ben McGarvey (Minute Taker)
  • Originally commissioned by Waterside Arts & Refract Festival
  • Production partners: Superbia by Manchester Pride, Arts Council England, Waterside Arts, Refract Festival

FIRST TIME

Premiered 28 November 2018

  • Written and performed by Nathaniel Hall
  • Directed by Chris Hoyle
  • Design by Irene Jade
  • Produced by Dibby Theatre
  • Originally commissioned by Waterside Arts & Creative Industries Trafford
  • Production partners: Arts Council England, Waterside Arts, Creative Industries Trafford and George House Trust

Co-Commissioned Work

GM LGBTQ+ ARTS & CULTURE NETWORK: Pride Stages Bursaries

2021

  • Oh What A Lovely Lockdown by Cheddar Gorgeous
  • Haus of Myztique by Jason Andrew Guest

GM LGBTQ+ ARTS & CULTURE NETWORK: Create Bursaries

2020

  • As British as a Watermelon By Mandla Rae
  • LOB by Roma Havers
  • Work-in-Progress by Jamaal Monarch

WAR WITH THE NEWTS

Previewed 21 July 2018

  • By Knaive Theatre
  • Originally written by Karel Capek adapted by Tyrell Jones
  • Directed by Tyrell Jones
  • Designed by Hannah Sibai
  • Commissioned by Royal Exchange, Square Chapel and Waterside Arts
  • Supported by Arts Council England, Refract Festival

AWAKENING

Premiered 20 July 2018

  • By Chad Taylor
  • Commissioned by Dance Manchester, STUN and Waterside Arts
  • Supported by Arts Council England and Refract Festival

GETTING FROM A TO B

Premiered 20 July 2018

  • By Hawk Dance Theatre
  • Choreography by Josh Hawkins
  • Commissioned by Dance Manchester, STUN and Waterside Arts
  • Supported by Arts Council England and Refract Festival

SWEAR SCHOOL

Premiered 20 October 2016

  • Written and performed by Thick Richard
  • Originally Commissioned by Creative Industries Trafford

THE HOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE

Premiered 27 July 2016

  • By Four Shadows Theatre
  • Originally Commissioned by Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford

THE BEAUTIFUL WARMTH

Premiered 20 October 2014

  • Presented by Check Shirt Theatre Company
  • Written by Adam Gilmour
  • Directed by Sean Gregory
  • Originally Commissioned by Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford

THE MAN WHO WOKE UP DEAD

Premiered 27 June 2013

  • Presented by Square Peg
  • By Michael White and Katie Robinson
  • Originally commissioned by Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford
  • Supported by Arts Council England

WHITE NIGHT

Premiered 14 May 2014

  • Presented by Nick Birchill
  • Directed by Nick Birchill
  • Originally commissioned by Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford
  • Supported by Arts Council England

Supported Development Work

MILLENIAL PINK

Public sharing 16 February 2021

  • Presented by Girl Gang
  • Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Megan Griffiths
  • Co-produced by HER Productions / Hannah Ellis Ryan
  • Design by Sascha Gilmore

PETRICHOR

  • Devised by ThickSkin

HEDDA

  • Created by Jen Hayes
  • Performed by David Hoyle

TOUCHING MOMENTS

  • Written and performed by Victoria Robinson

SENTINEL

  • Created by Richard Evans
    Production Partners: Manchester Science Festival. Funded by Arts Council England

WHEN I HEAR MUSIC

  • By Chad Taylor

BOX

  • By Hawk Dance Theatre

STAYING IN

Premiered on 18 November 2019

  • Written and performed by Mark Croasdale

CHIT CHAT CHALK SHOW

  • Presented by The Knotted Project and Hawk Dance Theatre

Making Waves Bursaries

BEACH BODY READY

By the Roaring Girls

CATCHING COMETS

Ransack Theatre

FULFILMENT

SharkLegs

FIRST TIME

Nathaniel Hall & Dibby Theatre