Last Friday saw the vibrant and exciting launch of the Royal Exchange’s touring theatre (the Den) Festival and a buzzing Street Fest in the Stalybridge sunshine.

The packed event brought lots of fun and entertainment for the opening weekend with everything from circus skills, interactive pub quiz-cum-theatre, music, dancing and more. All events are free or pay what you can and open to the public, with a mix of drop-in and scheduled sessions.

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The Den fun is set to continue over the next three weekends. This Saturday, 17 May begins with a family morning from 10:30am to 12:30pm, offering a calm and creative start to the day. Families are invited to join Phoebe Foxtrot for a joyful session of self-celebration and clay making. Children and their grown-ups can craft their own clay pots and enjoy storytelling, all themed around embracing what makes us unique and wonderful.

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Later in the day, Grooves in the Den (12–2pm) brings the energy with an Afro-Brazilian drumming workshop led by Global Grooves, open to all abilities (ages 11+). The powerful community play No Such Thing as Ordinary (2–3pm & 7–8pm) shares real stories from Tameside residents.

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Creative minds can also explore Creatives in the Den (1–7pm), a drop-in day of talks, workshops, and advice sessions for artists of all backgrounds. The evening continues with an Artist Mixer (6–7pm), followed by Bridge Fest in the Den (7–9pm), showcasing live music from local talent.

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Sunday 18 May offers a more energetic Family Morning (10:30am–12:30pm), followed by Armchair Adventures: A Shakespeare Adventure, an interactive storytelling session filled with drama games and historical fun. Audiences can also enjoy Fresh Voices, a showcase of new writing from Guide Bridge Theatre.

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In the afternoon, everyone can join a Performance Workshop (Age 11+) with Global Grooves, preparing for a final festival performance. Older adults are invited to explore theatre in the Elders Company Workshop (4–5:30pm, Age 60+), a welcoming introduction to drama and performance.

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The following weekend offers more delights with Den Building on Saturday 24 May more infectious energy of Grooves in the Den, with more Afro-Brazilian drumming workshops led by Global Grooves. Theer’s also a session where budding musicians can also explore a variety of instruments at the Instrument Petting Zoo hosted by The Bridgewater Hall.

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The weekend features Best Mates, Top Bins & Venga Venga a joyful collection of short plays written by Tameside primary school pupils and local writers, brought to life by a professional cast.

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On Sunday 25 May, families can enjoy Story Chest Adventures (10:30am–12:30pm), perfect for children aged 5–11. Older participants can dive into the world of theatre with Behind the Seams a costume design workshop, and Exploring Shakespeare’s Text, led by HER Productions.

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The evening continues with Shakin’ up Shakespeare! a lively youth performance blending scenes from The Tempest, Macbeth, and Twelfth Night. The weekend concludes with HER Productions’ bold and contemporary take on The Taming of the “Shrew” (7:30pm, age 14+).

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Councillor Leanne Feeley, Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, Tameside Council: "Last weekend it was amazing to see everyone come out for Street Fest and the Den Launch. It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying themselves. The Den is such a fantastic cultural festival and there lots in the programme to choose from and so much to take part in. Don’t miss out get yourself down to Stalybridge Civic Hall and join in the fun!”

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The Den Festival aims to bring people together through creativity, storytelling, and shared experiences.

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Find out more at https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/welcome-to-the-den-in-tameside-2025/

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