NEWS: Sale's Waterside Theatre wins 'Venue Of The Year'

Waterside Arts, Trafford’s destination for performance, culture and events has been named Venue of the Year at the annual Northern Soul Awards.

Beating off stiff competition from across the North of England, the venue reaffirmed its place in the thriving Northern arts scene.

The venue was also shortlisted for Exhibition of the Year for Cosgrove Hall Films Archive and Theatre Production of the Year for Pins and Needles’ The Bear. The judges commended Waterside on the impressive innovation and breadth of what the venue offers, whilst noting the detailed way they support artists.

Following a period of momentous change, Waterside has celebrated a great year of successes, seeing visitors to the venue’s galleries and theatres soar. This year saw the second Refract festival in the town centre, championing new and innovative work. The venue has also undertaken significant investment in bringing new audiences and many well-known established artists to the venue, working with Greater Manchester arts and cultural partners.

As Trafford Council’s flagship cultural venue, Waterside plays a key role within the local community, providing opportunity for residents to engage with the arts.

Waterside Manager, Darren Adams said: “Over the past year, I’ve seen the team grow, flourish and realise that there are no limitations on their ambitions. The award is a testament to our dedicated team, a remarkable achievement. We are indebted to our audiences for their continued support and loyalty and to the phenomenal artists that we work with.”

Sale Councillor, Cllr Jane Baugh played an integral role in the creation of Waterside. She commented: “Since opening in 2004, Waterside has gone from strength to strength. I am absolutely delighted with the acknowledgement, it is well deserved. With a varied programme, catering for all ages, coupled with supportive, friendly and enthusiastic staff, I cannot praise them highly enough and can't wait to see what Waterside has in store next, it has certainly earned its place on the cultural map of the North of England and is definitely one to watch."

Councillor Kevin Procter Executive Member for Communities and Housing said: “These awards celebrate and reward cultural and entrepreneurial excellence in the North of England. The accolade reflects the hard work and dedication of the team at Waterside, and confirms this as a great venue to visit for all of our communities.”