The Royal Exchange’s mobile pop-up theatre, The Den, is making a highly anticipated return to Stalybridge Civic Hall here in Tameside, running every weekend from 9 May to 1 June 2025.

This year’s festival, titled The Den Festival: Exchanging Culture, Community and Creativity in Tameside, promises a vibrant mix of music, workshops, theatre, comedy, dance, drama, family activities, and more.

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Festival Highlights

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⭐ NO SUCH THING AS ORDINARY – A heartfelt play inspired by real-life stories from Tameside residents, performed by local community members. Following six characters, the play explores their connections to the borough’s history, community, and personal memories.

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⭐ BEST MATES, TOP BINS & VENGA VENGA! – A special collaboration between the Royal Exchange, Tameside primary schools, and local writers Lekhani Chirwa and Lauren-Nicole Mayes. Directed by Tori Burgess, these plays aim to amplify children’s voices in Tameside, performed by a professional cast.

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⭐ THE TAMING OF THE “SHREW” – HER Productions brings back their acclaimed take on Shakespeare’s divisive comedy.

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⭐ Drumming Workshops & Grand Finale – Carnival arts group Global Grooves will lead drumming workshops each weekend, culminating in a joyful public performance to close the festival.

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Jane Martin, Tameside Ambassador:
"Putting together the festival programme was a challenge, reflecting the diverse needs of Tameside’s nine towns. But the end result is something truly inclusive—offering something for everyone, no matter their background, age, or ability."

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Cllr Leanne Feeley, Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, Tameside Council:
"We’re thrilled to welcome the Royal Exchange back to Tameside with this fantastic cultural festival. The Den Festival is a celebration of our community’s creativity and spirit. There’s something for everyone, and we encourage as many people as possible to come along and be part of it!"

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Weekend-by-Weekend Guide

📅 Opening Weekend (10 & 11 May) – The opening weekend features circus skills, aninteractive pub quiz-cum-theatre showand lots of dance!

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🥁 17 & 18 May – This weekendsees Grooves in the Den kicking off with the first of the drumming workshops, aplay all about Tameside and a day for Tameside Creatives.

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🎭 24 & 25 May – See the work of budding young playwrights inTameside on this weekend, as well as HER Productions’ remount of their highly successful rendition of one of Shakespeare’s most polarising comedies.

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🎤 Closing Weekend (31 May & 1 June) – A celebration ofthe festival’s achievements in a spectacular finale with a comedy night and the biggest Den show yet!

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🔗 Full festival details and tickets:
Royal Exchange – The Den in Tameside 2025

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