What's On - Saturday 3 May, from 12pm
UNITY - Gorilla Circus
Performances at 12pm & 6pm, The Meadow (near H&M)
‘Extraordinarily skilled circus’ Total Theatre Magazine
Prepare to be amazed, as hair-hanging artists, high wire walkers and dance trapeze acrobats perform in the air on a series of cables strung between masts.
UNITY is a reflection on community, an act of protest, a call for change and a dream for the future! Our showstopper performance for this year’s festival, UNITY is a large-scale visual spectacle performed over a sixty-metre area, which allows you to get in amongst the action!
Merging theatre, circus and community stories, UNITY unfolds to a soundtrack mixed with newly written poetry inspired by Northwich, and features a community dance cast who are part of the show.
(Image and header image: Dave Gillespie)
UMBRA - Company Chameleon
Performances at 1pm & 5:15pm, Baron’s Quay Square
“Beautifully revealing…Unforgettably good.’ Judith Mackrell
The Guardian ★ ★ ★ ★
A powerful trio, delicate and explosive in equal measure.
Umbra, meaning ‘shadow’ in Latin, is a trio, which looks at the light and darkness within us. The dance explores what we hide and what we reveal, and how behaviour changes depending on who we are with.
Highly physical and theatrical, Umbra spotlights understanding and the search to be understood. Fast paced and dynamic, yet delicate and sensitive, Umbra is an invitation to pause and understand ourselves better.
(Image: Emily Cramby)
THE GARDEN, THE STYX AND THE UNDERWORLD - Matthew Rawcliffe
12-2pm & 4-6pm, Apple Market Place
Explore the sensory wonderland of ancient dreams with Persephone, Demeter and Hades.
This new performance is a sensory installation based on three distinct worlds and characters aimed at people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and is magical for everyone to enjoy.
Conjure spells and listen to the whispers of the wind in Demeter’s garden… Take in the perfumes from travellers of the past in the River Styx… Finally, feel the depths of the earth alongside the god of The Underworld.
The performance is a multi-sensory experience with live dance and music.
(Image: Elly Welford)
TEA CLUB - Ruth Jones & Claire Fildes
2pm, Witton Street & 4:30pm, Baron’s Quay
“One of our favourite performances! Thank you for entertaining us and making us laugh” Ben Cooper and family, audience member
Tea Club is a strolling piece of dance theatre, celebrating Britain’s passion for tea and all things vintage.
Trixie and Tilly are two eccentric tea ladies, who serve their fine leaf tea from their special musical trolley. Dancing along to their favourite Gramophone records, they swirl and stir along their way. Why not join them!
Anyone for tea?
(Image: Paul Wilson)
JAZZ TAP JAM - Sole Rebel
2pm & 4:30pm, Weaver Point
Sole Rebel’s Jazz Tap Jam combines the joy of tap dancing with live music by their incredibly talented in-house jazz band.
Highly skilled tap dancers jam it out with the musicians to create music inspired by swing, latin, funk and blues. With infectious rhythms and energy, get ready to feel uplifted through the joyful sounds of jazz tap.
(Image: Sole Rebel)
THE TAP DANCING TAPS - Sole Rebel
12:45pm, Witton Street area & 3pm, Barons Quay area
Don’t miss the Tap Dancing Taps as they explore the town.
They bring humour, dance and fun to the streets with tap-dancing beats, bubble blowing fun and costumes that light up, the tap duo will brighten your day as they boogie away.
(Image: Sole Rebel)
STEP AHEAD - Ben Wilson Dance
1:30pm & 4:30pm at Baron’s Quay Square
Ben Wilson is a professional male dancer with Down Syndrome. His dance show, Step Ahead, explores themes of friendship and relationships.
Taking you on a nature inspired trip that explores Ben's unique view of the world, Step Ahead brings together contemporary dance, hip hop elements and poetry into a moving and inspiring performance.
Commissioned by Cheshire Dance, Now Northwich and TIN Arts.
(Image: Ben Wilson Dance)
CARNIVAL - Global Grooves
2:30pm, starts at the Library on Witton Street and travels to Apple Market Place
Carnival is a visual feast featuring giant puppets, gigantic flags, colourful costumes and a huge percussion band.
Join in the fun and enjoy this bright and beautiful carnival created with local young people and community groups.
Carnival will transform the energy of the town and get everyone moving!
(Image: Global Grooves)
Convergence: Performance, Passion, Celebration
3:30pm, Weaver Point
Developed and produced by the Now Northwich Young Producers of 2025, Convergence brings together dance groups and artists from across the North West in a celebration of community dance.
(Image: Cheshire Dance)
Crafty Creations
12pm - 5pm, Gazebo outside Library on Witton Street
Join the Library team in the Gazebo outside the library for crafty creations and storytelling.
12pm - 5pm: Drop-in arts and crafts
1pm, 2pm & 3pm: Storytelling
(Image: Cheshire Dance)
With thanks to our funders & supporters:
