Days Out NI
Theatre & gallery Derry/Londonderry

Waterside Theatre

A friendly Waterside theatre with panto, family shows and a kids' drama programme

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Check what’s onBox office and show times vary; check the…
TicketedBook ahead
Derry/LondonderryTheatre & gallery
Get directionsOfficial website
1-2 hoursHow long
TicketedAdmission
All agesBest for
On siteCafé
FreeParking

Waterside Theatre — A friendly Waterside theatre with panto, family shows and a kids' drama programme.

  • Admission: Ticketed theatre, not a walk-in gallery.
  • Tickets: Priced per show and booked in advance; see their listings for current prices and dates.
  • For families: Family shows, annual Christmas pantomime, Hidden Treasures Children's Theatre Festival, plus drama, dance and art classes for ages 4-18.
  • Opening: Box office and show times vary; check their listings.
  • Café: Licensed cafe bar on site.
  • Best for: Varies by show; family shows and panto suit roughly 3+, with classes from age 4.
Plan your visit

Family shows, panto and a children's festival

The Waterside programmes family-friendly shows across the year, with the annual Christmas pantomime as the big seasonal draw. It also hosts the Hidden Treasures Children's Theatre Festival, a run of shows made for younger audiences, and the long-running City of Derry Drama Festival. Alongside the stage programme it runs an education strand with drama, dance and visual art classes for children aged 4 to 18. There is a full-screen cinema in the building too, so screenings sometimes feature in the mix. Look at the current listings to find shows pitched at your children's ages, as productions range from toddler-friendly to teen and adult drama.

Family shows Christmas panto Kids' classes Cafe bar Free parking Book ahead
Good to know before you go:

Venues like this run year-round seasons of theatre, music and family shows, with a Christmas pantomime and children's theatre festivals through the year. Programmes and prices change, so check their own listings for dates and to book.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🎟️Your bookingShows and big exhibitions sell out — book ahead where you can.
  • 💷A bit of pocket moneyFor the café, the shop or a show programme.
  • 🧒An eye on the age guidanceSome shows and galleries suit certain ages best — check first.
  • 📱The what’s-on pageThe programme changes all the time — see what is on the day you go.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Admission
Ticketed theatre, not a walk-in gallery
Tickets
Priced per show and booked in advance; see their listings for current prices and dates
Family programming
Family shows, annual Christmas pantomime, Hidden Treasures Children's Theatre Festival, plus drama, dance and art classes for ages 4-18
Best for ages
Varies by show; family shows and panto suit roughly 3+, with classes from age 4
Opening
Box office and show times vary; check their listings
Cafe
Licensed cafe bar on site
Toilets
Yes, including a wheelchair-accessible toilet with baby changing
Parking
Free private car park on site, around 100 spaces
Accessibility
Step-free access, accessible toilet, and room for prams and pushchairs; ask the box office about seating and relaxed performances
How long to allow
A typical family show runs 1-2 hours; allow extra for the cafe and parking
Address
Waterside Theatre, Glendermott Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6BG
Questions

Before you go

Is it free to get in?
Ticketed theatre, not a walk-in gallery
How do I get tickets?
Priced per show and booked in advance; see their listings for current prices and dates
Is there anything for kids?
Family shows, annual Christmas pantomime, Hidden Treasures Children's Theatre Festival, plus drama, dance and art classes for ages 4-18
When is it open?
Box office and show times vary; check their listings
Is there a café?
Licensed cafe bar on site
Getting there

Waterside Theatre is at Waterside Theatre, Glendermott Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6BG. Free private car park on site, around 100 spaces. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

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The story

About the venue

The Waterside Theatre opened in 2001 in a converted former factory on the Waterside of Derry/Londonderry, and was extended in 2009 to add a new cafe bar, box office and exhibition space. Its main space is a tiered 372-seat auditorium with retractable seating, so the floor can open out to host larger events for several hundred people.

Run as a community arts venue, it programmes touring drama, music, comedy and dance alongside its own family and education work. Regular fixtures include the City of Derry Drama Festival, the Hidden Treasures Children's Theatre Festival and an annual Christmas pantomime.

Its education programme delivers drama, dance and visual art classes for children and young people aged 4 to 18, making it a hub for young performers in the North West as well as a night out for audiences.