Photo: Patrick Browne
Waterford will burst into creativity this October as Imagine Arts Festival 2025 returns with nearly 40 events across theatre, music, dance, visual art and family fun.
This year’s headline commission comes from visionary musician Phil Christie (The Bonk), who premieres a bold new work blending groove, rhythm and improvisation at Garter Lane, Sun 26 Oct, 8 PM.
The six-day celebration, running 21–26 October, also features Word Against the Word by Keith Dunphy, the Festival Residency with Ksenia Parkhatskaya & David Duffy, the Shadow Lands multidisciplinary theatre commission, and new installations from Molly Buí Hennessy and Waiting Space at the Festival Hub, 42 Michael Street.
Many events are free, with full listings at www.imagineartsfestival.com/2025-programme.
Follow @imagineartsfestival_ and @imaginewaterford for updates and behind-the-scenes previews.
Imagine Arts Festival 2025 Unveils Six Days of Creativity Across Waterford City
21–26 October | Nearly 40 Events | Venues Across Waterford
Waterford will come alive this October as Imagine Arts Festival 2025 presents a vibrant six-day celebration of theatre, music, dance, visual art, installations, heritage, and family events. Running from Tuesday 21st to Sunday 26th October, the festival transforms the city into a stage for creativity, conversation and connection.
This year’s festival features nearly 40 events and introduces a brand-new Festival Hub on Michael Street — located in the building beside the old AIB Bank — which will serve as the central home for exhibitions, installations, and daily festival information throughout the week.
Programme Highlights
Leading this year’s programme is musician and composer Phil Christie (The Bonk), Imagine’s 2025 Commissioned Artist, who will premiere a bold new work at Garter Lane Arts Centre on Sunday 26 October at 8:00 PM. Known for his experimental blend of rhythm, improvisation and language, Christie’s new piece continues his exploration of music as a living, evolving form — a thrilling close to the festival’s week of innovation.
The festival’s focus on new work and collaboration continues through the Festival Residency with internationally acclaimed dancer Ksenia Parkhatskaya and composer-technologist David Duffy, whose partnership brings together movement, rhythm and digital storytelling. Their residency culminates in a special Residency Showcase performance at St. Patrick’s Gateway on Saturday 25 October at 6:00 PM.
Imagine 2025 also presents the MDA Commission Shadow Lands by Cathy Purcell and Anadem — a captivating multidisciplinary children’s theatre piece combining Irish and Indonesian folklore through music, song and shadow puppetry. Performances take place at 12 PM and 2 PM on Sunday 26 October in the Medieval Museum.
Complementing the performance programme are two striking installations:
To Paint a Picture in Your Mind by Molly Buí Hennessy, an interactive visual art and writing piece exploring creative flow and subconscious storytelling. (Festival Hub, all week)
Creative Transparency by Waiting Space (Chris Falconer), a sonic and reflective installation exploring creativity as confession and artistic vulnerability. (Medieval Museum, all week)
Theatre, Music and Family Highlights
Theatre and storytelling remain central to the Imagine experience, with Keith Dunphy’s Word Against the Word returning to Waterford for a five-night run at Garter Lane. The festival also welcomes GasWorks Productions’ Six Days Work, Wandering Stories Theatre’s Hero/Banlaoch, and How Is Everyone Doing?, a new play-in-development by Hannah Carberry.
Music lovers can look forward to a trio performance from Shauna Mullin, Alan Colfer & Damien McGeehan, plus the ever-popular Legendary Dead Pub Trail, bringing live music and theatre to some of Waterford’s best-loved venues.
Family audiences can enjoy Circusful & Waterford Youth Arts – Same Difference at the Theatre Royal, the interactive workshop Let’s Create a Story! with Niamh Donnellan, and the imaginative Big Blaa Little Blaa All-Starsgameshow at the Tower Hotel.
Visual Arts & Exhibitions
The Festival Hub on Michael Street will also host a series of exhibitions throughout the week, including Emily A Thompson’s Exhibition of Wool Paintings, Isa Studio Photography’s Where Dreams Are Born, and *Retro 40: On a Night Like This by Eoin Ronayne, celebrating Waterford’s 1980s creative scene.
Further afield, James Hughes’ The Decoration of Absence will run throughout October at the Index Gallery, and Fern Wright’s Lichen will exhibit at the Tramore Coastguard Cultural Centre.
Director’s Statement
Festival Director Sinéad Dunphy said:
“Imagine Arts Festival 2025 continues to build on Waterford’s creative momentum. This year’s programme is rooted in artistic innovation and community connection — from new commissions and residencies to installations that invite audiences to reflect, respond and participate.
We’re particularly proud to be commissioning new work from Phil Christie, supporting artists like Ksenia Parkhatskaya and David Duffy in residence, and platforming multidisciplinary voices that reflect the diversity and ambition of the arts in Ireland today.”
Festival Information
🗓 Dates: Tuesday 21 – Sunday 26 October 2025
📍 Venues: Garter Lane Arts Centre, Theatre Royal, Medieval Museum, St. Patrick’s Gateway, Jordan’s, and the Festival Hub (42 Michael Street)
🎟 Tickets & Full Programme: www.imagineartsfestival.com/2025-programme
📧 Press / Media Contact: imaginefestmanager@gmail.com
📱 Social: @imagineartsfestival_ | @imaginewaterford
