VISITORS to this year’s Tameside Rotary Beer Festival were all a buzz as they got a glimpse of a world premiere before it heads to Barcelona.
As real ale fans emerged from Stalybridge Civic Hall, they were greeted by two towering Manchester bees, a Queen and a Worker.
Behind them came a troupe of dancers and musicians in dazzling costumes, delivering the first-ever performance of a new show created by Mossley-based carnival arts group Global Grooves.
The piece will head to Barcelona to wow millions at La Mercè, one of Europe’s biggest street festivals.
The centrepiece of the performance was a showstopping ‘Maypole moment’ as the Queen Bee’s enormous skirt unfurled to reveal ribbons, which dancers spun around her in a modern twist on the traditional folk dance.
The spectacle brought together 30 performers from across Greater Manchester – including Saddleworth Women’s Morris & Clog and Oldham’s Dancing Diyas – who’ve spent months rehearsing with Brazilian choreographer Adriana Rosso.
The music, heard live for the first time, fused Indian, British folk and global sounds, composed especially for the project.
The bees themselves were crafted in collaboration between local artists and Catalonia’s best-known puppet makers. They’ll soon be parading through Barcelona’s streets as Manchester takes its place as the festival’s guest city.
For those in Stalybridge, the chance to see it all up close felt like something special.
Johnny Clifford, producer, Global Grooves, said: “Bringing this project to life has been an incredible journey, made possible by so many dedicated partners both here and in Catalonia. Sharing it first with a home crowd in Tameside was a real honour.
“Being invited to take part in La Mercè shows how Greater Manchester’s creativity resonates internationally. It’s a chance to celebrate our own heritage while sharing in Barcelona’s spirit of openness.”
The production will be reworked for Oldham’s Illuminate Light Night in February and Manchester Day 2026 – meaning local audiences will get another chance to see the bees in action.