A New Musical Is Making Waves in Salford

A New Musical Is Making Waves in Salford

10-10-25

Salford’s fringe scene is about to get a little wetter. Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue, a darkly comic new musical, arrives at The Kings Arms this October for a limited run from 21 to 25 October 2025 at 7:30 pm each night.

Set in 1995, the show follows The Lifeguard, a sunny Californian who suddenly finds herself far from Santa Monica’s golden sands and dropped into the gloomy northern town of Spray. Determined to prove herself and win the Best Beach Award, she rallies a local team of lifeguards to restore the town’s lost glory. But, as the story unfolds, cracks begin to show in her sunshine-and-smiles exterior. Beneath the fake tan and optimism lies something darker — a story about beauty, belief, and what happens when self-help culture sinks.

The show describes itself as “something between Barbie, The Book of Mormon, and Elbow.” That should tell you everything you need to know about its tone: sharp, surreal, and packed with music that blends pop sheen with a wry northern edge. It’s adult, anarchic, and the kind of new writing that thrives in a grassroots venue like The Kings Arms.

Part satire, part existential sing-along, Spraywatch leans into its strangeness. It asks whether positivity can ever be toxic, whether rescuing others means saving yourself, and whether California dreaming can survive Salford drizzle.

The Kings Arms has long been a champion of new musical voices, and this latest addition to its line-up reinforces why it remains one of Greater Manchester’s most essential fringe stages. The intimacy of the space means the audience will be right in the middle of the action — feeling the splash, the sarcasm, and the heartbreak.

It’s rare to see a new musical this bold and self-aware. With its quirky premise, smart humour, and striking original score, Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue looks set to make waves well beyond Bloom Street.

🎟️ Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue
The Kings Arms, Salford
21–25 October 2025, 7:30 pm

Get more details from the official site HERE