New Season Launch, 16th May 2019
Leeds Playhouse
Feature by Dawn Smallwood
Be My Baby marks the conclusion of the successful Pop-Up 2018/19 season which hosted a variety of productions featuring an ensemble of 10 actors. During that time Leeds Playhouse has been undergoing a capital redevelopment and is set to re-open its doors in October 2019.
A full season across the refurbished Quarry and Courtyard Theatres and its new studio space, the Bramall Rock Void was announced. Everyone has been asked to save the date, 11th to 13th October, for Playhouse’s Open Weekend which coincides with Leeds Light Night, and everyone is invited to explore the brand-new building and spaces.
To begin proceedings, Charley Miles’ There are No Beginnings (11th October to 2nd November) will be staged at the Bramall Rock Void. An insight was given about the Playhouse’s production reiterating what it’s like to be a woman during the five years when they were urged to stay at home due to the surge in attacks and murders which eventually linked to the Yorkshire Ripper.
Leeds Playhouse has an exciting Creative Engagement Programme which continues to expand with its new initiatives and more opportunities particularly for young people. The Leeds Playhouse Youth Theatre will be presenting Influence (31st October to 2nd November), commissioned jointly with six other regional theatres, and will be presented in the new Leeds City College’s School of Creative Art Theatre, and marking an exciting new partnership with the college.
The programme also extends to supporting adults with learning disabilities and will host Beautiful Octopus Club (14th October) and Lemn Sissay, known for his adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah’s Refugee Boy which lead to theatre to become the World’s first ever Theatre of Sanctuary, will be paying a visit for one night (7th October) to share his new book.
Furnace is reputedly known for supporting and developing new productions and also up and coming artists. The following productions that have benefited from the celebration of new work are as follows; Lung Theatre’s Trojan Horse (3rd to 5th October), which will be Courtyard’s first production when the doors re-open and its popular festival in November will feature Furnace Scratch, Tess Seddon’s Amateur Politician (work in progress) and Jim Cartwright’s Northern Soul (script reading).
Leeds Playhouse always welcome visiting productions including Northern Ballet’s Dracula, (29th October to 2nd November), Rifco Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre’s Mushy: Lyrically Speaking (8th to 12th October), Co-production of My Beautiful Laundrette (15th to 26th October), Graeae’ and Theatre Royal Plymouth’s One Under (5th to 9th November), English Touring Theatre and Sheffield Theatres’ Reasons to Stay Alive (12th to 16th November), and Breach Theatre’s It’s True, It’s True, It’s True (21st to 23rd November),
Cartwright Productions’ Jellyfish (28th to 30th November), and the popular Barber Shop Chronicles (20th to 23rd November) after a successful tour will make a return visit.
Leeds Playhouse ensures there is something for everyone particularly at Christmas with the Playhouse’s production of The Wizard of Oz (20th November to 25th January), directed by James Brining, Leeds Playhouse’s Artistic Director. Particularly for children and babies, The Night Before Christmas (30th November to 28th December) and Snow Mouse (10th to 21st December) respectively and also other productions during the autumn schools’ half term holiday; Jackie and the Beanstalk, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Tabby McTat.
The Leeds Playhouse inclusively invites everyone to its theatre and experience as always another exciting and diverse season of productions which will appeal to many and no doubt address what matters here and everywhere.