We are Leeds Playhouse: an artistic beacon for the North, one of the region’s largest producing theatres and a registered charity (255460). Tel: 0113 213 7700
Join us at Leeds Playhouse for an entertaining season of groundbreaking dramas, fun-filled comedy, thought-provoking conversations and fantastical family adventures that will brighten up your Autumn/Winter 🎭
🎟️ On general sale NOW
We are deeply saddened that last night (20 Oct) the actor Josephine Melville, passed away following the performance of Nine Night, our co-production with Nottingham Playhouse.
Our thoughts and deep condolences are with her family and loved ones.
From today, we will change our name to Leeds Playhouse. We exist to celebrate stories, as rich and varied as the communities that surround us. Our new name, and our new redeveloped building, will take this legacy forward.
#LeedsPlayhouse
Happy birthday to us! 🎁🎂🍾
We officially opened on this day in 1970.
That’s 50 years of being part of
#Leeds
and the city region sharing sensational shows.
📸 Follow us on Instagram for more magical images celebrating our five dynamic decades
#LeedsPlayhouseIs50
We're pleased to announce that Sameena Hussain
@SameenaHX1
has joined our Senior Management Team in a new Associate Director role, working alongside our existing Associate Directors
@amycleach
&
@AlFerris
.
It’s fantastic to welcome Sameena back working across our creative output
Leeds Playhouse has undergone a complete transformation. Thanks to the remarkable redevelopment overseen by Page Park Architects, it boasts a new strikingly designed exterior to greet visitors and significant improvements to its public spaces.
#TheStageAwards
Check out our new rehearsal trailer for
#WendyandPeterPan
which is jam-packed with flying, sword fighting, dancing and theatrical magic.
Journey with us to Neverland this Christmas 🎟️👉
We're delighted to announce our transformational redevelopment has been given the green light, with Arts Council England funding confirmation and grant of planning permission
📢Shawab Iqbal to join the Playhouse as Executive Director working with Chief Executive & Artistic Director
@jamesbrining
.
Shawab joins following his current role as Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer
@GateTheatre
.
Welcome
@MohammadShawabI
💻
We’re joining theatres and live event venues across the globe tonight to highlight the ongoing impact of the pandemic on our brilliant industry. Delighted to be able to offer a sneaky peek inside our theatre, all lit in red.
#LightItInRed
#WeMakeEvents
Yorkshire writers are being invited to apply for a paid, year-long fellowship to become the next Kay Mellor Fellow - set up in memory of the iconic writer.
Applications window will open in July.
Read more >>
"Ladies and gentlemen, and my friends beyond this binary. Whether you like it or not - HEDWIG!"
Get a first glimpse of
@Divinadecampo
and
@Elijah_Fer
as Hedwig and Yitzhak in our brand-new trailer for
#HedwigandtheAngryInch
.
📅 2 – 23 April 🎸
👉🎟️
Are you an artist or theatre company based in
#Yorkshire
? Would you like to book a week of FREE rehearsal space with technical support?
From March to July we're turning our studio theatre, the Bramall Rock Void, into a creation space!
#PlayhouseConnect
📢 MEGA EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT 📢
1. Maxine Peak and Imelda Staunton live on stage
2. Starring in Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads
3. Catch them
@LeedsPlayhouse
&
@crucibletheatre
.
Priority: 30 Sept, General: 6 Oct.
Meet Warda Abbasi – our new Resident Designer.
The Bradford-based set designer + model-maker is joining us for a year in a partnership role with
@tuttifruttiprod
, supported by
@JerwoodArts
. Her creative skills are off the charts – we can’t wait to start working with her!
Meet our new Writer in Residence Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan!👋
She’s an incredible artist, writer, poet and educator from
#Leeds
who has joined us for a year-long residency to develop her craft and knowledge as a playwright.
We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.🧡
Today we welcome Rozina Breen as the new Chair of the Board at the Playhouse. Rozina is a passionate advocate for storytelling which is richly diverse and represents our region. Welcome to the Playhouse
@RozieBreen
Read more >>
We are deeply saddened to announce that Denis Bray, our long-standing Premises Manager, passed away on Sun 2 Aug.
He was a member of the Playhouse family for over 24 years and will be truly missed by each and every one of us.
Our thoughts are with Denis’ family and loved ones.
We’re excited to announce plans have been confirmed to create a new studio space within the Playhouse, which will be named The Bramall Rock Void. Many thanks to The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation
Joining all of us in video form...Incredible actor Christopher Eccleston made his Shakespearean debut at the Playhouse in 2002, he's passed on his message of support. Thank you Chris.
#LeedsPlayhouse
We are thrilled to announce that Julie Hesmondhalgh, Natalie Gavin, Jesse Jones and Tessa Parr are to perform in the world premiere of There Are No Beginnings, a
#LeedsPlayhouse
production by Yorkshire writer
@CharleyASmiles
👉 Read more here
Announcing
#AChristmasCarolAtHome
Tier 3 won’t stop our ghostly storytellers taking you on this festive family adventure. Experience the magic from the comfort of your own home. Book now for
#AChristmasCarolAtHome
#Leeds
21 – 23 Dec >>
Meet Oliver, Fagin, the Artful Dodger and the rest of the terrific cast for our bold, brutal and beautiful new production of
#OliverTwist
with
@RampsOTM
and
@irwinmitchell
. Full story here:
Bradford-born writer Kat Rose Martin (
@KatMartin92
) has been announced as the inaugural Fellow to work with us and Kay Mellor.
We can't wait to start working with her and
@RollemProdCo
- welcome to the team!
Read more here 👉
Good news! Following this week's govt announcement, it's all systems go to re-open and welcome everyone safely back to the Playhouse next week. We can't wait. 👏🎉
#LeedsPlayhouseis50
(1/4)
'Their drive, energy & talent will be electrifying'
– Director
@amycleach
Meet the wickedly good cast of
#Macbeth
.👋
We can’t wait to give them a warm Playhouse welcome when they join us on Monday.🧡
Full story >>
We're beyond thrilled to be named Most Welcoming Theatre at
#UKTAwards
! 🎉
Our community, our neighbours & our friends mean the world to us. We couldn’t do what we do without their support, enthusiasm, energy & joy.
We’re so happy they feel like our house is their house too.
The winner of this year's Most Welcoming Theatre Award sponsored by
@TheatreTokens
is
@LeedsPlayhouse
for their inviting, engaging, accessible and inclusive creative environment + being the first Theatre of Sanctuary for refugees + people seeking asylum
#UKTAwards
We did it! ✨🎉 We are delighted to have won the award for Outstanding Arts & Creativity in Dementia Care 2018 for our
#EveryThirdMinute
festival. Huge congratulations to everyone involved 👏
Look what’s just flown in – our magical new trailer for
#WendyAndPeterPan
! 🏴☠️🧚♀️
Join us on a journey to Neverland this festive season for a show filled with flying, sword fights and adventure. Book now from just £14 a ticket. Until 22 Jan 💫
🎟️
🎉Live theatre returns to Leeds Playhouse this Oct with an exciting co-pro with
@Opera_North
. We're bringing audiences safely back into our building with
#ConnectingVoices
– a vibrant celebration of the bold and diverse voices across
#Leeds
.
Details 👉
After 39 years, today we say thank you & goodbye to Suzi Cubbage, a true Leeds Playhouse Legend. Have a lovely time in the sun on your Spanish retirement 🌞
On our journey to Neverland we popped into the rehearsal room to watch the magic of
#WendyandPeterPan
start to unfold. Find out how movement will be used to create mesmerising illusions in our latest trailer.
🎟️👉
📽️
@SodiumFilms
@Bunkamura_info
Theatres are not affected by the Government restrictions announced yesterday, so we’re looking forward to welcoming you back to the building for our autumn programme. Here’s a bit more info about how we can all keep safe as we return>>
We’re extremely grateful for
@ACE_National
’s support to cover our losses whilst our building has been closed over the last few months. This
#EmergencyResponseFund
will help us in the short term as we look towards the future.
For the third fund in our Emergency Response Package, we’ve offered £33 million to 196 of our NPOs across the country, to keep much-loved cultural organisations of all sizes afloat until the end of September.
Take a look at the full data >
We've just announced the cast for our smash-hit musical
#SunshineonLeith
☀, opening at the Playhouse this April featuring music by
@The_Proclaimers
! 🎵And I would walk five hundred miles, and I would walk five hundred more 🎵 👉
Thank you
@Ace_National
for the
#ACEFunding
to continue as an
#NPO
. This support means our work, as a theatre & a charity, will allow us to deliver the
#LetsCreate
strategy & benefit the communities we serve. Congrats to all recipients across the sector
#ACEsupported
Meet the twinkly stars of our festive show!🎄Packed with Xmas spirit, music + magic, our inspired retelling of A Christmas Carol is a heart-warming treat that’s guaranteed to make you feel tinseltastic.
3 Dec–9 Jan
Info + 🎟️
#AChristmasCarol
#BackOnStage
This evening is the last performance of the record breaking The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, and what a magical journey it’s been! In honour, here’s the Pevensie Prophecy by our Graphic Designer Becky
#LionWitchWardrobe
🦁🧙♀️🚪
We're thrilled to welcome the wonderful Leanna Benjamin
@TheReal_Leanna
as our new Artist for Change and Writer in Residence.🎉
She's a phenomenal writer, performer and disability activist.
We feel so lucky to have her on the team.🧡
Swashbuckling pirates, fearless Lost Boys and that beautiful first meeting between
#WendyAndPeterPan
by
@ellahickson
- all these magical moments and more are captured in dazzling new images.
🎟️
📸
@brennerphotos
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The I 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Reviews Hub 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Guardian 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Times 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Sunday Times 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Morning Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Stage 🌟🌟🌟🌟 WhatsOnStage 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Telegraph🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Observer 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Yorkshire Post
🎉We are delighted to announce the wonderful cast of our spectacular festive family musical, The Wizard of Oz opening this Christmas, including not one but two local Dorothys. 🌪️🌈
Bold, brutal and beautiful – new production images highlight the visionary design of
#OliverTwist
. Our dynamic co-production with
@RampsOTM
brings the harsh realities of Dickensian England to life with vivid clarity.
Suitable for 11+
MORE➡️
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend & colleague Kay Magson. Over the decades, Kay brought a warm, actor-centred approach to the many productions she cast. Loved by so many, she will be deeply missed.
What a way to kick off
#RefugeeWeek2022
than with a visit from this amazing little lady on a big adventure. It was an honour
@walkwithamal
.
Massive thank you to everyone who joined hands to welcome her to
#Leeds
#LittleAmal
🫶
Tonight we are lighting up our fly tower in support of the
@SaveLighting
campaign against proposed new EU regulations which will impact our ability to light our shows. 👉
#SaveStageLighting
💡🔦🔌
Yorkshire writer Kirsty Taylor (
@kirstybratfud
) announced as the next recipient of the Kay Mellor Fellowship. She will work with Leeds Playhouse,
@RollemProdCo
,
@bbcwritersroom
&
@LeedsCC_News
.
In her words she is "Buzzing" and so are all of us to work with you Kirsty!
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our great friend and Patron, Kay Mellor.
Kay was an incredible talent & a proud advocate for the county she loved. She will be deeply missed.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very sad time.
It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend, mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Sunday 15th May 2022. We have lost a phenomenal talent and a true luminary. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the family and friends.
📢 Good news alert! 🥳
We’re thrilled to reveal an exciting season of shows and exhibitions specially commissioned to mark our milestone 50th anniversary for you to enjoy live in the theatre, in your community and at home.
Full story 👉
'And you're shining, like the brightest star...' 🎶
Thanks to all our amazing cast, audiences, creatives, crew & supporters for all the love shared for
#HedwigAndTheAngryInch
❤️
@Divinadecampo
@Elijah_Fer
& our Angry Inch band enjoy your final shows. Next stop
@HOME_mcr
🎸
After months of development and discussion, rehearsals are about to begin on our ‘bold, brutal and beautiful’ new version of Oliver Twist. The Artful Dodger, Fagin and their gang of pickpockets will be taking over the Quarry from 28 Feb–21 Mar before heading out on a UK tour.
We’re kicking off 2020 in fine style as our Artistic Director James Brining and Executive Director Robin Hawkes are listed at 63 in The Stage’s Top 100 most influential people in theatre.🍾 Find out more here
Great to hear the Leeds Playhouse Wardrobe team on
@BBCLeeds
this morning talking about how they're using their costume making skills volunteering for Scrub Hub whilst on furlough. Well done team!
Listen again to Rachel at 22m10s & Victoria at 1hr50m
👉
Calling the next generation of theatre makers... We are looking for creative, curious & collaborative artists aged 18 – 25 to join our very first Young Company.
If you've booked tickets for a performance which may be affected by the PM’s latest lockdown announcement, we’ll be in touch. Please bear with us as we work through this. Thanks for your patience.
We're so pleased
@IanMcKellen
is supporting the new Leeds Playhouse. Ian performed in The Seagull and Present Laughter in 1998, and The Tempest in 1999.
#LeedsPlayhouse
In October, following a £15.8million capital redevelopment,
#LeedsPlayhouse
will reopen it’s doors, entirely transformed and enabling the city’s pioneering theatre to be fully accessible to everyone for the first time
We’re welcoming you back to the Playhouse with a full season of fun family shows, creative collaborations, exciting co-productions – and something very special for Christmas. There’s so much to look forward to!
Story 👉
🎟info 👉
Ey up!
Please be aware that there will be proper proud Yorkshire accents on stage, in the bar, in box office and all over the Playhouse when our pals
@NBroadsides
bring their reet grand new version of
#AsYouLikeIt
to our Quarry stage in May.
So, think on.
"It's a very rare complaint, but when it does come along, it makes you realise people can still have preconceived ideas about what culture is, who it's for and how it should be performed. We really embrace ripping that up." -
@LaurieSansom
We're delighted to announce our first ever Young Company, a collective of 12 creatively curious artists aged 18 – 25 who will collaborate together with the Playhouse over the coming months 👉
Supported by
@esmeefairbairn
.
#YoungCompany
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the phenomenal
#ThereAreNoBeginnings
by
@CharleyASmiles
- the first production in our exciting new theatre space, the Bramall Rock Void.
Enter a world of pure imagination...
🍫CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY AT LEEDS PLAYHOUSE THIS FESTIVE SEASON✨
Join us here in
#Leeds
from Nov – Jan for this choc-filled family treat based on the much-loved book by
@roald_dahl
, directed by
@jamesbrining
📢 Calling Set & Costume Designers 📢
We’re looking for a Resident Designer to join us &
@tuttifruttiprod
Are you creative, driven & interested in telling great stories? Apply now for this 1 yr fellowship >>
#ArtsJobs
🙏
@JerwoodArts
📸
@helenmurraypix
Exciting opportunity alert!
We’re teaming up with
@crucibletheatre
in association with
@RampsOTM
to launch 3 FREE intro courses to directing, producing & writing for deaf and disabled artists at the start of their careers.
No previous experience is necessary.
On this day in 2009, our designated creative space for young people, First Floor, officially opened. 10 years this is still home to our vibrant and diverse Playhouse Youth programme, welcoming over 350 young people every week.
Happy birthday First Floor! 🎂🥳
We stand in solidarity with everyone fighting against racism and injustice. We want our theatre to represent and include everyone in our Leeds City region. We’ll continue to work to ensure our stages and workforce represent our diverse society for the future.
#BlackLivesMatter
Murder. Love. Revenge. 💀❤⚔ Princess Hamlet sets out to avenge her father’s brutal murder in this unmissable new production of
#Shakespeare
's thrilling tragedy. Playing in our Pop-Up theatre, in association with
@SOYOLeeds
1 - 30 March.
#Hamlet
🎉Delighted to announce that we are co-producing once again with
@Opera_North
for a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s exquisitely acerbic A Little Night Music, opening at Leeds Playhouse in May 2020.
👉
'The way we tell stories shouldn't be confined by the way the non-disabled theatre industry traditionally creates stories.
'If the industry wants compelling stories, they should let us create in our way.'
Leanna Benjamin, Artist for Change at Leeds Playhouse, writer and performer