Yorke Dance Project comes to Leeds to celebrate 20 years of exceptional dance

The contemporary ballet company Yorke Dance Project returns to Leeds to celebrate its 20th anniversary with TWENTY. This incredible show features new dances by Robert Cohan CBE and the first ever restaging of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Playground since its première by Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1979.

The company will be performing at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre on March 20th for one night only.

Yorke Dance Project continues to build acclaim for presenting dance by past masters as well as emerging artists from both the UK and the USA. Artistic Director Yolande Yorke-Edgell has curated TWENTY as a celebratory programme which showcases her company’s philosophy.

The show will host a feature of guest artists and performances

The show will feature guest artist Romany Pajdak, First Artist of The Royal Ballet, music composed by Gordon Crosse, and set & costume designs reimagined by MacMillan’s daughter Charlotte MacMillan.

Communion is the sixth work created for the company. This has been created by legendary contemporary choreographer Robert Cohan. Communion is set to music by Nils Frahm and designed by Cohan’s former London Contemporary Dance Theatre collaborator John B Read.

A new work called Between and Within by emerging LA-based choreographer Sophia Stoller has been made with music by Justin Scheid. Here, four dancers play out the complex dynamics of a relationship between two people.

Yorke-Edgell’s own work Imprint pays tribute to the three choreographers who have been the most influential throughout her dance career. Richard Alston who she danced at both Rambert and his company with. Bella Lewitzky, whose LA company she joined in 1994 and Robert Cohen who she worked closely with over the past few years.

There are still tickets available for TWENTY by Yorke Dance Project at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre. You can get your tickets at theatreleeds.com or by calling the Box Office on 0013 220 8008. Tickets are priced at £15.00

Live at Leeds 2019

Live at Leeds is back for another year on Saturday 4th May 2019! This phenomenal one-day music festival showcases the best new talents and emerging artists from across the UK as well as some international artists. 

Live at Leeds has been a staple of Leeds’ booming music scene for years now. You can see some of the best new bands in various venues across Leeds City Centre. All the venues are within walking distance which gives you the opportunity to discover new artists, follow your favourites and get a whole platter of genres for your audible pleasure.

The event takes place on the first bank holiday weekend of May (Saturday 4th 2019). It’s the perfect way to spend the day (and night).

As always, Live at Leeds has some great acts on the bill: 

Tom Grennan, Kate Tempest, The Academic, Drenge, Swim Deep, Sundara Karma, The Sherlocks, The Slow Readers Club and Skinny Living (to name just a few).

Live at Leeds lineup

If you’re wanting to bring your children, they will have to be 14-years-old or over to attend Live at Leeds.

Head to as many venues as you can. Just make sure you go to the Wristband Exchange before heading to any of the venues. You can also buy VIP wristbands for the event but get them while they’re still available as they’ll be running out fast! 

The VIP wristband allows you to queue jump at venues (subject to capacity). You also get a Live at Leeds tote bag and free entry to the Official Live at Leeds Afterparty at The Wardrobe all night. 

Purchase your VIP wristbands exclusively at: https://www.lunatickets.co.uk/event/live-at-leeds-2019/various-leeds-venues/1227872

You can also buy your Live at Leeds wristbands at: See Tickets, Luna Tickets, Crash Records, Jumbo Records. Tickets can also be purchased in person for the following places in person: Brudenell Social Club (with no booking fees), O2 Academy Leeds Box Office (with no booking fees) and Trinity Leeds Customer Service Lounge (with no booking fees to arrange a complimentary companion ticket.

Live at Leeds also provides a free companion ticket for disabled customers. These can be booked at one-day or See Tickets. Email accessbookings@liveatleeds.com with proof of ticket purchase and details of your access requirements.

The Live at Leeds official app will be your must-have companion for your day of music discovery. The app will give you information and links to all the artists. It will also allow you to build a schedule to plan your perfect day. This app will be launched soon.

Leeds International Festival 2019

After its growing popularity and demand, the Leeds International Festival is back for another year in the city centre. Leeds International Festival (LIF) launched back in April 2017 by Leeds BID and now in its third year, it continues to pull in a variety of great speakers, artists, performers and a growing number of guests.

Over the 10-day period, we will see an influx of creative and engaging speakers and performers including; Dr John Cooper Clarke, Frank Bruno MBE, Professor Alice Roberts and Tommy Cash (to name but a few). 

This year, The Tetley will act as the basecamp for the events with The Village being located within the grounds of this beautiful art deco headquarters of the former Tetley Brewery. 

We can’t think of a more impressive space for this year’s Leeds International Festival. This cultural hub will certainly put people in the spirit of the event! Not only that, but it will be a great opportunity for many people who haven’t been before to visit The Tetley – we promise that this is a treat in itself. 

CORE Programme

LIF’s CORE Programme invites the world’s leading creators, innovators, thought-leaders and pioneers to Leeds. Here, they challenge, dissect and evaluate new ideas and discuss the potentials in the world of tomorrow. By inviting thought-provoking speakers and creatives to Leeds, the CORE aims to challenge our understanding of the world today. 

OFF Programme

An eclectic, unpredictable and vibrant world, the OFF programme showcases the brouhaha of live music, after-parties, exhibitions, performances, discussions, comedy, food and experimental events. The OFF Programme will take place in streets and venues across the city. The aim is to shine a spotlight on Leeds’ deep-rooted cultural diversity and flourishing creative drive. 

Leeds International Festival takes place on 2nd May – 12th May 2019. 

For more information, head over to the Leeds International Festival website for a full breakdown of events, locations and times:
https://leedsinternationalfestival.com 


“There’s no place like home” as The Wizard of Oz becomes Leeds Playhouse’s big Christmas show in the newly renovated theatre

We’re so excited to announce that The Wizard of Oz will be coming to Leeds Playhouse as this year’s big Christmas production. Yes, this beloved show which is loved by all generations will grace the stage of the newly redeveloped Quarry Theatre.

It’s the first in-house production in the newly renovated Quarry Hill Theatre. It gives a whole new meaning to “There’s no place like home!”

The show is based on the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and it features many of the cherished songs from the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland. ‘If I Only Had a Brain’, ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’ and Over the Rainbow’ will bring back feelings of pure nostalgia to anybody who’s ever seen the film.

Directed by Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sunshine on Leith), this new production will run from 20th November 2019 until 25th January 2020.

“Christmas at Leeds Playhouse is always a magical experience and 2019 is set to be extra-special. We can’t wait to welcome everyone into our redeveloped building for this enchanting adventure story for the whole family.”

We can’t think of a better production than The Wizard of Oz to introduce (and reintroduce) patrons to the newly renovated Leeds Playhouse.

There’ll also hosting a sing-a-long performance which encourages the audience to dress up and get involved in the fun. There are also Relaxed and Dementia Friendly performances available.

“The Wizard of Oz will be the centrepiece of our reopening season here at Leeds Playhouse. It is a household favourite full of adventure, excitement and magic. I can’t wait to bring the story to life in a fresh, thrilling way for 2019. It’s going to be incredible to see the new Playhouse come alive and to share with audiences the freshly refurbished theatres, restaurants and bars. With the opening of the new public park on our doorstep, there should be a real festive buzz here on Quarry Hill.”

Wizard of Oz

Tickets are now on general sale. So make sure you polish your ruby red slippers in time to see this truly stellar performance. The Wizard of Oz will not be a production to miss!
https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/the-wizard-of-oz/#tickets

The show will run from 20th November 2019 – 25th January 2020. The full cast and creative team will be announced later in the year.