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.

Cocktails in the City 2019

It’s been described as a delectable festival of drinks, Cocktails in the City is back! Experience over 15 of the city’s most sought after bars all under one roof! The finest mixologists that Leeds has to offer will be shaking, stirring and pouring the most creative cocktails. And best of all, it’s all happening in the gorgeous Leeds Town Hall.

Every cocktail bar genre will be there, from the cosmopolitan rooftop bars to the underground secret speakeasies to the loud, colourful chic settings of the neon-filled bars. Celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of Leeds’ cocktail scene. Do it in style at the UK’s leading cocktail event on March 1st and March 2nd. 

You can find yourself a modern twist on an old classic, über cool creations and more delicious concoctions to try. The city’s most exquisite cocktail bars go head-to-head to create the swankiest NEW signature cocktails created exclusively for the event.

You can sample three new craft spirits in the intimate Tasting Rooms. Celebrate 100 years of the Negroni and try three twists on Italy’s most infamous beverage. There’s also Flavour Pairing sessions and a chance to create your own delicacy in the Garnish Workshop to create the most Instagrammable cocktail.  

While you’re there, you can also tuck into some scrumptious grub thanks to Leeds’ celebrated chefs Luke Downing and Matt Healy who are creating new dishes for you to try.

Work through a vast array of new cocktails before you cast your vote for the winning serve of the night. You can also listen to some live music brought to you by The Domino Club. 

Sip and sample your way through the night with a plethora of boozy beverages with the backdrop of DJs at Leeds Town Hall. There will even be some funk soul sessions with The Gentleman DJ! 

Cocktails in the City – March 1st – March 2nd 2019

Entry ticket of £12.50 includes a welcome cocktail and a cocktail booklet. Additional cocktails are £6.50

Featured bars: 
Angelica, Aperitivo, Below Stairs, Blind Tyger, The Botanist, The Domino, Dough, East 59th, Feed, Harvey Nichols Fourth Floor Bar, Issho, Lost and Found, Manahatta, Smokestack, Tattu, Vice and Virtue, The Watermark, The Maven, Grantley Hall

Victoria Ballet World Première at Leeds Grand Theatre

Cathy Mason’s phenomenal ballet, Victoria, will be making its World Première at Leeds Grand Theatre!

Queen Victoria is undeniably one of the most iconic and well-known monarchs in British history. So Northern Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada have co-produced this masterpiece to tell the life and legacy of the late Queen of England. 

Queen Victoria was born on May 24th, 1819 which makes this her 200th birthday year. Victoria had a 63-year reign as the Queen of England. She was known for her turbulent life filled with passion, tragedy and fierce devotion.

Photo Guy Farrow

We know a lot about Victoria thanks to her diaries that revealed a fascinating backstory, so intriguing in fact, that her daughter Beatrice tried to rewrite history. 

Victoria found herself in an irrepressible love for Albert which sparked a royal dynasty but the most powerful woman in history crumbled to her knees with grief after his untimely death. 

Her reign was filled with triumphs in technology from the typewriter, sewing machine, tarmac, photography and film (the first moving image ever recorded was in Leeds!).

Victoria will also be a ‘world’s first’

The first Northern Ballet production to be streamed live on the silver screen, in cinemas across the UK, giving access to the whole country.

The show will run from 9th March – 16th March at Leeds Grand Theatre before touring the UK. The evening performance on Saturday 16th March will be a special celebration of Principle Dancer, Pippa Moore.

Pippa Moore (right) will retire at the end of the spring 2019 season. Photo Guy Farrow.

The evening showing on Saturday 16th March will be Pippa’s last performance in our home city of Leeds. 

This is a definite not to miss production, choreographed by Cathy Marston, who also created Northern Ballet’s acclaimed Jane Eyre.

Get your tickets here: https://northernballet.com/victoria

Hamlet, as you’ve never it before, is coming to Leeds Playhouse

A young woman returns from university to attend the funeral of her father. But when she returns, she finds her whole world turned on its head. Hamlet finds herself consumed by grief but she vows to avenge her father after his brutal murder. This modern take on a Shakespearian classic focuses on the themes of love, loyalty, morality and madness. 

Tessa Parr will be taking on the title role of the contemporary Hamlet. It’s not the first time Hamlet has been played by a female. But this show isn’t just a ‘gender flip’ production, in this play, Hamlet is in a lesbian relationship with Ophelia. Only the role of Hamlet has seen the gender role flipped and the play has adapted the script to use the correct pronouns. 

Judi Dench at the Shakespeare Gala, 2016

Following the acclaimed production of Romeo & Juliet where Tessa Parr played the female lead, she has returned to play this traditional male role as she reunites with director Amy Leach and designer Hayley Grindle. It’s one of the most historically acclaimed British plays of all time and we can’t wait to see Tessa take on the role. 

Rehearsals are in full swing and its shaping up to be an unforgettable performance

To match the modern-day reimagining of Shakespeare’s iconic play, the production will feature contemporary costumes and stage design. Think of a Scandi noir visual with a gritty and cold feel to the production. 

Hamlet comes to Leeds Playhouse’s Pop-Up theatre on Friday 1st March and will run until Saturday 30th March.

Get your tickets here: https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/hamlet/#tickets 

Dinner 18:55 – Two Generations Finding Common Ground at Leeds Playhouse

There’s not long now until Leeds Playhouse stages Dinner 18:55. A unique intergenerational production performed by participates from Leeds Playhouse’s younger and older people’s programmes. 

The performance was developed by Leeds Playhouse’s award-winning Creative Engagement department and it will showcase 18 community actors across two generations from the Leeds area. Leeds Playhouse firmly believes there’s nothing quite like bringing people together!

Rehearsals for Dinner 18:55 are already in full swing for the show which opens at the Playhouse on 22nd February. 

In Dinner 18:55, we see the ensemble sharing real stories and experiences as well as their aspirations and fears while discussing their memorable mealtimes. The themes of the performance focus loneliness, conversation and community during these divisive times.

“Rehearsing for Dinner 18:55 has been an absolute delight! I’ve been encouraged to contribute to the process and have felt valued throughout. Nowadays I tend to attend daytime classes and social activities mixing almost exclusively with other retired people. I was really excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with a younger generation, and I wasn’t disappointed. Working with much younger people has been exhilarating and great fun. We all get on so well and continue to learn from each other at every rehearsal.” – Pat White, Dinner 18:55 performer

The show is directed by Leeds Playhouse’s Older People’s Programme Manager Maggie De Ruyck, with original music composed by Caution Collective’s Christella Litras and designed by Laura Ann Price.

Join the escapades as we embark on a venture where two generations make time for conversation over dinner. It’s an intergenerational performance that helps bridge the gap in our community. Intergenerational conversation and community spirit is certainly something we can all take away from this brilliant production.

Dinner 18:55 plays in Leeds Playhouse’s Pop-Up theatre from 22nd to 23rd February. 

Get your tickets here: https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/dinner-1855/#tickets 

Northern Ballet Has Two Huge Announcements For Ballet Day!

To celebrate Ballet Day, Northern Ballet has some truly brilliant announcements! If you’re a ballet fanatic, we’re certain that we’ve got news that will tickle your fancy. Northern Ballet doesn’t just have one, but two incredible announcements. And both will have you pirouetting out of your seats with glee! And it all begins with Victoria and Dracula.

Northern Ballet is making their live cinema debut this year. Two phenomenal ballets are hitting the silver screen for all to see. It’s the first time one of their fabulous productions will make their live cinema debut. It’s a great opportunity especially for those who can’t make it to the theatre. 

First, Cathy Marston’s Victoria will stream live to cinemas across the UK on 25th June 2019. This will happen following its world première tour. Furthermore, Queen Victoria is undeniably one of the most iconic monarchs in British history and this ballet beautifully tells her life story.

The second is David Nixon OBE’s stellar production, Dracula. It will be streamed direct to cinemas from the newly redeveloped Leeds Playhouse on Halloween! If that doesn’t get you in the spooky spirit, I don’t know what will. It’s Bram Stoker’s legendary brought to life as you’ve never seen it before!

Victoria and Dracula are coming to the silver screens across the UK!

“As the widest touring ballet company in the UK, Northern Ballet goes further to provide world-class ballet on the doorsteps of people throughout the UK. However, it is not possible to reach everybody with our live tour and so I am delighted that we will be offering Victoria and Dracula to cinema audiences throughout the country to enable even more people to access our productions. We pride ourselves on being innovative storytellers, pushing the boundaries of what stories can be told through dance and these two ballets are excellent demonstrations of that. In the hands of one of the most exciting choreographers of today, Cathy Marston’s Victoria takes the life of one of our most iconic monarchs and presents her story in a way never seen before. Whilst Dracula sees Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire brought to the stage in a ballet full of sensuality and darkness; perfect viewing for Halloween.
We hope that through these cinema screenings, not only will ballet fans have more opportunities to see us perform but that others who may have never seen a ballet before will give it a try and discover a new passion for our art form.’ – David Nixon OBE

Both productions will be available in cinemas throughout the UK. It marks the first time one of Northern Ballet’s full-length productions will be shown on the silver screen!

What an amazing opportunity!

‘For over 10 years now, CinemaLive have been providing audiences worldwide with access to incredible events through their local cinema. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Northern Ballet to distribute these two exciting productions to cinemas in 2019. Their innovative approach to storytelling looks beyond traditional ballet titles and we are proud to bring this unique and inventive content to the big screen. We look forward to seeing both Victoria and Dracula connect with cinema audiences across the UK and Ireland this year”.  – John Travers, Head of Distribution for Cinema Live

We cannot wait to see these stellar performances come to cinemas. In fact, it gives those who’ve not been able to see a ballet before a chance to enjoy. 

Tickets for Victoria and Dracula in cinemas are on sale now. To find your closest participating cinemas and to book tickets visit northernballet.com/cinema


Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life In Drawing

February 1st 2019 marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo Da Vinci. To celebrate the Renaissance master, Leeds Art Gallery have put on a truly beautiful exhibition of 12 phenomenal drawings by one of the world’s most legendary artists. 

This exhibition showcases the intricate details in every sketch, drawing, study that Da Vinci produced. Seeing the pages displayed from several year’s worth of sketchbooks and journals is has a remarkable thing to behold. In fact, it’s a beautiful way to pay homage to this beloved artist who passed away 500 years ago!

As you walk around the room, you find yourself getting lost in every little scribble, sketch and line in Da Vinci’s work. It has been curated so beautifully and you get to learn a lot about Leonardo’s history as you look at each piece in detail. 

There are so many incredible illustrations focusing on the muscles and structure of both humans and horses. It was truly fascinating to see one of the true artistic masters’ creations right there in front of you.

Leonardo Da Vinci

We can’t recommend visiting it enough. This exhibition will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for any lover of art and illustration and for any history fanatics. 

“Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life In Drawing” is open to the general public from today until the 6th May 2019


Leeds Playhouse Presents – random

It’s just an ordinary day in the ordinary life of an ordinary family. The alarm clock flickers to 7:37 am. With a rushed breakfast in their stomachs, they join the hectic rush of the world outside. But all it takes is for one random act to flip everything on its head. In a moment, lives are changed forever with a family left astounded by a devastating catastrophe. random is a remarkable play by debbie tucker green vividly details the feelings of grief and bewilderment. 

Kiza Deen (Silent Witness and Hollyoaks) takes on the beautifully poignant one-woman play which focuses on an ordinary family caught up in the whirlwind of grief and heartache. Kiza portrays the roles of four different characters with incredible finesse in this marvellous play, directed by Gbolahan Obisesan.

Director Gbolahan Obisesan

We don’t want to give too much away about this play but we can’t recommend enough how much you need to see it. In fact, random promises highs and lows with Kiza giving everything she has to this demanding role. 

Kiza Deen in rehearsals for random

The rehearsals have been going spectacularly and now we can’t wait to see the final result in the flesh. Make sure you get your tickets now to guarantee your place to see this phenomenal play by an incredible award-winning playwright.

Update: We have some incredible photographs from the first night of random at the Pop-Up theatre and it looks truly brilliant!

So far, audiences have described this stellar production as ‘mesmerising’, ‘truly remarkable’ and ‘beautifully directed’. random will be at Leeds Playhouse’s Pop-Up Theatre from Monday 4th Feb – Sat 16th Feb

You can get your tickets here: https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/random/#tickets

Coming to see ‘Kes’

‘Kes’ has been watched and loved by generations of northerners (and the rest of the UK) for years now. It’s a cultural masterpiece and being taught to school children ensures the spirit of this classic is kept alive.

Ken Loach’s acclaimed British film focuses on 14-year-old Billy Casper. Kes is a heartwarming tale about a boy trying to find himself in the world. Billy is a troubled working-class lad living in Barnsley. He’s subjected to abuse at school as well as in his home life. After finding a kestrel on a nearby farm, Billy begins to take an interest in falconry and he his life starts to change.

“It’s fierce, an it’s wild, an’ it’s not bothered about anybody, not even about me right. And that’s why it’s great.” 

The critically acclaimed film is an adaption of Barry Hines’ book ‘A Kestrel for a Knave’ which was written in 1968 but is still as poignant today as it was when it was first published. Ken Loach then released the film just two years later where it became an instant hit. 

Kes at Leeds Playhouse

The stage adaption of Kes has been brilliantly portrayed by the two-man cast at Leeds Playhouse. Lucas Button portrays the role of the young Billy Casper and he puts in a stellar performance of the troubled young boy. Jack Lord plays the role of ‘Man’. Jack brilliantly portrays all the other major characters in Billy’s life. Everybody from the man who runs the evil headmaster, the brutish PE teacher, his troubled mother, Jud the bullying older brother and the teacher who encourages Billy to follow his passion in falconry.

Barry Hines’ stellar novel has been adapted for stage and opens at Leeds Playhouse on 25th January, running until 16th February.

If you’re coming from out of town and you want to get the full ‘Yorkshire’ experience before heading to the theatre, why not check out some of Leeds’ best-loved boozers and traditional eateries. 

Whitelock’s Ale House

Whitelock’s Ale House is the oldest pub in Leeds. It was first founded in 1715 as The Turk’s Head before being taken over by the Whitelock family in the 1880’s. 

This gorgeous traditional pub also extended into the row of Georgian working men’s cottages where it was described as ‘the very heart of Leeds’ by English poet and broadcaster John Betjeman. The bar still features significant traditional 19th-century furnishings, from rich mahogany woodwork to low beamed ceilings and original beer mirrors.  Food critic Jay Rayner said that the people of Islington would sell their granny for the copper bar tops!

The Pack Horse

Records suggest that there was a pub on the site of The Pack Horse as far back as 1615! Despite closing and opening several times its has retained a very rich history over the decades. Royalists were entertained during the English Civil War; it has been home to a dancing school, and even spent some time as a theatre bar. Not only does it fit the traditional ‘pub’ aesthetic, you can sup a pint while enjoying one of their delicious Pieminister pies with mash and gravy. It doesn’t get much more traditional than this!  

The Adelphi

Another popular pub filled with history. Built in 1897, The Adelphi is filled with Victorian charm. Located just by The Tetley, this building actually became a Tetley Heritage pub in 1978 and later became a Grade II listed in 1994. Etched glass, tiled floors and mahogany fittings really sends you back in time as you venture into this beloved Leeds pub. We’d recommend one of the great craft beers with your Cherry Orchard Sausage and Mash. And if beer isn’t your thing, fear not, The Adelphi also boasts and extensive wine list and a curated G&T menu. 

We hope these will get you in the spirit for this fantastic production. It’s not a show to miss so make sure you grab your tickets fast! https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/events/kes/#tickets

“He called the Kestrel ‘Kes’… as he would a friend.”