Know your theatre:
The former West Yorkshire Playhouse sits on Quarry Hill, at one end of Leeds city centre.
As West Yorkshire Playhouse it opened its doors in March 1990 under artistic director Jude Kelly. Donald Sinden had turned the first sod in November 1987, Judi Dench had laid the foundation stone in March 1989 and Albert Finney had then performed the topping-out ceremony in September that year.
From the start, the Playhouse has encompassed classics and contemporary British and European drama and inter-national modern theatre, and has
implemented a vigorous new writing policy as well as pioneering community engagement work. Many of its produc-tions are toured.
The building houses The Quarry (750-850 seats) and The Courtyard (400). The Bramall Rock Void studio theatre, seating around 100, is a new under-ground space mainly for new work.
After a impressive £15.8m, 12-month renovation and changing its name to Leeds Playhouse – the name of the original company that operated before the move to Quarry Hill – the 30-year-old theatre re-opened in October 2019.
The elevated site previously presented access problems but now, as well as the
new studio theatre, remodelled restaurant and bars, new city-facing
entrance with cafe open from 8 am, new seating in the two main auditoria and excellent (and plentiful) new loos, offers new lifts to every level of the multi-level site and a general raising of standards throughout.
Address:
Phone:
Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UP
Box office 0113 213 7700. Groups call 0113 213 7700. General inquiries 0113 213 7700.
Facilities:
Access to the refurbished theatre is now at street level through a new cafe entrance. The new Quarry auditorium seating is extremely comfortable, and the auditorium has an excellent curved rake and huge stage. Sight lines are superb and disabled access is excellent throughout. The Courtyard Theatre is below stairs (or lift) and very similar in size and style to The Lowry's Quays. A large main restaurant and bar serve the whole building and there are lots of nooks and spaces scattered about for coffee or wine. Great view across the city centre
Parking:
This is a city centre theatre, so parking isn’t ideal. The nearest is opposite, at John Lewis, called Victoria Leeds – very expensive during the day but £3 after 5pm. Very good for evening shows but bad for matinees. Other car parks can be found in the city centre, some cheaper if you are OK to walk a little way.
Online box office:
Go here and follow the booking route to your show choice