The new autumn season at Leeds Playhouse has shows ranging from large-scale musicals to intimate dramas, children’s stories, comedy, poetry and music. Highlights of the season include: The 30th anniversary revival of Beautiful Thing (October 18-28), Jonathan Harvey's iconic, coming-out and coming-of-age story set in the nineties, in a joint production with Stratford East and HOME Manchester.
Playhouse artistic director James Brining directs Lionel Bart’s Oliver! (November 27-January 27), the classic British musical featuring memorable songs including Food, Glorious Food and I’d Do Anything. And there's new musical version of Roald Dahl’s children's story The Enormous Crocodile (December 2-January 6) , co-produced with the Roald Dahl Story Company and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
This year is the centenary of BBC Radio Drama, and to celebrate, BBC Contains Strong Language brings together some of the sparkiest professionals in the field for two days of inspiring sessions and conversations (September 22-23).
Leeds International Festival of Ideas will this year take place at Leeds Playhouse, with four days of conversation and curiosity across panel discussions, fireside chats and an impressive line-up of speakers, performers and thinkers (September 27-30).
Transform, the Leeds-based international performance festival, presents Oh Deer! (October 13-14) by Australian company APHIDS, and In One Song (October 19-20) by Belgian artist Miet Warlop.
The Playhouse continues to play a significant role in supporting local work from a diverse range of organisations and artists, including The Carnival Royalty Show (August 26); 90-minute versions of Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It by the graduating actors from Leeds Conservatoire’s BA Acting and BA Actor Musician courses (October 12 and 14) and archipelago arts collective with Santa Must Die!, a gig theatre show (December 12-16). Touring productions coming to the Playhouse include The House With Chicken Legs (September 13-16) featuring puppets, live music and magic, and I, Daniel Blake (October 3-7) adapted from Ken Loach's award-winning film.
"More and more, we’re developing partnerships with individuals, groups and businesses across the Leeds City Region looking for a place to meet, hold an event or perform their own work” explained James Brining. “It’s our pleasure to create theatre for audiences to enjoy, but that’s not our only role. We also want to learn from other people's experiences and share them.”
General tickets go on sale from July 5.
More info here