Leeds Playhouse
Registered charity 255460) | |
Capacity | Quarry Theatre 750 Courtyard Theatre 350 |
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Opened | March 1990 |
Website | |
www |
Leeds Playhouse is a theatre in the city centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It opened in 1990 in the Quarry Hill area of the city as the West Yorkshire Playhouse, successor to the original Leeds Playhouse, and was rebranded in June 2018 to revert to the title "Leeds Playhouse".[1][2] It has two auditoria and a studio space, hosts a wide range of productions, and engages in outreach work in the local community.
History
The origins of Leeds Playhouse lie in the Leeds Playgoers' Society, founded in 1907 as an off-shoot of the
The Leeds Playhouse turned into the West Yorkshire Playhouse in March 1990 when it relocated to the Quarry Hill area of the city as part of a major regeneration scheme. In June 2018, it rebranded as Leeds Playhouse once again in response to the development and growth of Leeds City region and also Leeds City Council's longstanding support for the theatre in Leeds.
Building
Leeds Playhouse was designed by The Appleton Partnership architects of Edinburgh. The complex comprises: The Quarry Theatre (750 seats), The Courtyard Theatre (350 seats), a CAMRA award-winning bar, a restaurant, the Newlyn Gallery, two function rooms (the Congreve Room and the Priestley Room), three rehearsal spaces, a recording studio, extensive technical workshops, dressing rooms, a costume hire department and offices for production, administrative and artistic teams. The foundation stone was laid by Judi Dench in 1989, and on completion it was opened by Diana Rigg. The theatre was completed at a cost of £13 million.[4]
The building underwent a £16.8 million redevelopment in 2019: creating a new foyer, improving access throughout the building, moving the front of the building to face the city [5] and creating the Bramall Rock Void studio space (130 seats).[6]
The playhouse has a large neon sculpture on its exterior which spells out the lyric from the song "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba: "I get knocked down but I get up again".[7]
Productions
According to the Leeds Playhouse website it has established a reputation both nationally and internationally as one of Britain's most exciting producing theatres, winning awards for everything from its productions to its customer service, and it is "the largest regional repertory theatre in the UK outside London and Stratford".
Productions cover a wide range from classic drama to modern European theatre and children's shows. There is an emphasis on new writing, especially from the north of England. There are many coproductions with other regional theatres, some of which go on to tour or transfer to London theatres. Visiting companies include Northern Broadsides, Kneehigh Theatre and Peepolykus.
The theatre was home to the original version of the musical Spend Spend Spend, the story of the life of Viv Nicholson, the 1961 famous Pools winner and author of the book of the same name. The original, starring Rosemary Ashe appeared at the Playhouse before it went on to West End success starring Barbara Dickson.
A typical season includes four or five major productions which run for three or four weeks, and a number of one-week or shorter runs which may be by visiting companies. A typical recent season (Autumn-Winter 2007) included:
Financial support
The theatre receives funding from Arts Council England (£1,500,000) and Leeds City Council (£670,000). It also encourages corporate sponsorship. The theatre is a member of the European Theatre Convention.[11]
References
- ^ "History". Leeds Playhouse. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Brown, Mark (22 June 2018). "'We're in Leeds': West Yorkshire Playhouse changes name". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Archives of the Leeds Playhouse, Brotherton Collection, University of Leeds, MS 20c
- ^ Morgan, John and Joy, David: A Celebration of Leeds, page 43. Great Northern Press, 2006.
- ^ "This is the new entrance to Leeds Playhouse". Retrieved 25 July 2020.
- ^ Clarke, Paul. "New space to do more work at Leeds Playhouse". North West End UK. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
- ^ "Lockdown 'knocked down' Leeds Playhouse but it 'got back up again' for Leeds communities". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ West Yorkshire Playhouse. "About us". Retrieved 13 November 2007.
- ^ "James Brining announces first season as artistic director of West Yorkshire Playhouse | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com.
- ^ "Zodwa Nyoni | The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize". www.blackburnprize.org. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ European Theatre Convention. "Members: West Yorkshire Playhouse". Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2007.