As the pop-up season draws to a close at Leeds Playhouse, preparations are underway for the producing theatre’s grand reopening in its £15.8m redeveloped building this October.
Part of the redevelopment includes a brand new studio space, the Bramall Rock Void. The first production to be staged in the space will be No Beginnings by Yorkshire writer Charley Miles.
Directed by Amy Leach, this empowering story follows four women living in Leeds across the five years when Peter Sutcliffe dominated news headlines. Their strength and survival is a landmark moment in history when women stood shoulder to shoulder in solidarity, to reclaim the night.
“I started writing There Are No Beginnings during my Channel 4 residency in 2017 and was able to speak to dozens of incredible women as part of that process,” explains Charley.
“I hope that audiences will come together in their new theatre space to reclaim this narrative with us, and I hope above all else that it will make them feel proud.”
Also in October, Yorkshire-based company LUNG Theatre present their award-winning production Trojan Horse, a prescient story of a community torn apart by racial division, taken from real life testimonies of people in Bradford, Birmingham and London.
Other productions at the beginning of the season include Lemn Sissay: My Name is Why (7th October), Mushy: Lyrically Speaking (8th – 12th October), Hanif Kureishi’s My Beautiful Launderette (15th – 2th6 October) and an inspiring adapation of children’s story The Very Hungry Caterpillar (28th – 30th October).
“The transformed Leeds Playhouse marks the most exciting new chapter in our history for decades and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to enjoy and explore,” says Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining.
“The new building will allow us to offer the magic of theatre to everyone, all under one roof. I’m so excited for all three of our venues to function together and it’s our hope that the Autumn/Winter programme will give a taste of what we’re about: a theatre that is rooted in its local community, producing work of national and international significance and supporting and developing artists at all stages of their career.”
Tickets are on sale to Playhouse Pass members and Patrons now, with tickets on general sale from 10am on Tuesday 21st May. For a full programme of events visit leedsplayhouse.org.uk
