Your guide to Theatres in Leeds

Written by Carol Ferndale

Prior to 1771 the only chance of seeing a bit of theatre in Leeds was when strolling players visited and performed in the pubs, but then Leeds got its first theatre, and the city has never looked back since. Here is a look at the theatres in Leeds.

West Yorkshire Playhouse

The West Yorkshire Playhouse started life back in 1970 as the Leeds Playhouse following a campaign spearheaded by such Thespian luminaries as Peter O’Toole and Keith Waterhouse for Leeds to have a repertory theatre with its own company. The Playhouse was originally housed up at the Leeds University Sports Hall on a ten year rent-free lease, and was Bohemian and innovative from the start.

This was the place to see the latest up-and-coming work in theatre, and you could stoke up beforehand at the Playhouse’s own As You like It Restaurant, which was staffed by eager volunteers. However by 1990, after a number of extensions to the original lease, the theatre was finally reborn as the West Yorkshire Playhouse on its present day premises at the Quarry Hill end of the Headrow.

The Playhouse continues in the groundbreaking vein in which it started and productions range from classical to modern, with an emphasis on new work. It comprises the Quarry Theatre, The Courtyard Theatre, function rooms, a restaurant, a cafe, and a bar that meets with the approval of real ale fans.

The Carriageworks

Actually housed in an old carriageworks, and located on the vibrant Millennium Square within easy reach of a wide variety of pubs, clubs and restaurants, the Carriageworks puts on a very dynamic selection of theatre, film, dance and comedy in two performance areas. There is the big auditorium for the main performances and upstairs the carriageworks which provides a cosier space.

Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House

This fine old traditional theatre has a Romanesque exterior and a somewhat Gothic interior. It is the home of Opera North, and the Northern Ballet Theatre regularly put on performances here. The Grand Theatre also puts on a fair number of musicals, and performances by artistes who tend towards the mainstream and times gone by. This is a safe place to come if you are none to keen on the edgy or avant garde side of the arts.

City Varieties Music Hall

The City Varieties Music Hall is a terrific example of an old Victorian music hall, which back in the day put on “variety”, which meant one short act after another, mixing singers, musicians, comedy acts, and a certain degree of bawdiness, often with plenty of singing along from the audience.

Music hall and variety provided a bit of an escape from the strictures of the time, and its relative raunchiness caused it to be frowned upon by the worthies of the day. Unfortunately there is not much going on at this theatre at the moment as it is closed for refurbishment. However enthusiasts are looking forward to 2011, when it will reopen, and continue to do music hall, pantomime, comedy and music.

So in terms of both the contemporary and traditional there is a fair bit going on in the theatres of Leeds, with performances ranging from avant garde to mainstream, from pantomime to Shakespeare.

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