Feel Me is a new interactive theatre show from The Paper Birds, UK leaders in devised verbatim theatre. Feel Me asks, via your mobile phone, who and what you care about from the stories unfolding live on stage in front of you.

Feel Me

Leeds Playhouse

Step through the wardrobe into the kingdom of Narnia for the most mystical of adventures in a faraway land.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Members of The Performance Ensemble describe having to negotiate an attitude to their age that restricts who they are. Join them as they navigate to find a new pathway that can change their perspective on the past and the present.

RIPE

The Social Justice Series is a free monthly event held at Leeds Playhouse, bringing together students, colleagues and the community for an evening of discussion.

Leeds Trinity University Social Justice Lecture Series 2

Once a coastguard station renowned for daring rescues, the old Watch House is now all but abandoned. Just like Anne, dumped here while her parents sort their divorce. She’s never felt more alone. But she isn’t…

The Watch House

Sanctuary is a brand-new musical that welcomes us in and asks the question: Do we want safety and freedom for only ourselves, or for us all? A vital story of one man’s hopes for help and support in a time when not all strangers are welcomed.

Sanctuary

Hidden amongst the concrete high-rises and the redbrick buildings is something pretty unexpected. A place bursting with colour where flowers, fruits and vegetables come to life in every corner growing up walls, twisting around handrails and planted in unusual objects.

The Hidden Garden

Leeds Conservatoire tackle this funny, moving, coming of age story.  With scandal circling their community, an English assignment becomes uncomfortable for a group of students, as they ask what really happened in Salem, examining power, love, and sex education. Written by Kimberley Belflower.

John Proctor Is the Villain

Leeds Conservatoire return to present the Miller masterpiece that dramatizes the famed Salem witch trials of Massachusetts.  This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International on behalf of Josef Weinberger Ltd. Written by Arthur Miller.

The Crucible

Leave the hours, minutes, and seconds behind, step across the threshold and meet the bar’s maestro mixologists, crooners, and hosts. But a mystery lies at the heart of this place, a mystery hidden even from them. One that can only be solved when we spend our time together.

The Bar at the Edge of Time

Join us on the last Saturday of the month for a series of storytelling sessions. Discover brand new-stories through Liv’s retelling of folk tales from around the world. These tales are full of tricksters, magic and luck!

Storytelling

Brooke Room

The real story…about a lonely prince, a new family and sisters who might not be as bad as you think.

The Glass Slippers

Whether you’ve been a fan for decades or recently joined the shoal via the ‘Stranger Things’ phenomenon, there has never been a better time to release your inner Bush and celebrate at this joyful, unique and mind-blowing show.

An Evening Without Kate Bush

Amber is trapped – by her family’s rules, by their expectations, by her own fears. But on the running track she is completely free.

Run, Rebel

Nathaniel is a serious romantic who sees love as a fine art. He’s looking for the Mona Lisa to his Da Vinci, and tonight is the night: his date with Destiny…’s Child.

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz

The ever-popular Brighouse & Rastrick Band boast a formidable reputation: in its time the majority of premier band championships have been held by ‘Briggus’, most recently becoming the 2022 British Open and Brass in Concert Champions.

Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band

Come join us at the Leeds Playhouse for a vibrant and colorful event celebrating Indian culture, food, music, and dance. Get ready to immerse yourself in the rich traditions of India with performances, delicious cuisine, and cultural exhibitions.

India Day Celebration

Combining handcrafted animation and bold storytelling, Please right back sweeps audiences into a magical, mischievous world, inspired by a true story.

Please Right Back

The shop is a kind of museum, specialising in trinkets, whispers, and forgotten chapters of lives lived and lives lost.

Emporium Curioso

Join Peppa, along with her family and friends as they go to the zoo and also the beach for a special party – it’s going to be an exciting and fun packed day.

Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out

All they play in Preston nightclubs is Little Mix and Miley Cyrus. How is Danesha the dancer supposed to vibe to that?

Danesha

Scotland’s queen of comedy Fern Brady (Taskmaster, Live At The Apollo, Roast Battle, Russell Howard, The Last Leg) is back on tour with a brand new show. Fern is the author of Sunday Times best selling memoir STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER whose previous show POWER AND CHAOS was broadcast on BBC1.

Fern Brady: I Gave You Milk To Drink

From sensationalism to sexism, join them to tackle the harmful labels and stereotypes that continue to plague women in the public eye.

Sensationalism and stereotypes with Carol Vorderman MBE and Self Esteem

Expect a progressive discussion of everything from the gender pay gap and what it takes to be a strong businesswoman, to the power of social media and how being an innovator in sustainable fitness has helped her gain a following of more than three million.

How to break moulds and influence people with Grace Beverley

Join New Work & Learning Producer Rio Matchett for a two hour intensive workshop, introducing some of the practical and theoretical world of dramaturgy. The session will cover both the basics of play engineering – script structure, pacing, story and production dramaturgy – as well as introducing some of the philosophical questions of making theatre, including how to work with writers, how to create a high support high challenge environment, access, and decolonising the sector.

Dramaturgy 101

From how to nurture the living garden in your gut to why we should all be eating at least 30 different plants per week, prepare for a positive and practical exploration of how to live and feel better – and how it all starts with that all-important microbiome.

Trust your gut with Tim Spector OBE and Dr Amir Khan

The last 50 years have seen both music itself and the industry around it change beyond recognition. Now, it’s time to unpack exactly what that means for artists and listeners today – as well as how we can build a more progressive musical landscape for tomorrow.

The evolution of creativity with Nile Rodgers and BEKA

Both Feet work from the inside out – challenging, unfolding and sharing – and Both Feet LIVE is a reflection of that process. Led by Stephanie Morgan, we’ll be bringing what happens on the inside of our training space to you on the outside. Together we’ll explore connection as humans and as actors, what gets in our way and how beautiful it is when we let ourselves.

Both Feet LIVE

A hugely entertaining show featuring ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel, lovers rock, dancehall and Reggae played live by the JA Reggae Band. Get ready to enjoy the music of Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Millie Small and many more.

RUSH: A Joyous Jamaican Journey

Mama wants to put down roots in a home of her own. Her daughter Beneatha has her heart set on becoming a doctor. But her son Walter Lee thinks the money is his to spend — and he’s willing to sacrifice his values and his family to get what he wants. Each must face what it means to escape the confines of a segregated society. How do you create a meaningful life in a world designed to keep you down?

A Raisin in the Sun

A fully BSL-led hip-hop gig theatre show, Follow the Signs is performed through BSL, rap, spoken English, movement, and creative captioning, to be shared and celebrated by Deaf and hearing audiences together. It tells the story of acclaimed dancer and choreographer Chris Fonseca: from infanthood when he became Deaf after contracting meningitis, through a school system unable to value his differences, into teenage years where music and dance entered his life, to meeting Raffie Julien, a mixed-race Deaf woman who’s lived experience couldn’t be more different…or is it?

Follow the Signs

Tough Old Bird explores how women are viewed in society as they have the absolute gall to get older! Have you ever noticed those adverts promising to ‘defy the effects of ageing’? Ooh Nana hates them. What about when we get old? Where’s the instruction manual? Who deems what is ‘acceptable behaviour’? What happens when your voice isn’t listened to, or you become slowly invisible?

Tough Old Bird

Set in the swinging 1960s, rock ‘n’ roll legend Rick Black is desperate to revive his fading career and reclaim his fame and fortune… and is prepared to do anything to get it back. As the bodies pile up, all the guests become suspects, potential victim and detectives, as they dart from room to room trying to escape the killer and survive the night.

Cluedo 2

Work with Leeds Playhouse Youth Theatre Artists to devise a play fit for the stage! A fun-packed week where you’ll develop performance skills, make new friends, play drama games, explore your creativity and perform your play at the end of the week, all in the Leeds Playhouse rehearsal spaces.

Youth Theatre: Play in a Week

Are you ready to have fun and make friends? Join us for our Beautiful Octopus Club Festival – a week of fun activities for our BOC crew and guests, celebrating creativity, skills and friendship.

Beautiful Octopus Club Festival

This new solo performance uses comedy, storytelling and movement to celebrate being human in all its banality, sprinkled with joy and ridiculousness. A visual and physical collage performed by a clown delving into the space inside us left behind by time. It’s about a person trying to unwrap the new version of themselves in a world they don’t recognise and a life they seem uncomfortably in charge of. It’s about what comes next.

Look After Your Knees

This musical extravaganza celebrating the exceptional and diverse talent of Music House artists includes everything from Rap to RnB and Classical!

Who’s In the House?

Invisible Pain Theatre Company (CIC) is a mental health focused drama group that aims to reach out to vulnerable members of society and encourage engagement through the arts. It provides opportunities for vulnerable people to be part of performing arts in a variety of projects including mental health awareness performances, original musicals and theatre in education.

Darkness into Light

Eight brilliant bands will take to the Quarry stage to deliver a non-stop playlist of singalong hits guaranteed to get you dancing in the aisles.

LS18 Rocks

Come Tour with us! takes audiences on a holiday journey from Leeds to Cornwall by coach.

Come Tour With Us!

An original story set in the world of the Paranormal Activity film series, this world premiere play will haunt you long after the lights go out.

Paranormal Activity

Join us for a specially adapted BSL version of The Wizard of Oz story featuring a Tin Woman who wants cochlear implants to hear the birds and a Scarecrow who wants fingers so they can sign.

The Wizard of Doz

Arts at the Arms are a Yorkshire-based performing arts organisation that supports local creatives in sharing their practice. They run events that showcase new writing, original work and developing talent from our region in a relaxed setting.

Furnace x Arts at the Arms

As part of Refugee Week 2024, we are hosting a range of activities, workshops and sharings, including a celebratory Gala evening of performances by our participants, partner organisations and professional artists.

Ten Years of Sanctuary

This year, Leeds Playhouse celebrates 10 years of being the World’s first Theatre Of Sanctuary for refugees and people seeking asylum. With this Sharing, the Leeds Playhouse Youth Theatre looks at what sanctuary means to us all as citizens of the world.

Seeking Sanctuary – A Youth Theatre Performance

Alison Lowe was appointed as Deputy Mayor for Police and Crime in West Yorkshire from July 2021 by the new Metro Mayor, Tracy Brabin, because of her extensive voluntary sector, political and policing experience over a 30+ year period.

In Conversation with Alison Lowe OBE

This is the classic story of Cockney flower-seller Eliza Doolittle who is taught to “talk more genteel” by Professor Henry Higgins so that she may pass as a lady. But it’s not only Eliza who gets an education.

My Fair Lady

In May 2020, Sharon Watson was appointed CEO and Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Prior to, she was the 7th and longest-standing Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre from 2009 – 2020. Trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, she was one of the first female Principal Dancers invited to join the all-male award winning Phoenix Dance Company, touring with the company from 1989 to 1997 where she choreographed Never Still and Shaded Limits. In addition to her AD role Sharon also lectured at Northern School of Contemporary Dance and worked as Education Director for Northern Ballet. In July of 2019 Sharon received an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for her contribution to the arts. Sharon’s recognitions are testament to her continued passion and drive to contribute to the local and national creative industries through the medium of dance.

In Conversation with Sharon Watson MBE DL

Packed with the iconic songs ‘Jolene’, ‘9 to 5’, ‘Islands in the Stream’, ‘I Will Always Love You’, ‘Here You Come Again’ and more, this lively and touching new musical tells the story of a diehard fan whose fantasy version of international icon Dolly Parton gets him through trying times. With her wit, humour and charm, Dolly teaches him a whole lot about life, love and how to pull yourself up by your bootstraps…even if your bootstraps don’t have rhinestones! This is one musical that is sure to make you smile.

Here You Come Again

Artistic Director Matteo Marfoglia‘s debut creation for the company A Field of Beauty is a visually-stunning and virtuous work celebrating individuality, uniqueness and freedom of expression.

Verve | Triple Bill

Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and 7-nights at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End, comic legend Frank Skinner is back with his critically acclaimed new show 30 Years of Dirt.

Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt

Love is a complicated business. It gets even more complicated when the person you love doesn’t want to be alive. Tender, funny and defiantly hopeful, The Light House is a real-life story of falling in love and staying in love, even when the lights go out and you’re lost in the dark. It’s a love letter to life.

The Light House: At Home

A showcase of outstanding British Caribbean women (many of whom are part of the Windrush Generation) who have helped to shape British culture and have inspired generations including Khadijah Ibrahiim, Emily Zobel-Marshall, Rheima Robinson and Leeds Black Elders.

CARIBBEAN ARTS CLUB: Women Who Run Tings

If you spoke to Britain what would it say? We ask a group of young people from around England to tell us what they think – the good, the bad, the ugly. The old and the new.

NYDC – Wall

A showcase of innovative British Caribbean sensations across music, spoken word and performance including John Agard, Malika Booker, Tobago Crusoe, Adam Lowe, Christella Litras, Azizi Cole, Paulette Morris, Chris Campbell, Omari Swanston-Jeffers, Joe Williams and Phenicia Williams; co-hosted by: Melanie Abrahams, Sai Murray and Omari Swanston-Jeffers and DJ sets by Fitzroy Jeffers.

Rise Up!

Through dance, song and poetry Omari Swanston – Jeffers, Azizi Cole, Simmeon Naphtali and Alex Robinson take you on a journey of Anansi. A show of mango juicy stories sharing how Anansi evolved from trickster to rebel to freedom fighter. Let’s explore how the Anansi within all of us can light a fire for our own bright futures.

ANANSI & Me

A group of performers are preparing to start their show, but quickly discover they are not alone on stage. Little Monster wants to be part of the fun too! With an invitation to his friends, Dragon, Alien and Unicorn to join him, you can expect comedy and chaos as they help to create a magical show, learning about the joy of books and friendship along the way.

There’s a Monster in Your Show

Amy and Steph discuss their approach to access in their lives and in their work, interrogating how the arts can connect with audiences to start conversations about social justice through representation and equal access. They will consider the progress we’ve made, how far we have got to go in these areas and how we can work together to overcome barriers to access.

Amy Leach in conversation with Steph Lacey

Everyone is welcome, regardless of whether you are fasting or not. Although Ramadan is observed by Muslims, those who are not Muslim but would like to join and mark Ramadan, are more than welcome.

Open Iftar 2024

Level 2 Bar & Kitchen

Driven by his desire to rule, Macbeth does whatever it takes to become king. When three witches reveal their prophecy on the heath, a savage darkness consumes the hearts of the treacherous warrior and his wife. Corruption and an insatiable greed for power, lead to death and destruction in Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy.

Macbeth

A storm gathers outside. In an ordinary home, the lights flicker, a radio crackles, and an extraordinary tale begins.

Frankenstein

Zog, super keen student turned air-ambulance, still lands with a bang-crash-thump. Together with his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, they tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, Pearl’s uncle, the King, has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors, and she’s soon locked up in the castle back in a crown and a silly frilly dress!

Zog and the Flying Doctors

Created for people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities and staged in Interplay Theatre’s unique illuminated dome, My Life with the Wave is inspired by the poem by Mexican Poet Laureate Octavio Paz and uses movement, sound, digital technology, and physical interaction to create a fully immersive sensory experience.

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My Life With the Wave

People with learning disabilities, their families, carers and support workers are invited to come along and to get to know our building through an interactive self-led tour, to meet Playhouse staff and to take part in sensory and creative sessions, including drumming, yoga and storytelling.

Testament will also explore mic technique, looping, ensemble beatbox, as well as exploring the possibilities of using beatbox to tell a story.

An Introduction to Human Beatboxing with Testament

You will learn the fundamentals of human beatbox – creating drumbeats, sound effects and all manner of musical noises with your mouth. This fun and interactive workshop gives young people a way into the art of beatboxing and helps them uncover the power of their voice.

Learn to Beatbox

The ENORMOUS crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees.

The Enormous Crocodile

Based on the novel by Charles Dickens, Oliver! follows the story of a small boy with a big heart as he journeys from a desolate workhouse to the paved streets of Victorian London in search of love and a place to call home.

Oliver!

Over three days in November, we’ll present a kaleidoscopic showcase of many of the projects we’ve been cooping up here at the Playhouse, from fledgling plays to new musicals. We’ll share brand-new ideas, works in progress, workshops and conversations, and invite our audience to feedback and influence the future development of that work.

Furnace Festival 24

Blessyou lives in a magical icy land with his dashing polar explorer dad and his best friend Beartie. Surrounded by penguins, polar bears and piles and piles of snow, he spends his days fishing (for his favourite fishfingers), dreaming of adventure, avoiding studying for their snow exams, and missing someone very special.

Mr Snow

The club has fallen on hard times. The club is nearly out of money; and now the inspectors are talking about closing the club and knocking the building down. Terrible!

The Paradise Club

Starring Tracy-Ann Oberman (EastEnders, Doctor Who) as Shylock, Shakespeare’s classic is transported to 1930s Britain in this ‘striking and impactful’ (Guardian) new production that ‘makes theatre history’ (The Telegraph). It is adapted by Brigid Larmour and Tracy-Ann Oberman.

The Merchant of Venice 1936

When a group of exploited animals rebel against their human farmer-tyrant and take control of the land that they live on, they hope to create a world where they can be equal, happier and free. As power shifts and a new leader emerges, they soon face the age-old question: is the grass truly greener on the other side?

Animal Farm

There is something not quite right about the house Coraline and her parents have moved into. The roof leaks, the wallpaper is peeling off the walls, the new neighbours are a little eccentric and her parents are so busy they hardly notice her at all.

Coraline – A Musical

In this exhilarating, funny and provocative satire, Tambo and Bones journey from comedy double-act, to hip-hop superstars, to activists in a future America, contending with the alarming repercussions of a nation torn apart by race.

Tambo & Bones

In 1992 in an Afghanistan ravaged by war, an orphaned Laila is left alone in an increasingly threatening world. Her older neighbour Rasheed is quick to open his home and takes Laila as his second wife.

Leeds Playhouse

Nov 18, 2024 - Jan 25, 2025

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

20 - 21 Nov, 2024

Feel Me

25 - 30 Nov, 2024

Furnace Festival 24

Oct 26, 2024 - Mar 29, 2025

Storytelling

Nov 30, 2024 - Jan 4, 2025

Mr Snow

20 - 21 Nov, 2024

Feel Me

Nov 18, 2024 - Jan 25, 2025

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Leeds Playhouse