Latest News Archive - Leeds Playhouse

Meet the cast of our ‘vibrant, raw and visceral’ Macbeth

Something wickedly good is coming to Leeds Playhouse as Macbeth makes its way to the Quarry stage with an enticingly diverse and dynamic cast. In Director Amy Leach’s and Designer Hayley Grindle’svibrant, raw and visceral vision of Shakespeare’s thrilling tragedy, ambitious northern warrior Macbeth does whatever it takes to gain power and, ultimately, the throne. Propelled further into darkness by his wife, whose hands bear witness […]

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CALL-OUT: Professional Musicians for Hedwig and the Angry Inch

What’s the opportunity? Leeds Playhouse and HOME are looking for three musicians – a drummer, lead guitarist and bass guitarist – for the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch directed by Jamie Fletcher with musical direction by Alex Beetschen. The role of Hedwig will be played by Divina De Campo. Please note this is not […]

A man sitting with hands by face wearing a crown. Red colouring with the words Macbeth over face

Leeds Playhouse reveals its Spring/Summer 2022 Season – a celebration of shared moments

Leeds Playhouse today announces a dazzling and diverse Spring/Summer 2022 Season celebrating both the intimate and epic shared moments only theatre can produce. From thoughtful small-scale pieces to bold major productions, the season will showcase a combination of classic plays, powerful musicals, bold new voices and reimagined favourites designed to bring a sense of rejuvenation […]

Say hello to Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan – our new Writer in Residence

Author, poet, playwright, podcaster, essayist, activist-educator and now Writer in Residence at Leeds Playhouse – Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan is a woman who’s never lost for words. After attending Roundhay School in her hometown of Leeds, she got a BA in History from Cambridge and an MA in Postcolonial Studies from SOAS in London. Since then, she […]

And the winner is … directing a production at Leeds Playhouse

Denzel Westley-Sanderson has won a chance to direct a full-scale production at Leeds Playhouse after scooping the prestigious Sir Peter Hall Director Award 2021. The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) and English Touring Theatre (ETT) award, which honours the memory of RTST co-founder Sir Peter Hall, is made annually to an up-and-coming director demonstrating exceptional […]

Joint Chief Executive and Executive Director Robin Hawkes to leave Leeds Playhouse for new leadership opportunity

After six and a half highly successful years at Leeds Playhouse, during which time he has led the theatre through a transformational £16.8m redevelopment, Joint Chief Executive and Executive Director ROBIN HAWKES is taking up an exciting new opportunity as Theatre Director, Manchester Palace & Opera House theatres, ATG. Joint Chief Executive and Artistic Director James […]

Listen up – how to write a prize-winning audio play

Papatango New Writing Prize 2021 recipients Nkenna Akunna, Tom Powell and Tajinder Singh Hayer give a fascinating insight into their work Congratulations on winning Papatangos’ 13th New Writing Prize. What does it mean to be selected as one of the winning writers? TP: It makes my heart swell, not in a worrying medical way, but with […]

An actor in a heavy navy coat with gold braiding, a red waistcoat and a large hat wields a heavy, metal-tipped stick. He has a stern, forbidding look on his face.

‘When we claim the platform we deserve, we thrive’

Actor Benjamin Wilson, who lost his sight in his twenties and is currently starring as Mr Bumble in Oliver Twist, argues the case for greater access for both performers and audiences Being part of a tightknit team working on a piece of theatre you are incredibly proud of is the best feeling in the world. […]

Oliver Twist: At Home – Freesheet

A Leeds Playhouse Production in association with Ramps on the Moon. Sponsored by Access Partner Irwin Mitchell solicitors. OLIVER TWIST: AT HOME – FREESHEET A new play by Bryony Lavery. Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens. Directed by Amy Leach. 25 OCT – 20 NOV Artistic Director of Leeds Playhouse James Brining said: “We […]

All the facts about… All the Beds I Have Slept In

Refugee theatre company Phosphoros Theatre is bringing its new play All The Beds I Have Slept In to our Courtyard Theatre on 16 November. Fact pack The actors are all refugees and people seeking asylum who came to the UK as children. The play is based on their experiences of leaving their homeland, using beds to anchor them to various points […]