Leeds Playhouse

The origins of Leeds Playhouse lie with a group of 13 individuals who, in 1964, informed the Arts Council there were “beginning a campaign for promoting a professional civic theatre in Leeds”. Despite some opposition from the local council, on the ground that Leeds already had a theatre (the Grand Theatre), a public appeal to raise funds was launched at a mass meeting in Leeds Town Hall on 5 May 1968. The audience was addressed by Leeds-born actor Peter O’Toole, Keith Waterhouse and John Neville. £20,000 was raised by the public and an agreement was made with the City Council that they would commit £20,000 and a further £5,000 annually. Along with this, grant from Arts Council England and the Gulbenkian Foundation meant that Leeds Playhouse could open. Originally sitting at the edge of the Leeds University Campus from 1970. The very first performance was held on 16 September 1970 with Tony Robinson, who later went on to play Baldrick in the television series of Blackadder, starring as Simon in Alan Plater's play Simon Says, directed by Bill Hays.

The Leeds Playhouse rebranded as West Yorkshire Playhouse in March 1990 when it relocated to its current site on Quarry Hill as part of a major regeneration scheme. The organisation rebranded once again back to its original name of Leeds Playhouse in 2018 as it prepared for another major refurbishment. This was done in response to the development and growth of Leeds City region and Leeds City Council's longstanding support for the theatre in Leeds.

Redevelopment at Leeds Playhouse (13 December 2018)

Leeds Playhouse

Leeds Playhouse was designed by The Appleton Partnership architects of Edinburgh and contractors BAM Construction were responsible for the ambitious 2019 refurbishment. After the redevelopment there are now further spaces for performance, gatherings and events in the main Leeds Playhouse building. The complex consists of the Quarry Theatre (750 seats), Courtyard Theatre (350 seats), Bramall Rock Void (97 seats – interchangeable), Playhouse Kitchen Restaurant, Front Room Café, a Bar, the Playhouse Children’s Area – ‘PLAYhouse’ and the Newlyn Gallery three function rooms (the Brooke Room, City Room and Weston Room). Leeds Playhouse also has accessible features throughout their public spaces including toilets, lifts, and automatic doors for accessibility.

There are also two rehearsal spaces (with another situated in Playhouse 2), a recording studio, extensive technical workshops, dressing rooms, wardrobe 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 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”

As well as the main Leeds Playhouse building, they are also responsible for Playhouse 2, located at St. Peter’s building, Leeds, LS9 8AH. This is the home of the Leeds Playhouse Costume Hire Department, Rehearsal Room Three and Youth Work Offices.

Leeds Playhouse is an artistic beacon in the North and works to bring the community together through community outreach as well as its diverse productions. The theatre has established a reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting producing theatres, winning a range of awards from its productions to its customer service. From 1990, Jude Kelly was the theatre’s Artistic Director. Ian Brown succeeded Kelly in 2002 until his departure in 2012 when the Artistic Director role was passed to James Brining.  

Productions cover a wide range of genres and historical periods, with everything from Shakespeare, to children’s shows. New writing is a key theme of the Leeds Playhouse calendar, especially from writers based in the North of England. There are many co-productions with other regional theatres, some of which go on to tour or transfer to London theatres. Visiting companies include Northern Broadsides, Back to Back Theatre and Tall Stories. - Maybe leave out for space if needed.

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 play premiered at the theatre, which was then named the West Yorkshire Playhouse, and ran for a month, 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 several one-week or shorter runs which may be by visiting companies. The previous complete season (Spring/Summer ‘22) consisted of Furnace shows, performances from the artistic development programme who help develop the skills of local artists, these performances included the one night special Kali Showcase. There was also Open Season, a whole schedule of performances and workshops by Leeds Playhouse’s Creative Engagement, two children’s shows including The Gruffalo presented by Tall Stories. New writing from Tess Seddon, Say Yess to Tess in association with TheatreState, and Maggie May by Frances Poet returned, which had previously been postponed. Leeds Playhouse hosted the touring As You Like It, by Northern Broadsides as well as co-producing four shows, Maggie May, The White Card, written by Claudia Rankine and Directed by Natalie Ibu, and the incredibly well received Hedwig and the Angry Inch, A Leeds Playhouse and HOME co-production starring Divina De Campo, runner up of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 1. Divina de Campo won the best performance in a musical award at the UK Theatre 2022 Awards and Elijah Ferreira took home the Best Performer in a Musical award at The Stage Debut Awards 2022. One of their first productions of the season was Macbeth, a Leeds Playhouse production, directed by Amy Leach.  

The theatre receives funding from Arts Council England and Leeds City Council. One of the major funders to Leeds Playhouse is the Liz & Terry Bramall Foundation, who now have a performance space named after them due to their funding for the 2019 refurbishment. There are several other foundations and charities that help fund Leeds Playhouse. As a registered charity, Leeds Playhouse encourages any corporate sponsorships and donations.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Yorkshire Playhouse.

• Official website
• "Leeds Theatre Trust Ltd, registered charity no. 255460". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
• Archival Material at Leeds University Library