Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
I can think of few more opulent surroundings in which to celebrate a birthday, especially your first, than the Queens Hotel in City Square, Leeds. This is the most iconic hotel in the city and a part of City Station, which has just had a facelift and is now also looking magnificent – from the…
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During July and August there was a lull in proceedings in Theatreworld, but fortunately opportunities presented themselves which allowed me to revert to the subject on which I cut my writing teeth – literally – food and drink. In the interests of transparency I must reveal that this visit was made as the plus one…
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I had never really been a history buff, or even a fan of period drama, but lately I have begun to get more into it. Perhaps because I feel like a relic from a bygone age myself, so want to find out how to handle it, or that the present world order is so dire…
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I still think of myself as a newcomer to opera, so, when I write about a work I have seen before, especially as it was four years ago, it comes as something of a shock. It is the same production, directed by Femi Elufowoju jr. using the original costumes and scenery, so it is taking…
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When I saw that this was a musical about someone with dementia I was a bit sceptical but, and here is a statement of transparency, as it featured a pal of mine, I just had to go see it. I won’t mention any names but they know who they are and that, if they were…
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When Tchaikovsky was pitched the idea of writing an opera of the ‘novel in verse’, Eugine Onegin, he was reluctant to do so as it was based more on relationships than action. Thankfully he had second thoughts and came up with this stunner. It was so brilliant that I am not going to whinge about…
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A couple of firsts here; my first tribute show and the first time I have visited Harrogate’s Royal Hall. I hope that I will get more opportunities to repeat the latter. I found the former most confusing as, rather than a bloke with glasses taking to the stage to sing Accidents Will Happen, Oliver’s Army…
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Only a week to go until this year’s edition of LIFI and the tickets, what is left of them, are selling like, well – hot tickets! It is hardly any wonder given the wide variety of subjects to be covered and the stellar names discussing them. The format has evolved over the years and settled…
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Another Harrogate Theatre Drama Season draws to a close with this piece by Michael Morpurgo, best known for writing War Horse, which I have enjoyed both on stage and as a film. This one-man play is also set at the beginning of the last century and covers action in England and on the First World…
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Leeds Playhouse are definitely hitting the ground running after the summer break. Following last week’s offering, Fences, I was back to see A Tale of Two Cities, the classic from Charles Dickens. It had been adapted for the stage by Terrance Rattigan and John Gielgud, so had good credentials. I have never read the book,…
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