Leeds Heritage Theatres is the new umbrella term for Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds City Varieties Music Hall and Hyde Park Picture House. In the past I have done previews of the two live venues separately but now that their website is a comprehensive list of everything on offer it seems logical to treat them as one. Although Opera North perform their full productions at Leeds Grand, they also have events at Howard Assembly Rooms so I will be previewing them separately. I hope that you are following this as there will be a test at the end!
As well as a couple of one night stands and the previously referenced Opera North works, there are the musicals; Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, starring Layton Williams, Shane Richie and Shobna Gulati from 2nd to 7th November; and Grease The Musical, featuring Peter Andre (Wednesday to Saturday only) from 29th November to 4th December. These, along with the play The Cat and the Canary, with a host of star names such as Britt Ekland, Marti Webb and Gary Webster running from 23rd to 27th November, take us up to this year’s Christmas offerings, Northern Ballet’s Merlin and Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
The winter programme wraps up with more Opera North, and Fat Friends – The Musical, based on Kay Mellor’s play with music by Nick Lloyd Webber and starring Lee Mead which is on from 22nd February to 5th March, 2022.
Because of Covid the dates may have changed from the previously advertised ones so please check on the link above.
City Varieties is presenting a wide range of one-night stands ranging from music, stand-up and ‘in conversation evenings to a hypnotist, but the main event has to be the return of the hugely popular Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto which this year is Beauty and the Beast. It rocks from 26th November to 9th January so get down and join in the fun.
The past two years have been particularly difficult for the live entertainment industry as they were closed throughout the lockdowns and also the easing of restrictions last year so please get along to something if you can and support these cornerstones of Leeds’ cultural heritage. You are bound to see something you like and there is nothing to compare with a night at the theatre, even if, like myself, you go on your own.
For a full list of productions, information and tickets please go to
I said that there would be a test at the end. If you are still reading, you have passed!
Images provided by Leeds Heritage Theatres
Tyke It To The Limit 