Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
I must admit that when I see that a television programme has been transferred to the screen or stage my blood runs cold as they seldom adapt very well. Thankfully Band of Gold is in the minority and has stood the transformation from the telly to the stage extremely well. The story revolves around three…
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Tales of Whatever is not a list of excuses given by a stroppy teenager but a series of true stories told by invited guests. In some cases this amounts to the same thing as this evening’s performance illustrated. The setting for tonight’s event was the magnificent Leeds Library. Rather than just being the name of…
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There are times when I wish that I didn’t review theatre productions and last night at The Leeds Playhouse watching The Wizard of Oz was one of them. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t because I didn’t like it, quite the reverse, it was so good I would have loved to have put my notebook…
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I saw Barber Shop Chronicles a couple of years ago and thought it was one of the best things I have ever seen on stage so when I got the chance to see it again I couldn’t wait. As it has been on a world tour since then I was also intrigued as to see…
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This year the Grand Theatre is presenting Cinderella. No, not the pantomime but the Leeds-based Northern Ballet production choreographed by David Nixon OBE, it should be magic! (There’s a joke for the more mature reader.) I think that we all know that the story of Cinderella is one of rags to riches in which a…
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This December Opera North has come together, from the youngest performers in the Children’s Chorus to the more ‘mature’ artists in the company, to present a richly varied Christmas programme with events being held all over the region. The highlights of the Christmas presentations are: The Nutcracker and The Snowman with the Orchestra of Opera…
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Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a Pantomime – Oh yes it would! Oh no it wouldn’t! Let’s not start, eh? The historic Leeds City Varieties Music Hall is this year staging Little Red Riding Hood but not as you have come to know it, as this production is the latest in their legendary Rock’n’Roll Pantomimes.…
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If it is Christmas then it must be time for The Wizard of Oz. This year you don’t just get to see Judy Garland – yet again – on TV in the feature film but Leeds Playhouse are putting on the stage version. As you will probably know, unless this is your very first Christmas,…
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My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you not one Leeds legend, not two Leeds legends but three, yes three, of the City’s icons combined for your delectation. I will deal with them in order of seniority so as not to offend – not like me, I know. First is the City Centre landmark which…
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What great performances by Bibi Heal and Miloš Milivojević in the County Arcade on Purple Tuesday. There was a mix of operatic arias from works such as La Boheme and also some Parisian Café songs which sounded superb with the voice and accordion combination. The acoustics were incredible but Ms Heal’s voice is so strong…
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Tyke It To The Limit 