Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
It might not be opera as we would like to experience it, but nevertheless it was a great way to spend 40 minutes on an otherwise dull Saturday evening in lockdown. Regular readers will know that I have been less than impressed by the on-line versions of operas which have been filmed from the stage…
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Oddly enough, Christmas is nearly upon us once more. Easter was cancelled, as were our summer holidays, so it is about time we had something to look forward to, and what could be more uplifting than a tale about an elderly miser. As an old Yorkshireman it certainly works for me! Leeds Playhouse are in…
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‘Twas the night before lockdown, which meant that the elevation of Leeds into Tier 3 of the government’s alert level was suspended and we remained in Tier 2 thus people from the same household or support bubble could go to the theatre one last time before returning to house arrest. There could be no more…
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I went to see this production in sombre mood after having been out for lunch the previous day to what was my local pub when I lived at Candle House in Granary Wharf. It was 1.45pm on a Friday so I had booked a table but when I arrived I entered to the sound of…
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The rapper and playwright Testament gave a performance with members of the Orchestra of Opera North and the result was stunning. Could it be the world’s first Hip Hopera? I have to say that even at the tender age of 71 I am quite the fan of rap now that it has evolved into a…
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Samuel Beckett is one of the quirkiest playwrights of his, or any other, time. Although he was Irish he wrote his early plays in French and one of his works featured the leading actress buried up to her waist throughout the performance. Even he would be surprised at the way this performance panned out. Krapp’s…
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I fear that I am writing this in order to let you know what you have missed rather than to encourage you to go see the piece. The format of Connecting Voices is that there are three works which run throughout the three weeks of the season and three further ones which are ‘Reflections’ on…
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The first piece in this series of co-presentations between Leeds Playhouse and Opera North was certainly one to snap us out of our lockdown torpor. It is a one person opera, lasting 40 minutes with not a second wasted. The work was written by Francis Poulenc and is based on a short play by Jean…
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Wednesday, 30th September sees the launch of Opera North’s Switch ON Season (ON – Opera North – geddit?) and what better way to kick it off than with a concert from Leeds Town Hall featuring the highlights of recent productions and exclusive previews of forthcoming events which will be broadcast live on-line. Switch ON: Live…
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If there is one thing we need to alleviate the mood during a global pandemic which has threatened to wipe out the world’s population it is a good horror show! Leeds Playhouse and imitating the dog have got together to stage a ‘raucous and deliciously dark new tale’, Dr Blood’s Old Travelling Show. It has…
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Tyke It To The Limit 