Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
Spring and summer see another eclectic mix at Leeds Playhouse. There are new shows, ones returning and those which should have been staged before the pandemic but had to be postponed. One thing which is making a welcome return is the restaurant which has now reopened. Insofar as the drama is concerned Macbeth is in…
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After hosting a programme of opera and ballet in the months since Christmas, the wonderful Grand Theatre now moves on to the mixed bag of entertainment which we all know and love so much. There is plenty of variety, pardon the pun – which was intentional of course, with not only plays and musicals but…
Read MoreEverybody’s favourite street food venue is back and, not only bigger than ever, but reconfigured so as to make the most of the legendary sunny weather which lasts from April to September each year south of the river. On the off chance that there may be a rogue cloudy day, then that has been catered…
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I seem to be spending a lot of time at Howard Assembly Room lately, for which I am truly grateful, especially when I get to see some of the country’s, nay world’s, best musicians and singers up close and personal. Such was the case last night when I witnessed a supreme performance by baritone Roderick…
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Whiling away a relaxed hour on a Saturday afternoon at Howard Assembly Room listening to professional opera singers accompanied by only a piano, sounded too good to be true. Sadly it was, but that was a consequence of their doing all they could to make everyone welcome. There was a section on the pertinent website…
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I often wonder why directors feel the need to reimagine the works of arguably this country’s greatest playwright. Is it an arrogance in believing that the bard had the right idea but didn’t do as good a job as they could, is it patronising towards the audience thinking that they need a hand in understanding…
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The people at Howard Assembly Room have done it again. They have presented a concert which could not be more appropriate but this time more by accident than design. Previous events have been staged so as to be relevant to the time; the American Composers was on Thanksgiving eve, whilst the programme of Jewish composers…
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Getting to the age of 40 is definitely cause for a song and dance, when you are Phoenix Dance Theatre the latter part of that duo is bound to be something special, and it is! I had seen Phoenix Dance Theatre only once before and that was as half of a double bill with Opera…
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Apologies to Carly Simon but I couldn’t resist. Carmen, George Bizet’s opera which was staged by Opera North at Leeds Grand Theatre last October, is coming back for a short season. The production is the same although there have been several cast changes. Fortunately the sublime Chrystal E Williams still sings the title role so…
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After seeing Alcina I have decided where I am going for my next holiday, or at least I would have if the island on which the opera was set had been named. It is not my usual target destination being a sparsely populated place with nothing much by way of interest except jungle and beach.…
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Tyke It To The Limit 