Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
For most of you it would have been Wednesday, 20th October 2021 but to me it was 1977. The time shift began when my bus failed to arrive and the following one was late. Those of you who were around in Silver Jubilee year will recall that this situation would have been the norm. I…
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Time to head out of the city centre and let you know what’s in store at Yeadon Town Hall. I know it’s time because that landmark building has had its tower refurbished along with the clock faces, and the chimes now ring out once more. Add the newly repaired roof, exterior walls and stained glass…
Read MoreAny of you who have been paying attention will know from the Leeds Heritage Theatre Preview about the Opera North productions being staged at Leeds Grand Theatre but there is lots of other stuff going on as well so here is a summary. The main operas in the winter season are Carmen, Bernstein Double Bill…
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Whoever is curating the programme for this first post-pandemic season at Opera North is playing a blinder. They are making it so easy for those new to the genre, and also hardened opera buffs, to slide effortlessly back into ‘normal’ life. In addition this production is the perfect opportunity for an audience to experience modern…
Read MoreSadly, the 50th Anniversary year of Leeds Playhouse has been curtailed by the pandemic so, as with a lot of other live venues, many planned events have either been cancelled or postponed. The good news is that they are now back in full swing and we can look forward to a full winter programme. Leeds…
Read MoreLeeds 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…
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That fabulous restaurant, HOME, is relocating next month from its present premises in Kirkgate to new ones in Brewery Wharf. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to the launch of HOME in 2017 which was at Harewood House, the restaurant not having been quite completed, and I was amazed by the quality of…
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While we wait for summer, let’s have a look at what winter has in store for us. Now that I seem to have everybody’s programmes I am working my way through them over the next few days. They are in alphabetical order so as not to imply favouritism, sorry about that Yeadon Town Hall! If…
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I’ve been to some rum parties in my time but this was a cut above the others. If you are going to have a do there can be fewer finer places for the bash than the iconic Leeds Corn Exchange. As it was a celebration of rum it was a pretty safe bet that it…
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What a great way to kick off the first Opera North Season since lockdown. Carmen is one of those operas where everyone knows at least two of the arias even if only from adverts or film scores. Before the curtain opened the audience was given a brief welcome back by Richard Mantle, Opera North’s General…
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Tyke It To The Limit 