Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
When I saw that Opera North was presenting a piece in conjunction with Shadwell Opera, I assumed that the North Leeds Suburb of that name had an amateur operatic society, news of which had failed to reach me. In fact, the company is from the East London Shadwell and is a professional outfit. I have…
Read More
On Wednesday I went to see The Book of Mormon – I find it helps to have seen something you are reviewing – and I must say that I was deeply offended. The show includes what are now regarded as taboo subjects, racism, FGM, bad language, blasphemy, sex and all manner of suggestive dancing. I…
Read More
This is the second play about a football manager’s tenure I have seen this year. Both dealt with coaches who have approached the position with a totally fresh perspective leading to a marked improvement in the fortunes of their respective teams. I suppose if they had failed miserably then neither of the works would have…
Read More
After the success of last year’s The Big Opera Adventure, comes The Big Opera Mystery. Once again all the stops had been pulled out and we (me and the other kids) were treated to an hour of crime busting, to detect who the villain was in a spate of thefts. It was obvious from the…
Read More
On Monday, 20th March, 1967 I went to the Free Trade Hall in Manchester to see a folk duo who had just had their first taste of fame. The venue was almost empty with only about a quarter of the seats filled. On Friday, 17th October, 2025 I went to Howard Assembly Room in Leeds…
Read More
Now, here’s another first – and second. This is the first time I have ever been to an event and my notebook remained unused, the main reason was because it was the second time I have seen this production of La bohème and I thought that I would sit and watch it in the same…
Read More
My second helping of LIFI25 was a panel discussion concerning the plight of the hospitality industry in a swiftly changing world. Obviously the word ‘hospitality’ includes a multitude of sectors and there were top representatives from a selection of them on the stage this lunchtime. The travel industry was represented by Joanna Reeve, the UK…
Read More
Here we are again. Another year, another eclectic range of guests and topics for discussion. Due to other commitments I am only able to attend two presentations this year, but what a couple of crackers. Both of them had special relevance to me, so, thank you LeedsBID and Chapter81 for scheduling them on the days…
Read More
I say, I say, I say. What’s the difference between an opera and an oratorio? I don’t know; what is the difference between an opera and an oratorio? A boat load of money! Back in the early 1700s when Handel was nobbut a lad, operas were the telling of stories through music with extravagant settings…
Read More
I do love a good launch presentation, and I have been to a few just lately, what with the Transform and African Arts Festivals, I have met some really interesting people and got the inside track on what was to come. The downside is that the interesting people had to put up with me, but,…
Read More
Tyke It To The Limit 