Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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I am beginning to think that the creatives behind the various arts organisations in Leeds know something I don’t. This is the fourth production I have been to in the last three months which highlights their youth sections. Have they got access to information suggesting that they had better invite me to see the actors…
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After my false start the other week, when I went to the wrong show, I finally managed to catch this latest offering from the wonderful Mikron, in beautiful downtown Bingley. It was well worth the wait, even though there were no fish and chips involved. A Magnum ice cream at the interval was my only…
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2025 seems to be the year of Lewis Carroll’s Alice books insofar as Leeds is concerned. After the spectacular Wonderland Awaits installations throughout the City during the school holidays, we now have the Joss Arnott Dance presentation of Meet The Hatter, the headgear wearing character from the pen of Charles Dodgson. On looking at his…
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I don’t normally venture out on Saturday evening, especially as press nights tend to be midweek, but, as it was my birthday and the brilliant Courtney Pine was playing at my favourite music venue, I just had to go for a listen. I began my wild partying with two pints of Three Swords, and a…
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Tyke It To The Limit 