Spring Summer 2012 - West Yorkshire Playhouse

Spring Summer 

2012

2012 is a year for ambitious projects. The country 

is gearing up for one of the world’s largest 

sporting events and the Cultural Olympiad will 

bring together leading international artists in the 

UK’s biggest ever arts festival. 

Sir rodney Brooke Chairman 

Sheena Wrigley General Director and Joint Chief Executive 

Ian Brown Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive 

‘ON STAGE SOME OF THE STRONGEST, 

MOST INvENTIvE COMPANIES FROM 

ACROSS THE UK JOIN FORCES WITH 

THE PLAYHOUSE.’ 

Inspired by the Olympics, bolstered by the 

continued support of our audiences and with a 

firm belief that art and a shared live experience 

can lifts the spirits when so much else is at stake, 

Leeds and West Yorkshire Playhouse play a part 

in these Olympic year celebrations. OverWorlds & 

UnderWorlds, a project developed across the 

city’s arts organisations with international artists 

the Quay Brothers, sees installations and 

interventions taking place across the city whilst 

Unlimited Theatre’s The Giant And The Bear, 

developed with us through Furnace, can be seen 

on Quarry Hill in all its high-wire glory this summer. 

On stage some of the strongest, most inventive 

companies from across the UK join forces with 

the Playhouse to give a national profile for the 

work created and built here in Yorkshire. Waiting 

for Godot sees us working again with Talawa 

Theatre Company and then with ‘Queen of Teen’ 

Louise Rennison for the first ever live adaptation 

of her Georgia Nicolson books. 

The Giant and the Bear 

Playtested as part of Furnace 2011 

Shared Experience continue their exploration of 

literary greats with Mary Shelley and we’re 

creating a new production of Tom Stoppard’s The 

Real Thing with ETT. Alongside large-scale 

shows, such as new musical Loserville, the 

Transform festival returns to celebrate innovative 

and ambitious performance from across the UK: 

plenty we hope to make your heart race. 

Photography by Chris nash Design by uber 

1 to 4 February 

Phoenix Dance Theatre: 

Crossing Points 

Following the success of 2011’s Reflected, Phoenix 

Dance Theatre returns to the Playhouse with the 

company’s latest exhilarating mixed programme. 

Crossing Points features the world premieres 

of two contrasting dance works. Inspired by 

Magritte’s iconic painting The Son of Man, Ana 

Luján Sánchez’s Catch immerses the audience 

in an abstract, surreal world filled with intricate, 

dynamic and thought provoking choreography whilst 

SoundClash by Kwesi Johnson sees the dancers 

mimic the complex and beautiful patterns created by 

sound waves when made visible. 

This exciting programme also features the return of 

Henri Oguike’s unflinching, thrilling Signal, which 

first premiered in 2004, and a first chance for the 

Playhouse audience to see the hilarious modern 

Phoenix classic Maybe Yes Maybe, Maybe No 

Maybe by Aletta Collins. 

Phoenix Dance Theatre 

Works by 

Aletta Collins 

Kwesi Johnson 

Henri Oguike 

Ana Luján Sánchez 

Quarry Theatre 

A £27 B £22 C £17 

Discounts £3 off in A & B 

Wednesday to Friday 

Schools £11 

‘Everyone should 

see this company’ 

DAnCE EurOPE 

BOOK ONLINE wyp.org.uk

Photography richard Moran 


Waiting 

for Godot 

Two homeless men, vladimir and Estragon, wait 

on a bare road with a single tree. Over two days 

they argue, get bored, clown around, repeat 

themselves, contemplate death and wait. They 

are waiting for the one who never comes. They 

are waiting for Godot. 

Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is one of 

the most significant English language plays 

of the twentieth century. The play gently and 

intelligently speaks about what it is to be human. 

Its brilliance lies in its subtlety; it is endlessly 

elusive and yet universal. 

Ian Brown directs an all Black cast in this 

new production of Beckett’s funny and poetic 

masterpiece. 

‘To-morrow, when I 

wake, or think I do, 

what shall I say 

of to-day?’ 

West Yorkshire Playhouse 

and Talawa Theatre 

Company 

By Samuel Beckett 

Director Ian Brown 

Designer Paul Wills 

Lighting Designer Chris Davey 

Casting Director Pippa Ailion 

Courtyard Theatre 

A £27 B £22 C £17 


Monday to Friday 

Previews and Matinees £17 

Schools £11 

‘Talawa has an 

impressive legacy... 

making theatre that 

people of any colour 

would queue round the 

block to see.’ TIME OuT 


Dave the Laugh 

Massimo 

(lurve god) 

Robbie 

(sex god) 

Illustrations © Ian Bilbey 2005 

Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 

10 February to 3 March 

Along with her posse the Ace Gang, 14 year old 

Georgia Nicolson is on a mission to win a Sex 

God boyfriend in the form of the local band lead 

singer Robbie. With the help of her crazy cat, 

Angus and her best mate Jas, a snogtastic plan 

develops. 

Can Georgia use her newly acquired boyentrancing 

charms to lure the Sex God away from 

Wet Lindsey? Or will she decide to go after Italian 

Luurve God Massimo? And what about Dave 

the Laugh? A great mate but would you go past 

number one on the snogging scale with him? 

This new stage adaptation of the “Queen of Teen” 

Louise Rennison’s Fab Confessions of Georgia 

Nicolson is for anyone who’s a teenager, has ever 

been a teenager, or knows someone who is about 

to be one soon.... 

Every Friday night is vair Sophis Party Night. 

Come dressed up in your most sophis clothes 

and we’ll provide a marvy party atmosphere 

including music, treats and pizza-a-go-go on sale 

in the cafe! 

Suitable for ages 10+ 

Sound the Cosmic 

Horn! Georgia and 

the Ace Gang are 

live on stage 

World Premiere 


and Micklelou Productions 

By Louise rennison 

Adapted for the stage by 

Mark Catley and 

Louise rennison 

Director ryan McBryde 

Designer Hannah Clark 

Composer and Musical Director 

Alex Silverman 

Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell 

Puppet Design Blind Summit 

Casting Director Jessica ronane 


A £27 B £22 C £17 




Family Tickets 

A £20 B £15 C £13 

Schools £11 


Original Bearings by Slung Low 

Photography Andy Wood 

Furnace is about creating new 

work with performance makers 

from West Yorkshire and beyond; 

placing artists and audiences at 

the centre of the development and 

realisation of theatre. 

Furnace got off to a spectacular start in October, with 

playtest workshops of Unlimited Theatre’s The Giant and 

the Bear and Original Bearings by Slung Low, as well 

as the first ever Furnace Symposium about creating and 

producing theatre in the region. 

As Furnace continues through 2012, we start work on 

exciting new projects with Leeds based physical theatre 

company RashDash and innovative ensemble Curious 

Directive. Follow both projects, and others as they 

develop, at wyp.org.uk 

Our new website is going live. 

As well as booking online you can also find out more 

about how our productions are created on the blog, 

find out what else is happening at the Playhouse, or 

submit your own reviews at wyp.org.uk 

www.wyp.org.uk 

What’s 

On 

16 March to 7 April 

Mary 

Shelley 



Angus, Thongs & 

Even More Snogging 

Waiting for 

Godot 

4 to 26 May 16 June to 14 July 

The Real 

Thing 

Furnace Loserville 



Top Girls 

An unparalleled story of success and, chillingly, 

what happens to those left behind. One of the 

seminal plays of the twentieth century, Top 

Girls flashes with razor-sharp wit and ingenious 

theatricality. 

Thatcher’s England: hard-nosed, go-getting 

businesswoman Marlene is hosting a dinner 

party to celebrate her promotion to MD of the 

Top Girls Employment Agency. Her guests, all 

powerful women from myth and history, make for 

an extraordinary gathering. 

Max Stafford-Clark directed the premiere of Top 

Girls in 1982. His brand new production was a 

hugely acclaimed hit in the West End in 2011. 

Out of Joint and Chichester 

Festival Theatre 

By Caryl Churchill 

Director Max Stafford-Clark 

Designer Tim Shortall 

Lighting Jason Taylor 

Sound Ian Dickinson 

video Finn ross 


A £27 B £22 C £17 



Matinees £17 

Schools £11 

‘Simple, cryptic, 

sad and hilarious.’ 

TIME OuT 

Production Imagery and Design by Document. 

Original Photography by Des Willie. 

20 to 24 March 

Swallows and 

Amazons 

All aboard The Swallow! Follow Captain John and 

his able crew as they set sail to Wildcat Island on 

an exotic adventure to encounter savages, capture 

dastardly pirates and defeat mortal enemies. 

An action-packed musical adventure for the whole 

family, Swallows and Amazons is a story of an 

idyllic era, of endless summer evenings and the 

beauty of youthful imagination. 

This delightful and gloriously imaginative production 

is directed by Tom Morris who also directed the 

international smash hit War Horse, is written by 

Helen Edmundson, writer of the National Theatre's 

astonishing Coram Boy, with music by Neil Hannon 

from the The Divine Comedy. 

Swallows and Amazons forever! 


Lasts 2 hours 10 minutes including interval 

The Children's Touring 

Partnership in association 

with the national Theatre 

present the Bristol Old Vic 

production 

Book by Helen Edmundson 

Songs by neil Hannon 

Based on the book by 

Arthur ransome 

Director Tom Morris 


All tickets £16 

No discounts 

Family Tickets £13 

Schools £11 

‘A terrific 

production – warm 

hearted, affectionate 

and fun.’ THE DAILY TELEGrAPH 


Photography robert Day 

16 March to 7 April 

Mary 

Shelley 

Shared Experience brings to life the astonishing 

tale of Mary Shelley – and how she came to write 

one of the greatest stories ever told, aged just 19. 

This powerful new play explores Shelley’s 

remarkable life: her controversial philosopher 

father, her scandalous elopement aged 16 and 

how she wrote a novel, so radical in its ideology, 

that in 1817 she changed the literary landscape 

forever. 

Shared Experience is renowned for bringing 

literary classics to the stage in bold, imaginative 

ways. For Mary Shelley they reunite with awardwinning 

writer Helen Edmundson whose ground 

breaking adaptations (Mill on the Floss, Coram 

Boy, Swallows and Amazons) have inspired 

generations of theatre makers. 

Mary Shelley is directed by Polly Teale, 

Artistic Director of Shared Experience, 

who is celebrated for her potent visual and 

imaginative style. 

Daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft. 

Lover of Percy Bysshe Shelley. 

Author of Frankenstein. 


West Yorkshire Playhouse, 

nottingham Playhouse and 

Shared Experience 

By Helen Edmundson 

Director Polly Teale 

Designer naomi Dawson 

Composer Peter Salem 

Movement Liz ranken 

Lighting Designer Chris Davey 

Casting Director Amy Ball 


A £27 B £22 C £17 




Schools £11 

‘Theatre this engrossing 

is so rare, I can only 

urge you not to miss it.’ 

TIME OuT On SHArED ExPErIEnCE 


3 to 14 April 

Love’s Labour’s 

Lost 

Take four dashing young men. 

Add a vow of celibacy. 

Throw in a handful of beautiful young women … 

and wait for the sparks to fly. 

Northern Broadsides celebrates its 20th 

anniversary year with a delicious comedy that will 

entertain and delight. Romantic, mischievous and 

filled with youthful exuberance, Love’s Labour’s 

Lost fizzes like bubbles in a champagne glass. 

Barrie Rutter directs a charismatic cast of 17 

multi-talented northern actors who will literally fill 

the stage in this fast-paced battle of the sexes. 

In true Broadsides’ style there’ll be rousing song 

and dance, scintillating performances, 

jaw-dropping comic timing and hilarious 

‘steal-the-show’ scenes. 

northern Broadsides 

in partnership with the 

new Vic Theatre, 

newcastle-under-Lyme 

By William Shakespeare 

Director Barrie rutter 


A £27 B £22 C £17 



Matinees £17 

Schools £11 

‘ The best Shakespeare 

around.’ 

THE InDEPEnDEnT On SunDAY 

12 to 14 April 

The Owl and 

the Pussycat 

Follow Owl and Pussy Cat as they set out on 

the high seas with only some honey, money and 

a runcible spoon to help them find their way 

through a topsy turvey world! Along the way they 

meet the piggy wig, the turkey who lives on the 

hill and the strangest looking tree you’ll ever see! 

Enjoy this absurd hogwash of nonsense featuring 

silly songs, babbling puppets and smaller than 

life characters. Puppetry, live music and beautiful 

storytelling combine in this enchanting retelling 

of Lear’s classic poem. 

A nonsense adventure for 3-7 year olds and their 

families 

Lasts 50 minutes with no interval 

Hiccup Theatre in 

association with The Point, 

Eastleigh 

By Edward Lear 

Adapted and created by 

Hiccup Theatre 

Dramaturg Mike Kenny 

Director Sarah Brigham 

Composer & Sound Designer 

Ivan Stott 

Designer Ali Allen 

Puppet Maker John Barber 

Lighting Designer Elliot 

Carmichael 


All tickets £8.50 

No discounts 


Schools £7 

‘ I thought it was fun 

and funny’ ETHAn AGE 5 


The Transform Festival 

returns for 2012 and we 

are gearing up to present 

a celebratory, anarchic and 

playful programme of work 

by extraordinary theatre 

makers from West Yorkshire 

and beyond. 

From premieres of crafted shows in 

the Courtyard Theatre, to explosions of 

performance by the very best emerging 

companies in a temporary studio; you’ll 

catch delicate, interactive experiences, late 

night music, feasting, discussion, another 

sensational, raucous cabaret night; and 

glimpses of West Yorkshire Playhouse you 

will never have seen before. 

Full programme announced 

Wednesday 1 February. 

Updates at #wyptransform 

@Dartford: This festival is just what the city 

needed. Get to WYP ASAP. 

@Clancywalker: #wyptransform so much 

going on! Feel like a kid in a sweet shop! 

‘Extraordinary. Full 

of fleeting moments’ 

YOrKSHIrE POST 

‘Genuinely exciting’ 

A YOunGEr THEATrE 

‘Wide-eyed, open-mouthed 

and left wanting more’ 

CuLTurE VuLTurE 

‘Mesmerizing’ 

LEEDS COnFIDEnTIAL 

About Transform ’11 


Photography: Terry Harrison 

4 to 26 May 

The Real 

Thing 

Henry is a brilliant and celebrated playwright. 

With his wife Charlotte in the starring role, 

his new play examines the complexity of love 

and infidelity. 

Henry’s reality and fiction blur when passions 

ignite and his own marriage becomes entwined 

with that of Charlotte’s co-star, Max and wife 

Annie. As Henry struggles to write a new work, 

the players in this game of deceit and lust are 

all searching. But can any of them find The 

Real Thing? 

Sparklingly witty, genuinely moving and thoughtprovoking, 

The Real Thing sees Tom Stoppard 

at the height of his powers. This play is one of 

his most enduring and richly acclaimed works. 

The Playhouse joins forces with the celebrated 

English Touring Theatre to stage this electrifying 

new production of Stoppard’s cunning exposé of 

love and betrayal. 

‘You have to find a part 

of yourself where I'm 

not important or you 

won’t be worth loving’ 


and English Touring 

Theatre 

By Tom Stoppard 

Director Kate Saxon 

Designer Simon Higlett 

Composer Dominic Haslam 

Lighting Designer Paul Pyant 

Casting Director Sarah Bird 


A £27 B £22 C £17 




Schools £11 

‘A glorious play 

Stoppard's wit and 

intellectual rigour is 

warmed by the glow of 

romance’ THE DAILY TELEGrAPH 


Photograph by nik Mackey 

24 to 26 May 

Napoli 

Bea always felt like she never fitted into her life in 

Yorkshire, felt like she never quite belonged. Then 

two days ago, her Mother dropped a bombshell. 

Disorientated by what she’s heard, Bea flees to Italy 

to try and fit together the pieces of her family’s story. 

Among the washing lines of the Napoli rooftops, the 

hidden truths of three generations are revealed. The 

story stretches across history as the different eras 

collide, from the war torn decisions of 1944 to the 

present day. 

Flying Cloud’s vibrant style mixes technicolour 

spectacle, movement, music and emotionally 

charged drama. It aims to excite, entertain and 

challenge perceptions through inspiring stories 

from around the world. 

Napoli is part of our New Writing Season 


Flying Cloud Theatre 

Company 

Written & Directed by 

Leandra Ashton 

Movement Director Dominic 

Leclerc 

Original Music Score James 

Hesford from Cellorhytmics 

Designer Takis 


Tickets £13 

Discounts £3 off 

24 May to 1 June 

New 

Writing 

Season 

What would an ideal new writing season 

look like? 

Well, it could include the premiere of a new play 

(Napoli), give a taster of a major new play being 

developed, have writers in residence and open 

scratch nights. It should help find answers to big 

questions: 

What do writers want? 

How to take big risks with little money? 

How do we get more of the biggest, best and 

boldest plays to the stage? 

It can bring together artists, old friends and 

new colleagues (Emerge, Theatre in the Mill) 

and you, the audience, for a conversation about 

what kind of new writing theatre we want. 

We’re still working on the details of this so 

if you have any thoughts do share them at 

wyp.org.uk and we’ll let you know about our 

ideas and plans as they develop. Look forward 

to seeing you there. 


Photograph by Paul Hamportsoumian 

2 June 

Breakin’ 

Convention 

Breakin’ Convention, the critically acclaimed 

international festival of hip hop dance theatre, 

brings jaw-dropping performances by 

companies from around the world and around 

the corner. Now in its ninth year, this hugely 

popular Sadler's Wells production is hosted 

and curated by eminent UK hip hop theatre 

artist Jonzi D. 

Breakin’ Convention is much more than just a 

show - it is an experience! Take part in freestyle 

sessions with DJs in the foyers and workshops 

from top international artists, plus much more to 

be confirmed. See wyp.org.uk for full details. 

A Sadler's Wells production 

Supported by Dance 

Consortium 


All Tickets £17.50 


Family Tickets £12.50 

School Tickets £12.50 

‘ Breakin’ Convention 

never fails to deliver 

thrills, surprises and 

a stonking good time’ 

THE TIMES 

Schools 

THE PLAYHOuSE AIMS TO InSPIrE AnD EMPOWEr PEOPLE OF 

ALL AGES AnD ABILITY THrOuGH CrEATIVITY. 

Thousands of young people enjoy our performances 

every year as part of a school trip, but we can 

offer so much more than just tickets. 

School ticket prices are listed on each production 

page. To help you manage your visit we offer one 

FREE staff seat for every eight students booked. 

There are a limited number of school discounted 

tickets available per performance Monday to 

Friday. You are still welcome to book once the 

limit is reached but full ticket prices will apply. 

Don’t worry if you don’t know exact group 

numbers to begin with. Teachers can reserve by 

paying for just two tickets; final numbers and 

payment aren’t needed until one month before the 

performance. 

We encourage schools to contact our Box Office 

with any specific concerns or questions regarding 

sensitive content in the productions. 

Give Box Office a call on 0113 213 7700 and 

they will be delighted to help with your booking. 

For more information contact Aoibheann Kelly 

on 0113 213 7800 ext 384 or email her at 

Aoibheann.kelly@wyp.org.uk 

More than just a show… 

From opportunities for students to work with 

professional directors to set design workshops, 

the Playhouse offers a range of activities to 

complement a primary or secondary school trip to 

the theatre. 

Theatre Days enhance your students’ visit to the 

theatre through a range of practical approaches, 

from working with the director of a production, to 

investigating the rehearsal process with the cast. 

Theatre days are £19.50 per student (including 

ticket). 

Bespoke Workshops and Projects if you have 

an idea for a project or would like to talk to us 

about connecting to your work in school please 

get in touch. Previous projects have included live 

briefs for the Creative and Media Diploma, 

tailor-made theatre days and performance projects. 

resource Packs include information about the 

productions at West Yorkshire Playhouse as well 

as interviews with actors and directors, production 

photographs and ideas for practical work. 


16 to 19 May 

White 

Welcome to the beautifully strange world of 

White. Full of birdsong and birdhouses, it gleams 

and dazzles and shines in the night. Two friends 

look after the birdhouses and make sure the 

eggs stay safe. The world is bright, ordered and 

white. But high up in the trees, all is not white. 

Colour appears. 

First red... then yellow... then blue... 

White is a playful show for very young children 

and is a perfect first time theatre experience. 

Catherine Wheels is an award-winning and 

internationally acclaimed children’s theatre 

company. 

A performance for 2-4 year olds 

Lasts 35 minutes with no interval 

Catherine Wheels 

Theatre Company 

In association with Brunton 

Theatre, Musselburgh 

Created by Andy Manley 



No discounts 

‘an utter delight no 

matter what your age’ 

THE TIMES 

‘as cleverly executed 

as a conjuring trick’ 

THE GuArDIAn 

Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd/ E1 Entertainment Ltd 2003 

7 to 10 June 

Peppa Pig’s 

Treasure Hunt 

Ahoy there me Hearties! Peppa Pig and her 

friends are going on a treasure hunt and need 

your help! 

Peppa, George and Danny Dog are up to fun 

and games on a day out on Grandad Dog's boat. 

Help them with Pedra Pony, Polly Parrot and Zoe 

Zebra to follow the clues and find their treasure 

as they all enjoy a day of adventure. 

Following the incredible sell-out success of 

Peppa Pig's Party, Peppa is back with a brand 

new show featuring true to life puppets, perfect 

singalong songs and a new story that will charm 

and delight all her fans. Full sail! Arrrrr! 


Lasts 1 hour 20 minutes including interval 



No discounts 


Schools £11 

‘It was good because 

she was dancing and 

George was too’ 

MEGAn AGE 5 


MICHAEL 

LEIA 

HOLLY 

EDDIE 

16 June to 14 July 

Welcome to Loserville. It’s 1971. Michael Dork 

may be a computer geek but he’s invented 

something that could change the world. He’s 

also discovered girls: a prospect (almost) as 

exciting as his love of binary. 

Holly is the girl: she has looks and brains and 

wants to be the first woman in space - well, this 

is 1971! But will she want Michael? Eddie wants 

a fast ride to the top and doesn’t care who gets 

trampled along the way. Leia just wants Eddie. 

Or Eddie’s babies - well, she thinks she does. 

Michael’s friends are all set to change the course 

of history, fashion and dating - in no particular 

order, but just as soon as possible, especially 

the dating bit. 

Loserville is a new musical written by Elliot Davis 

and James Bourne (inspired by his Son of Dork 

album Welcome To Loserville). Now meet the 

Class of 1971. This is their story and now it’s a 

musical. 

1971. If you can’t 

predict the future. 

Invent it. 

Scan the Qr code 

for much more. 


West Yorkshire Playhouse, 

Kevin Wallace Limited and 

Youth Music Theatre uK 

Director Steven Dexter 

Choreographer nick Winston 

Designer Francis O’Connor 

Musical Supervisor Martin Lowe 

Sound Designer Simon Baker 

Orchestrations & vocal 

Arrangements James Bourne, 

Elliot Davis and Martin Lowe 

Casting Director Anne Vosser 


A £27 B £22 C £17 





A £20 B £15 C £13 

Schools £11 


Beautiful Octopus Club takes place in the Leeds University Union Building 

17 March 

Fresh 2012 

Fresh 2012 (a part of U.Dance) is a breath-taking 

celebration of the achievements of our region’s 

young dancers. Anything could happen–from hip 

hop to Bollywoodas the very finest youth dance 

companies from across Yorkshire compete for 

an extraordinary prize. An elite panel of judges 

will select one group to represent Yorkshire at 

U.Dance England 2012, Youth Dance England’s 

flagship event taking place this July at the 

Southbank Centre in London. 

Alongside the performances on stage, youth 

dance companies will also be performing in the 

theatre foyer and at Yorkshire Dance, next door 

on Quarry Hill 


All Tickets £8 

Discounts and Groups of 5+ £2 off 

20 March 

Beautiful 

Octopus Club 

Another inclusive, uplifting club night presented 

by our crew of adults with learning disabilities, 

supported by Playhouse staff. Join us for live 

music, open mic, DJs and dancing at the 

friendliest, most accessible club night in Leeds! 

Strictly over 18s only. 

Beautiful Octopus Club takes place 

in the Leeds University Union. 

Tickets £6.50 in advance from 

West Yorkshire Playhouse or £7.50 

on the door at Leeds University Union. 

No discounts 

10 to 12 May 

Connections 

The National Theatre has commissioned ten 

new internationally inspired plays for young 

performers from some of the most exciting 

writers in the world today. From Manchester to 

Brazil young people have helped give these ten 

new and invigorating plays an authentic voice. 

Now Connections gives regional young theatre 

companies the chance to perform them at the 

Playhouse. 

national Theatre 



No discounts 

23 June 

Shake the Dust 

regional Slam Final 

As part of Shake the Dust, a national celebration 

of the power of poetry, 5 groups of young people 

from across Leeds will battle it out to see which 

team will represent Yorkshire at the National 

Final at the Southbank Centre in London in July. 

As Olympic and Paralympic athletes train, young 

people from across the country will work with 

leading spoken word artists to share their stories 

and find their voices through slam poetry. 

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Apples and 

Snakes and Leeds Young Authors 



No discounts 


4 July 

Young Theatre 

Makers 

Returning for a second year, Young Theatre 

Makers brings together four diverse and talented 

groups of young people with four professional 

theatre makers. 

Based on their hopes, dreams and aspirations 

each group has created a short piece of theatre 

exploring what it means to be a young person in 

the early twenty-first century. 

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to see these 

talented Young Theatre Makers in a performance 

which is both funny and touching, and will leave 

you feeling uplifted and inspired. 



All Tickets £5, No discounts 

7 July 

Recipe for Life 

Recipe for Life presented by Space2 brings 

together the very best ingredients of community 

and professional talent from across the City, 

celebrating arts and health. The evening offers 

a mouth-watering array of food for the soul from 

dance to performance poetry, film, music, drama 

and the spectacular ‘voices of the Day’ Choir. 

'It was so uplifting to see all the different acts 

and the choir lifted the roof at the end!!!' 

LAST YEAr’S AuDIEnCE MEMBEr 



No discounts 

Comedy 

Photography: Steve ullathorne 

27 January 

Showstopper! 

The Improvised Musical 

A brand new musical is created from scratch at each 

performance of this award-winning production. Audience 

suggestions help to create a show on the spot, as the allsinging, 

all-dancing cast improvise with unpredictable and 

frequently hilarious results. Packed with drama, dazzling dance 

routines and catchy melodies, Showstopper! leaves delighted 

audiences singing all the way home. 

‘Worth seeing again and again.’ TIME OuT 

Tickets £12.50 Quarry Theatre 

29 March 

Fascinating Aida: 

The Cheap Flights Tour 

Three times Olivier Award nominated and now a global internet 

sensation, Fascinating Aida are still Britain's best comedy 

cabaret trio. This brand new show will include several numbers 

hot off the press, plus a few old favourites including their 

infamous anthem to budget travel, Cheap Flights (7 million plus 

hits on YouTube) as well as The Dogging Song, a fond homage 

to the joys of al fresco sex. 

‘See them before you die otherwise your life will have 

been meaningless’ MAIL On SunDAY 

Tickets £17.50 (Discounts £2 off) Quarry Theatre 

8 June 

Stewart Lee - Carpet Remnant World 

Formerly stand-up’s youthful iconoclast, Lee now gawps blankly 

at News 24 as Britain burns down around him, and blinks 

weirdly at the vast wayside retail outlets during endless journeys 

to and from increasingly indistinct provincial theatres. 

Once he lived on the pleasure planet. Now he is trapped in 

Carpet Remnant World. And so are you. 

‘Hilarious’ THE GuArDIAn 

Tickets £17.50 (Discounts £2 off) Quarry Theatre 


29 & 30 June 

Audience 

Enter the world of Ontroerend Goed one of 

the world’s most exciting, sexy, and dangerous 

theatre companies. Direct from its sell-out 

Edinburgh season and European tour Audience 

makes its Leeds premiere created and produced 

by the multi-award winning team behind global 

hits Internal, The Smile Off Your Face and Once 

and For All We’re Gonna Tell You Who We Are 

So Shut Up and Listen. 

Presented at West Yorkshire Playhouse as part of 

Ludus Festival Leeds: International Theatre and 

Performance. Developed with the support of The 

National Theatre Studio. Presented with the support 

of the Flemish community, the Province of East- 

Flanders & the City of Ghent 

'This Belgium-based theatrical powerhouse is 

exploring new and considerably inventive ways 

of engaging with audiences' THE GuArDIAn 

Ontroerend Goed and 

richard Jordan Productions 

Ltd in association with 

Vooruit (Ghent) and the 

Drum Theatre Plymouth 

Director Alexander Devriendt 

Writer Joeri Smet 

Scenography & Costumes 

Sophie De Somere 

Lighting Design & Music 

Timme Afschrift 

Camera Aaron De Keyzer 




28 June to 8 July 

The Giant 

& The Bear 

Roll up! Roll up! The Giant’s travelling circus is 

coming to Quarry Hill, and you’re invited to come 

and play... 

Unlimited Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse 

team up with circus artist Layla Rosa (Shunt) 

and game designers Hide & Seek to create 

an extraordinary family event for all ages, 

experiences and levels of daring. 

Create your own adventure from a pick ‘n’ mix 

of experiences including.... New versions of 

Old-Fashioned Games! Guided Mystery Tours! 

Hula Hooping! And a Flying Ballerina in a breathtaking 

finale in a Big Top tent for One Week 

Only! 

Pssssst! Secret Levels and Missions will be 

available. 

unlimited Theatre, West 

Yorkshire Playhouse and 

imove 

By unlimited Theatre, 

Layla rosa and Hide & Seek 

Developed through Furnace 

Quarry Hill 

For pricing and show times 

see wyp.org.uk 

The Giant and The Bear is part of imove, a 

Cultural Olympiad programme in Yorkshire 

imove is primarily funded by Legacy Trust 

UK, an independent charity set up to 

create a cultural and sporting legacy from 

the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic 

Games 


Christmas 2012 

The 

Wind in 

the Willows 

The adventures of Mole, Rat, Badger 

and Toad have amused and enchanted 

generations of children and adults. 

This new production of Alan Bennett’s 

warm, witty adaptation of Kenneth 

Grahame’s original novel, complete with 

carol-singing field mice, pistol-carrying 

weasels and the famous car, will be an 

experience to be relished by the whole 

family for Christmas 2012. 


By Kenneth Grahame 

Adapted by Alan Bennett 

Additional lyrics and music by 

Jeremy Sams 

Director Ian Brown 

Designer Colin richmond 


24 november 2012 to 

19 January 2013 

Booking Opens 

12 December 2011 with 

fantastic early bird offers 

and family discounts. 


Your visit to the Playhouse 

The Playhouse has two stages – The Quarry and 

The Courtyard. 



Opening hours 

Box Office 

Open 10am until 15 minutes after the show starts. 

10am – 6pm when there is no performance. 

reception 

Open 8.30am until the last performance begins. 

8.30pm until 6pm when there is no performance. 

Discounts 

Only one discount applies per ticket. Discount 

tickets are limited and not available for Previews 

or Matinees. Booking in advance is recommended. 

When available discounts apply to Senior Citizens 

(60+ and retired), children under 16, NUS, 

BreezeCard or LeedsCard holders and anyone 

receiving unemployment benefits. 

under 26s When available free tickets Monday to 

Thursday. 


When available apply to groups between four and 

seven people, where at least two are under 16. 

Access 

Customers with a disability pay the lowest 

available price in Area B. 

If you require a companion please request an 

additional FREE ticket when you book. 

Access Tickets are not available online. 

Guide dogs and Hearing dogs for the Deaf are 

welcome. 

Community network 

Our scheme for community groups facing 

financial or access barriers to attending the theatre. 

A limited number of tickets are available to members 

of this scheme. 

For more access information contact Box Office 

0113 213 7700 Minicom 0113 213 7299 email 

access@wyp.org.uk. 

Textphone users, please dial 18001 then 

0113 213 7700. 

Access performances are sponsored by Irwin 

Mitchell Solicitors. See the diary for dates of the 

following. 

Audio Description 

Live commentary via personal head 

phones for blind or partially sighted people. 

Captioning 

English text displayed on a unit (on or 

above stage), for deaf or hard of hearing 

people. 

British Sign Language 

Sign language interpreted performance 

for Deaf BSL users. 

relaxed Performance 

Relaxed performances open up theatre to 

young people with learning disabilities. 

Groups 

Booking your group in with us is easy – just call 

the Box Office on 0113 213 7700 and they will 

be happy to help you. You can also pre-order ice 

creams and programmes when you make your 

booking. If you’re with a coach then you can drop 

off just outside the door, and there’s plenty of 

coach parking nearby. 

Group ticket prices 

Monday – Friday on all performances except 

Previews and Matinees 

Groups of 10 or more 10% off full price 




And you’ll also find we don’t charge a booking 

fee (never have) so there’s no hidden extras. 

Getting to and from the Playhouse 

Public Transport 

By Train Leeds City Station is the nearest rail 

station to the Playhouse. For train times call 

national rail Enquiries on 08457 484950. 

It is a twenty minute walk to the Playhouse. 

By Bus The Playhouse is located opposite the 

bus and National Express coach stations. For 

local bus and train times, call the METrOLInE 

information service on 0113 245 7676. 

Parking 

Quarry Hill car parks, next to the Playhouse, are 

CurrEnTLY FrEE after 5.30pm. Union Street 

car park, currently £2 after 5.30pm, is opposite 

the Playhouse behind Millgarth Police Station. 

Blue Badge Holders can park in these car parks 

for free. Disabled parking is also available on 

Playhouse Square, directly outside the main 

entrance. Further information about Leeds City 

Council car parks can be obtained from Parking 

Services on 0113 247 4140. 

Enjoying food and a drink at 


couldn’t be easier. Our café is 

spacious, light and airy, with 

plenty of seating and free wifi. 

Café 

Open 9am until 7.30pm. 

Hot meals served 12noon to 2pm and 5pm 

to 7.30pm. Our pre-show menu includes 

two courses for just £12.50. To book please 

ring Box Office on 0113 213 7700 and a 

table will be reserved for you. 

Bar 

Open from 5.30pm every evening of a 

performance. 

Information correct at time of printing. The Management reserves the right to alter ticket prices and information without 

prior notice as necessary or due to unforeseen circumstances. 


Diary 

Jan Quarry Theatre Courtyard Theatre Quarry Theatre Courtyard Theatre 

Fr 27 7.30 ST 

Fr 16 7.45 P 

Sa 28 

Sa 17 7.30 FR 

7.45 P Cn 

Su 29 

Su 18 

Mo 30 

Mo 19 7.45 P 

Tu 31 

Tu 20 7.00 7.45 P 

Feb 

We 21 1.30 7.00 7.45 

We 1 

Th 2 

Fr 3 

Sa 4 

Su 5 

Mo 6 

Tu 7 

We 8 

Th 9 

Fr 10 

7.30 

7.30 

7.30 

7.30 

7.30 P 

7.45 P Cn 

7.45 P 

7.45 P 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

Th 22 10.30 7.00 2.00 7.45 PSD 

Fr 23 7.00 PSD 7.45 

Sa 24 1.30 7.00 7.45 

Su 25 

Mo 26 7.45 Cn 

Tu 27 7.45 

We 28 7.45 

Th 29 7.30 FA 2.00 7.45 CAP 

Fr 30 7.45 

Sa 31 2.30 AD 7.45 

Sa 11 7.30 P Cn 7.45 Apr 

Su 12 

Su 1 

Mo 13 7.30 P 

Mo 2 7.45 

Tu 14 7.30 P 7.45 Cn Tu 3 7.30 7.45 

We 15 7.30 7.45 PSD We 4 7.30 7.45 

Th 16 7.30 2.00 7.45 CAP Th 5 1.30 7.30 2.00 7.45 AD 

Fr 17 7.30 7.45 

Fr 6 

Sa 18 2.00 Cn 7.30 2.30 AD 7.45 

Sa 7 2.00 7.30 2.30 BSL7.45 

Su 19 

Su 8 Happy Easter 

Mo 20 7.30 

Mo 9 

Tu 21 7.30 7.45 

Tu 10 7.30 

We 22 7.30 PSD 7.45 

We 11 7.30 PSD 

Th 23 1.30 7.30 BSL 2.00 7.45 AD Th 12 1.30 7.30 10.30 1.30 

Fr 24 7.30 7.45 

Fr 13 7.30 10.30 1.30 rP 

Sa 25 2.00 AD 7.30 2.30 7.45 

Sa 14 2.00 7.30 10.30 1.30 

Su 26 

Su 15 

Mo 27 7.30 

Mo 16 

Tu 28 7.30 7.45 PSD Tu 17 

We 29 7.30 7.45 

We 18 

Mar 

Th 19 

Th 1 1.30 7.30 AD 

Fr 2 7.30 

Sa 3 2.00 CAP 7.30 

Su 4 

Mo 5 

Tu 6 

We 7 

Th 8 

Fr 9 

Sa 10 

Su 11 

2.00 

2.30 

2.00 

2.30 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

7.45 

Fr 20 

Sa 21 

Su 22 

Mo 23 

Tu 24 

We 25 

Th 26 

Fr 27 

Sa 28 

Su 29 

Mo 30 

Mo 12 

May 

Tu 13 

Tu 1 

We 14 

We 2 

Th 15 

Th 3 

Phoenix 

Angus, Thongs & Even More Snogging 

Waiting for Godot 

Top Girls 

Swallows & 

Amazons 

Love’s Labour’s Lost 

Transform 

Mary Shelley 

Owl & 

Pussycat 

Transform 

Transform 

Quarry Theatre Courtyard Theatre 

Fr 4 7.30 P 

Sa 5 7.30 P Cn 

Su 6 

Mo 7 

Tu 8 7.30 P 

We 9 7.30 

Th 10 7.30 7.00 

Fr 11 7.30 7.00 

Sa 12 2.00 Cn 7.30 

Su 13 

7.00 

Mo 14 7.30 

Tu 15 7.30 

We 16 7.30PSD 10.30 1.30 3.30 

Th 17 1.30 7.30CAP 10.30 1.30 3.30 

Fr 18 7.30 10.30 1.30 3.30 

Sa 19 2.00 AD 7.30 

Su 20 

10.30 1.30 3.30 

Mo 21 7.30 

Tu 22 7.30 

We 23 7.30 

Th 24 1.30 7.30 AD 7.45 

Fr 25 7.30 7.45 

Sa 26 2.00 BSL 7.30 

Su 27 

Mo 28 

Tu 29 

We 30 

Th 31 

Jun 

2.30 7.45 

Fr 1 

Sa 2 

Su 3 

Mo 4 

Tu 5 

We 6 

7.30 BR 

Th 7 1.30 4.00 

Fr 8 7.30 SL 10.30 1.30 4.00 

Sa 9 10.30 1.30 4.00 

Su 10 

Mo 11 

Tu 12 

We 13 

Th 14 

10.30 1.30 

Fr 15 

Sa 16 

Su 17 

7.30 P 

Mo 18 7.30 P Cn 

Tu 19 7.30 P 

We 20 7.30 P 

Th 21 7.30 P 

Fr 22 7.30 

Real Thing 

Loserville 

Connections 

White 

Napoli 

New Writing 

Season 

Peppa Pig 

Quarry Theatre Courtyard Theatre 

Sa 23 2.00 Cn 7.30 

Su 24 

7.00 SD 

Mo 25 7.30 

Tu 26 7.30 

We 27 7.30 

Th 28 1.30 7.30 

Fr 29 7.30 7.45 

Sa 30 2.00CAP 7.30 

Jul 

Su 1 

7.45 

Mo 2 7.30 

Tu 3 7.30 

We 4 7.30 PSD BSL 

Th 5 1.30 7.30 AD 

7.00 YT 

Fr 6 7.30 

Sa 7 2.00 7.30 

Su 8 

7.00 RL 

Mo 9 7.30 

Tu 10 7.30 

We 11 7.30 

Th 12 1.30 AD 7.30 

Fr 13 7.30 

Sa 14 2.00 7.30 

Loserville 

One-off Performance Key 

ST Showstoppers! 

FR Fresh 2012 

FA Fascinating Aida 

BR Breakin Convention 

SL Stewart Lee 

SD Shake the Dust 

YT Young Theatre Makers 

RL Recipe for Life 

Performance Key 

P Preview Performance 

PSD Post Show Discussion 

AD Audio Described Performance 

CAP Captioned Performance 

BSL BSL Interpreted Performance 

rP Relaxed Performance 

Cn Community Network 

Aud 


WEST YORKSHIRE 

PLAYHOuSE 

PLAYHOuSE SquARE 

quARRY HILL 

LEEDS, LS2 7uP 

TEL: 0113 213 7700 

wyp.org.uk 

LEEDS THEATRE TRuST LTD. 

REGISTERED 926862 ENGLAND 

REGISTERED CHARITY NO.255460 

VAT NO. 545 4890 17

Spring Summer 2012 - West Yorkshire Playhouse

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