My latest gossipy chinwag is with Francesca Forristal, comedy and songwriter, actor and drag artist extraordinaire. Here Francesca talks about getting into the arts, the importance of broad thinking when it comes to drag artists and why it’s so important to laugh at the difficult subjects in order to truly engage with and understand them.... Continue Reading →
With theatres shuttered for the time being, I’m going to be spending a lot more time chatting to creatives (at a safe distance, naturally), and the best of the situation is that I’m going to be keeping very good company if this cracking first interview of the lockdown is anything to go by. Rod Dixon,... Continue Reading →
The Grand Theatre & Opera House Leeds? A theatre which truly lives up to its name. Take a look at the website for this grand institution and you can learn an awful lot about one of Leeds’ star attractions. In short, it ‘was built in 1878, cost a total of £62,000 and took 13 months... Continue Reading →
A set of buildings re-purposed for theatre and previously named the S.S Empire, this theatre (now run by ATG) has been through a range of revamps and reincarnations over the years. Now, from hosting touring productions to offering its own panto each year, the Grand Opera House York is a pretty fabulous theatre. Here’s five... Continue Reading →
‘FOUNDED IN 1970, RELOCATED IN 1990, AND RELAUNCHED IN 2018, THE LEEDS PLAYHOUSE IS A THEATRE AT THE HEART OF THE CITY AND REGION WE CALL HOME.’ Artistic Director James Brining and Executive Director Robin Hawkes have been steering this theatre from strength to strength. From the recent re-brand which saw the theatre transform from... Continue Reading →
Spies Like Us are bringing not one but two pieces to the 2020 Vault Festival. One - Our Man in Havana - is a fully fledged production which has already gained significant recognition and the other - Speed Dial - is a work in progress. With both arriving on the Vault scene between 3-7th March... Continue Reading →
Esohe Uwadiae brings a daring, exploratory new show to this year’s Vault Festival with her debut play She Is A Place Called Home (playing 3rd - 8th March - tickets here). Delving into the universal ground of family, relationships, love and perseverance, her play also seeks to enlighten audiences when it comes to cultures and... Continue Reading →
A very different kind of comedy show is heading to Leeds this September. George Egg cooks live...but without a conventional hob in sight. Combining Stand-up and quirky cookery using unexpected objects, Egg has seen great success touring his previous show internationally to critical acclaim. This new show, Movable Feast, arrives at Leeds City Varieties for... Continue Reading →
Lemon House Theatre are heading to The Bunker Theatre with a double bill of thought-provoking shows boasting pretty impressive creative teams. Different Sand and Willow will play from 8th to 16th September 2019 (tickets here) so I caught up with Co-Artistic Directors Samia Djilli & Jennifer Cerys to talk all things Lemon House Theatre and... Continue Reading →
Emma Rice’s Wise Children are set to return to York Theatre Royal with their second show this September - a musical adaptation of Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers. Here Rice talks favourite characters, the worrying status of the arts in schools... and her own time in uniform! Which Malory Towers character were you in your schooldays?... Continue Reading →
Always Time For Theatre 