Many people may not know of it, but the city of Leeds has many wonderful theatres at different places around the city. All these theatres offer a wide variety of performances from classical to contemporary and musical theatre productions.
Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House
Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House was built in 1878 at a cost of 62,000 pounds, a very high cost at the time. The Theatre House itself reflects the cost of its creation, with its fascinating archite
cture that gives an air of opulence.
The Leeds Grand Theatre offers many different types of theatre shows running for around two weeks at a time. The majority of these shows are musical and comedy, but there are also Shakespeare Company shows during the Leeds Shakespeare Festival as well as children’s, acrobatic, and more risqué shows to be seen.
The Grand Theatre and Opera House also lends out its stage to stand-up comedy acts for single evening or weekend performances, whenever the calendar allows.
Visiting Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House
By public transport: the theatre is about a ten minute walk from the railway station. When you come out of the railway station, head southeast on New Station St. toward Bishopgate St. Walking down Bishopgate St. turn right onto Boar Lane then almost immediately turn left onto Briggate, continue on to New Briggate.
By car: enter the city on the A64 New York Road, when you come to the end of the A64 to join the Inner Ring Road, which is still the A64, turn left onto New Briggate.
Address:
Leeds Grand Theatre
46 New Briggate
Leeds
LS1 6NZ
Tel: 0844 8482706
The Carriageworks
The Carriageworks is located in a grade II listed building that was built in 1894 and housed a printing works among other tenants until 1999. Today the building hosts the Carriageworks and has a theatre with a capacity of 350.
The Carriageworks is renowned for theatre, dance, comedy and film of both national and regional fame. Along with the shows that the Carriageworks has to offer, they also support new and upcoming theatre groups and makers and also house the Leeds Civic Arts Guild.
Visiting the Carriageworks
By train, walk out of the railway station and turn left up Station Street as it merges into Park Row and Cookridge Street for around four hundred metres. After this distance turn left onto Great George Street, Millenium Square is located on the right after a short walk along Great George Street.
Address:
The Carriageworks
The Electric Press
3 Millennium Square
Leeds
LS2 3AD
Tel: 0113 224 3801
West Yorkshire Playhouse
West Yorkshire Playhouse opened its doors in 1990 and since this time has been entertaining the people of Leeds and visitors to the city.
Supported by Leeds Council and The Arts Council England, the West Yorkshire Playhouse hosts two theatres within the complex: the Quarry Theatre (750 seats) and The Courtyard Theatre (350 seats). The Playhouse also boasts a bar, restaurant, gallery, rehearsal and music rooms, and two conference suite facilities.
The West Yorkshire Playhouse hosts many wonderful shows on a yearly basis with over 1,000 performances, workshops and events. As well as the different touring shows throughout the year, the West Yorkshire Playhouse also produces 16 shows a year that it produces itself.
Visiting the West Yorkshire Playhouse
From Leeds railway station the West Yorkshire Playhouse is a fifteen minute walk. Leaving the station, head southeast on New Station St toward Bishopgate St then turn right onto Boar lane. Once on Boar Lane almost immediately take a left onto Duncan Street then right onto Call Lane.
As Call Lane turns into New York St. continue walking, New York St. will change into York Street, turn left into St Peters St. which bears right at Eastgate. When you see the bridge in front of you after turning right past Eastgate, Quarry Hill should be on your right. Turn right and after a short walk right again, and you will be at West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Address:
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Playhouse Square
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UP
Tel: 0113 213 7700