🎭 August Best Shows To See in Leeds

As promised last month, August is turning out to be somewhat of a fallow period insofar as the Leeds Theatre Scene is concerned. Anyone would think it was the holiday season or something.

The sole production at Leeds Playhouse is Paranormal Activity, and that only intrudes into the month by three days, having begun at the beginning of July. It does, however, give me the opportunity to recommend it as I was invited to the world premiere. It is a play, or ‘haunting’ as it is referred to in the publicity, which contains its fair share of shocks, counterpointed by some very clever humour, which makes them all the more scary. Sadly, there is precious little that I am allowed to reveal, a policy enforced by the website.

The Octopus Festival for those with learning disabilities, also just squeezes into the month, ending on 1st August. For details of both the above please head to Leeds Playhouse. 

The Grand Theatre is closed until the beginning of September while improvements are carried out. The other Heritage Theatre in Leeds, The City Varieties and Music Hall, is, however, screening Present Laughter by Noel Coward, starring Andrew Scott (pictured at the top). It is presented by NT Live and was recorded at the Old Vic during its sold out run in 2019. It is on 8th August and more details and booking information on their website.

Even the Carriageworks has just the one August production, Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, which runs from 13th to 18th and is aimed at those aged 3-8, so a neat counterpoint to the spookiness of the Playhouse. It is based on the book by Julia Donaldson, with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, aimed at getting children into the habit of reading by using puppetry and songs. Please head to the website for more details and to book – pardon the pun – or don’t!

I might as well wrap my belongings in a red-spotted hankie, tie it to the end of a stick, and set off on a summer expedition. Apparently, Heckmondwike can be enchanting at this time of year. I might need the rest, as September looks rammed!