Through It All Together: A Love Letter to Leeds United, Bielsa and Belief

Leeds Playhouse is bringing a story of fierce love, resilience, and football to the stage with Through It All Together, a new play by Leeds writer Chris O’Connor that’s as much about the beautiful game as it is about the beautiful, messy business of being human.

At the heart of the play are Howard and Sue, a devoted Yorkshire couple whose lives have been shaped by their lifelong passion for Leeds United. As they face the realities of Howard living with dementia, a new figure arrives to stir hope not just for their beloved team, but for their own daily battles: Marcelo Bielsa.

Set during the iconic season that saw Leeds return to the Premier League after 16 long years, the play is a warm, funny, and deeply moving celebration of football, family and never giving up – even when the teabags have gone missing and the famous chilli recipe’s in danger of being lost.

We sat down with three key creatives behind the show, actor Dean Smith, who takes on multiple roles, Shobna Gulati, who plays Sue, and director Gitika Buttoo. Watch below as we hear what the story means to them, why Bielsa still inspires devotion, and how the play tackles themes of memory, loyalty, and legacy.

In rehearsal, it’s already clear that this production is more than just a sports story, it’s a love letter. To Bielsa, yes. But also to every fan who dares to dream, to every couple who has weathered life’s storms side by side, and to Leeds, the city that keeps going through it all together.

Through It All Together runs at Leeds Playhouse and is proudly sponsored by JM Glendinning, Associate Production Sponsor. Don’t miss this stirring tribute to the spirit of Yorkshire, the power of memory, and the game that brings us all together.