James Brining News

The spectacular new production of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY – THE MUSICAL, presented by Leeds Playhouse in association with Neal Street Productions & Playful Productions, opens this week. Check out photos here!

Leeds Playhouse – named the UK's Most Welcoming Theatre at the recent UK Theatre Awards – has announced its Spring/Summer 2023 season of major, state-of-the-world stories, produced with freshness and urgency, and each epic in their own distinctive way.

Josephine Melville, star of Nine Night at Nottingham Playhouse, has passed away. Read a joint statement from Nottingham Playhouse and Leeds Playhouse here.

There is just one month to go until the opening of the sensational new production of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY – THE MUSICAL presented by Leeds Playhouse in association with Neal Street Productions & Playful Productions. Check out rehearsal photos!

Leeds Playhouse has revealed the full company who will join previously announced Gareth Snook (Willy Wonka) in its exciting new production of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY – THE MUSICAL, presented in association with Neal Street Productions & Playful Productions.

Meet the fabulous four young northern actors who will take on the timeless role of Charlie Bucket in Leeds Playhouse's production presented in association with Neal Street Productions & Playful Productions of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical, which runs at the Playhouse from 18 November to 23 January.

Leeds Playhouse has announced that Gareth Snook will play Willy Wonka in its new production of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY – THE MUSICAL presented in association with Neal Street Productions and Playful Productions. The show is set to premiere at Leeds Playhouse from 18 November 2022 – 28 January 2023, ahead of a major UK Tour.

Further touring dates have been announced for the new production of the West End and Broadway smash hit Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The Musical.

Leeds Playhouse has revealed today the full range of ambitious productions that make up its exciting Autumn/Winter 2022 Season, showcasing creative collaboration, deep-rooted partnerships, and exciting and diverse voices from across the UK.

Annie George presents Home is Not The Place. Supported by The Meadows Award (part I of the Resilience double bill with Twa)  Part of the Made in Scotland showcase 2022.

Award-winning director Denzel Westley-Sanderson's vibrant retelling of Oscar Wilde's sharpest and most outrageous comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, is to premiere at Leeds Playhouse in September.

Leeds Playhouse has announced announce that Shawab Iqbal is joining the Playhouse as its new Executive Director working closely with Chief Executive and Artistic Director James Brining. Shawab, who is currently Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at Gate Theatre London, will begin his new role in October.

A Little Night Music, Sondheim's acerbic musical romance, is set to beguile audiences once more this summer as it makes a welcome return to the Leeds Playhouse stage.

A new production of the West End and Broadway smash hit Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - find out all of the upcoming tour dates and how to get tickets.

Leeds Playhouse is launching an open casting to find four young people to star in the leading role of Charlie Bucket in its magical festive show CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY – THE MUSICAL opening this November.

Directed by Leeds Playhouse’s James Brining and adapted from Dahl’s novel by David Greig, with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman this dazzling reinvention of the successful West End and Broadway musical will transport the show to mouth-watering new heights for audiences in Leeds. 

The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) and English Touring Theatre (ETT) have announced Denzel Westley-Sanderson as the winner of the 2021 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award and Nathan Crossan-Smith as the runner-up.

Now in its fifth year, the award – which honours the memory of RTST co-founder, Sir Peter Hall – offers the winner their first-time opportunity to direct a full-scale, fully funded, mid-scale regional touring production of a classic or modern play, which may be an existing play or a new adaptation of a novel or film.

As lockdown continues to impact live performance, Opera North has announced a range of options, from powerful productions to intimate chamber concerts, to entertain viewers at home.

New live performances by Opera North are announced today, with four performances of Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, planned to be the first large scale production for over a year as the Leeds-based opera company builds back towards a fuller programme of public events.