west yorkshire playhouse annual review

2013—2014 wyp.org.uk0113 213 7700

CREATIVE GROWTH & INNOVATION

There has been a growing sense of excitement around West Yorkshire Playhouse this year. In 2013/14 the theatre mounted 672 ticketed performances at the Playhouse with a further 292 on tour, from main stage shows to scratch nights in the bar to festival performances outside of the building. This comes from our ambition to transform into a truly vital 21st century theatre, creating work which is extraordinary, relevant and compelling, that transforms people’s lives and has national significance.

The productions detailed on these pages include contemporary interpretations of stage classics such as Sweeney Todd, Of Mice and Men and The Threepenny Opera, alongside eight new commissions including Beryl by Maxine Peake and Alice Nutter’s My Generation. Long-term partnerships were forged with innovative organisations Headlong, Graeae and The Royal Exchange Theatre, and the Playhouse widened its reach through our first national UK tour with Benjamin Zephaniah’s Refugee Boy.

We are committed to supporting the new generation of theatre makers. Providing platforms to try out and develop new ideas has been key to a deeper engagement with the creative landscape in Leeds and beyond. Introducing concepts like A Play, A Pie and A Pint and a third space enables emerging artists to present new work for the first time, with the full support of a leading producing theatre.

It is our mission to make work which speaksto our city, affirms our place in our regionand connects with a diverse mix of people,ensuring West Yorkshire Playhouse is a vitalpart of the creative and cultural landscape of the North. We develop opportunities, for young people, for older generations, vulnerable communities, and for people living and working in places of leastengagement, through initiatives such asBeautiful Octopus Club, Heydays, First Floorand the Community Ambassador Scheme.

From the diversity of the productions on stage to the breadth of creative partners; to enriching the Playhouse’s investment in artists and expanding engagement for communities across the region; we are at the beginning of a journey to redefine regional theatre, where world class and local are celebrated with a programme of exhilarating theatre.

We are proud and excited to share it with you through this Annual Review.

James Brining, Artistic DirectorSheena Wrigley, Chief Executive

Annual Review 2013—20142

Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

James Brining made his debut as Artistic Director of West Yorkshire Playhouse with a re-imagining of his TMA award-winning production which opened on the Quarry stage in September 2013. This epic musical was a co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, WNO and WMC. James Brining will remount the production in October 2015 as part of WNO’s 70th anniversary season.

‘It’s a brave first production for the West Yorkshire Playhouse’s Artistic Director to deliver, and a very tasty statement of intent’ — Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

‘…a brilliant beginning for Brining’ — The Stage

‘…quite simply outstanding’ — Manchester Evening News

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Annual Review 2013—2014 3wyp.org.uk

29Made productions

17964Developed new creative partnerships

Mounted individual performances

14Visited cities

34Welcomed visiting companies

Visited 7 community centres and recruited

community ambassadors as part of the Talking Heads tour

This year at West Yorkshire Playhouse

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A Play, A Pie & A Pint

Three So Farby Richard Cameron

Bag Ladyby Marcia Lane

Playing the Jokerby Antony Clavane

Skeleton Wummanby Gerda Stevenson a co-production with Oran Mor

Nine Livesby Zodwa Nyoni a co-production with Oran Mor

September 2013 – May 2014

PRODUCTIONS2013/14

Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmasbased on the book by Raymond Briggs, adapted by Pins and Needles,a co-production with The Lyric, Hammersmith and Pins and Needles 6 Dec 2013 – 11 Jan 2014

The Tiger Lillies: Lulu — A Murder Ballard a co-production with Opera North and Warwick Arts Centre28 Jan – 1 Feb 2014

Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah, adapted by Lemn Sissay UK tourFebruary – April 2014

Spring Awakeningby Frank Wedekind, in a new version by Anya Reiss a co-production with Headlong and Nuffield Southampton7 – 22 March 2014

Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck28 Feb – 29 March 2014

Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Streetby Stephen Sondheima co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, WNO and WMC 26 Sept – 26 Oct 2013

My Generationby Alice Nutter5 Oct – 26 Oct 2013

The Jungle Bookby Rudyard Kipling, adapted by Rosanna Lowe30 Nov 2013 – 18 Jan 2014

Pronounby Evan Placeya WYP Youth Theatre Production13 – 15 March 2014

Transform 14a 4 day festival of contemporary theatre 27 – 30 March 2014

The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht a co-production with Graeae, Birmingham REP, Nottingham Playhouse and the New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich28 April – 10 May 2014

Enjoyby Alan Bennett 19 May – 7 June 2014

Untold Storiesby Alan Bennett2 – 21 June 2014

Talking Headsby Alan Bennett West Yorkshire Playhouse and community tour9 June – 5 July 2014

Berylby Maxine Peake 30 June – 25 July 2014

Betty Blue Eyesby George Stiles & Anthony Drewea co-production with Mercury Theatre Colchester, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and Salisbury Playhouse11 June – 5 July 2014

‘…we are in for a thrilling ride while (James Brining) is in charge.’ — Yorkshire Post


The Jungle Book‘A truly magical melding of expertise, talent and imagination.’ — Clare Brennan, The Observer

Of Mice and Men‘For his first production as the Playhouse’s new associate director, Mark Rosenblatt has chosen to reinterpret John Steinbeck’s classic work… The result is a piece of theatre that feels both authentic and original.’ — Whatsonstage

Untold Stories‘Reece Dinsdale is once again the ultimate corduroyed doppelganger in Mark Rosenblatt’s impressively fluid production’ – The Guardian

Transform 14‘…with a festival titled Transform, the theatre is ripping up the rule book and testing some radical ideas.’ — Ian Youngs BBC News website

The Threepenny Opera‘An ambitious collaboration between four major regional theatres and Graeae Theatre Company, it screams belligerence and does so with glee.’ — The Stage


Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas‘This will make children love theatre.’ — Nick Ahad, Yorkshire Post

Beryl‘Burton’s story…brought to theatrically inventive and comically freewheeling life’ — The Telegraph

Enjoy‘Lives up to its name…there’s an epic coup de theatre…that’s visually stunning’ — The Times

Refugee Boy‘Funny, inventive and fresh, yet poignantly moving…A theatre production to be applauded and not to be missed’ — Stage Talk

Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street‘Sweeney Todd marks James Brining’s first show as artistic director of the Playhouse. If this is the standard of work audiences can expect, the Leeds theatre… may well be moving into its most exciting era yet.’ — WhatsOnStage


44,336

14%

attendances at learning and participation events

of our tickets were sold to schools

48%

324

59

34,635 individuals booked ticketsat WYP

197performances were for young people with an attendance of

of tickets were purchased by students, young people, senior citizens and other concessions

Access performances took place including Audio Described, Captioned, British Sign Language and Relaxed Performances

free tickets were given to refugees and asylum seekers.

AUDIENCEs

182,785 tickets weresold at WYP

40,570


alanbennettseason

Enjoy, directed by James Brining was created for the Quarry stage. We presented the regional premiere of Untold Stories, directed by Mark Rosenblatt with Reece Dinsdale as Alan Bennett.

Bennett’s famous television monologues Talking Heads, were performed in the theatre for two sell-out weeks, in community centres across the city and in people’s living-rooms. This launched a long-term Community Tour initiative in which Playhouse productions will be regularly performed in community centres across the city.

Talking Heads was performed in Burmantofts, Rothwell, Hawksworth Wood, Armley, Seacroft, Gipton and Middleton. These shows were championed by 14 community ambassadors. Each ambassador supported and advocated the performance of these Playhouse productions on their doorstep, encouraging members of their community to attend and experience theatre right in the heart of their own neighbourhood. From small intimate performances, to packed community halls each venue embraced Bennett’s classic monologues. We continue to work closely with all of these ambassadors and communities.

The Playhouse celebrated the work of Alan Bennett one of the UKs most highly regarded playwrights, a distinctive and compelling voice with an undeniable Leeds accent.

We brought together a selection of his work from full stage plays to intimate and perfectly formed autobiographical memoirs. During the summer 18,149 people attended the Bennett season.

A Chip in the Sugar, Rothwell, June 2014, Director James Brining. Photography Andy Manning


InvestinGinArtists

West Yorkshire Playhouse continues to invest in the creative development of both new, emerging and established artists. From our emerging artist development schemes such as Furnace and Summer Sublets, to residencies and new commissions.

A creative hub in the heart of Leeds city centre, we provide a wealth of opportunities for the next generation of practitioners, securing the future of theatre across the city and the UK.

‘Perhaps the most eclectic festival of new and experimental work that happens in Yorkshire’ — Yorkshire Post on Transform 14

Transform 14, Fuel presents Fast Cuts & Snapshots. By Inua Ellams


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pieces of new work comissioned

artists and company residencies as part of our Summer Sublets scheme supporting the development of local emerging artists by providing free development space and professional feedback

people joined our JMK director’s scheme

Resident companies Unlimited Theatre and RashDash

Annually we have assistant directors from Birkbeck, University London

Leeds artists and companies were supported to develop and publicly share their work through Furnace

companies supported with small funding commissions

applications recieved by our Furnace-supported-artists commissioning scheme

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Celebrating and engaging with a diverse range of communities across Yorkshire is key to the Playhouse’s core values and mission.

From communities of older people, to independent young people; to work in schools, engagement with refugee communities and a new ambassador scheme this is just a small taste of what we do…

Inspiringour Communities

Beautiful Octopus ClubOur twice yearly nightclub created by and for adults with learning disabilities.

HeydaysThe largest regularly run older people’s arts programme in the UK.

Primary PlayersAn in-depth Shakespeare project for primary schools.

Asmarina VoicesWomen’s singing group for Refugees and Asylum Seekers.

Relaxed PerformancePioneering performances adapted for people with learning disabilities and their families.

Community NetworkTicket scheme for people facing barriers to attendance.

Youth TheatreDeveloped for 8 — 19 year olds.

First FloorOur dedicated space for young people. Voted the best place for young people, by young people in Leeds.

Play in a DayBringing class topics to life through drama and performance.

Online teacher resource packsFree to download for any teacher looking for inspiration in drama.



First Floor is our dedicated youth arts centre and in January was recognised as the Best Place for Children and Young People at the Child Friendly Leeds Award. At the same time we celebrated five years of successful youth arts projects in this purpose built space. First Floor engages young people aged 11–19 or 14–25 with a learning disability. Open 6 days and 3 evenings a week young people take part in a wide range of creative activities. A typical day sees up to 50 young people coming through the doors. This year we have delivered 555 sessions with an attendance figure of 1,339 and engaged more than 420 audience members. ‘I have seen so many young people from difficult and deprived backgrounds grow in confidence, skills and self-esteem during their time there.’

‘It is friendly & feels safe. The art, music, writing and drama workshops are fun. It feels like it is for people my age and I have made friends there. Staff are amazing. And you get to see shows at playhouse! What more could you ask for?’

‘To see the impact First Floor has had, you only need ask one of its many members who are proud not only about what they have achieved as individuals, but also what the organisation has achieved as a whole since they opened their doors...’ — The Culture Vulture


EDUCATING PLAY…

Here at the Playhouse we continue to build strong relationships with schools across Yorkshire by offering a wide range of creative opportunities from work experience in the theatre to the delivery of workshops both in and out of school.

From bespoke workshops to Any Play, Any Day: Shakespeare sessions, we work in partnership with schools to cater for specific needs, support the curriculum and enrich the learning process for both students and teachers alike.

Last year we delivered 238 sessions to over 2,617 school pupils and students.

‘It provided a unique and absolutely unforgettable experience for every child in the class – many of whom had never stepped foot inside a professional theatre.’

13Annual Review 2013—201414

youth theatre95% of our members believe attending Youth Theatre has encouraged them to make new friends as well as improve their performance skills and ability to talk with confidence about theatre.

150 People aged 8 to 19 years attend weekly sessions as part of our Youth Theatre. Each year our young people perform on both the Courtyard and Quarry stage in sharing events, presenting devised and scripted performance in response to the Playhouse shows and their lives as young people in Leeds. In Spring 2014 our 17-19s group performed Evan Placey’s Pronoun as part of the National Theatre NT Connections.

In January our young people were invited to the Houses of Parliament to perform extracts of last year’s Youth Theatre commission Girls Like That to raise awareness of young people’s mental health issues in partnership with the charity Young Minds.

‘The themes (in Girls Like That) were so relevant to the young people and their families. I wish all teenagers could see the show.’

Pronoun, March 2014, Director Gemma Woffinden. Photography by Chris Thornton

‘Pronoun in itself is an example of a tightly-knit, well-crafted piece of theatre, but the issues surrounding it make it all the more captivating and interesting… Their sensitive and perceptive approach to creating theatre really shines in this production, and makes them stand out as a well-rounded and solid youth theatre group and, more importantly, an engaging and provocative theatre company.’ — A Younger Theatre


In January 2014 the Playhouse became the world’s first Theatre of Sanctuary, committed to supporting refugees and asylum seekers who find themselves in Leeds by offering a place of hospitality, understanding, safety and welcome.

Our current initiatives include: free tickets for asylum seekers and refugees; Asmarina Voices, a refugee women’s choir; professionally led presentation skills training to help people tell their story and public awareness raising sessions.

In February the Playhouse’s production of Benjamin Zephaniah’s Refugee Boy toured to 9 cities across the UK from Glasgow to London playing to 10,549 people. Funded by the Arts Council a series of wrap around activities took place in each venue encouraging partnerships with Refugee organisations and communities.

Theatre of Sanctuary

‘West Yorkshire Playhouse is a part of our community, refugees are part of our community. Go back far enough and you’ll find that we all come from refugees. Someone in your family history has moved to make life better, or to save their life. When we move we want to feel part of our new community, and we do that by immersing ourselves in what it has to offer. If you are alone, if you can’t speak the language, and if you have no money this isn’t so easy, so places that throw open their doors and offer sanctuary are very important. They make lives richer and brighter. I’m so pleased that my book has been a starting point for this project and that more and more theatres across the country are getting involved. Together we can be an example of compassion in action, together we can give people life. Yes, art and culture can make a difference. Increase de peace.’— Benjamin Zephaniah


Every Wednesday more than 200 people over the age of 55 attend the largest regular arts project for older people in the UK. From play readings to dance groups and from DJ-ing sessions to the formation of an amateur theatre company, Feeling Good Theatre – the Playhouse’s Heydays project stretches far and wide and is, for some, a lifeline.

‘I was looking for an outside interest that would give me fresh challenges, learn new skills and still use my intellect. Heydays has done this and more. The chance to socialise and make new friends has opened up other doors from forming a small theatre going group to walking clubs. Heydays is not patronising to older people and values the wealth of experience, knowledge and skills of the members.’

Heydays has been running for 24 years and exemplifies the Playhouse’s work with older communities. Throughout the year we have also been running regular participatory arts sessions in everything from music to drama for people living with dementia and their families and carers.

heydays


expenditure

Income

Artistic Expenditure 68.5%

Premises & Administration 21.8%

Trading 8.8%

Fundraising 0.7%

Governance 0.2%

Box Office 50.8%

Grants 34.1%

Trading 13.4%

Donations & Sponsorship 1.1%

Investment 0.6%

FINANCE West Yorkshire Playhouse’s total income in 2013/14 was £6,485,877


a continuing Journey

2013-14 was a remarkable year for West Yorkshire Playhouse; we had appointed James Brining as Artistic Director to reinvigorate and reinvent our Theatre and there is little doubt that that is exactly what we have seen in this, his first full year with us.

Whether it is on the epic scale with our Quarry productions or our remarkable Beautiful Octopus ‘Club Night’ for people with learning disabilities, we have never produced so much work for so many of our communities. The epitome of this was our Alan Bennett season where the thousands who saw Enjoy in The Quarry and Untold Stories in The Courtyard were complemented by intimate performances of Talking Heads in Community Centres around our city and even in peoples living rooms.

West Yorkshire Playhouse is far, far more than a building with a stage and seats; its work touches the lives of so many people and so many of our communities in our city and I feel proud to read some of the statistics that are outlined in this report.

Last year was undoubtedly the beginning of James’ vision for our great theatre and I am looking forward to seeing even more unfold over the coming years.

Sir Rodney Brooke, CBE Chairman, Leeds Theatre Trust

Leeds Theatre Trust Limited Honorary President Cllr Bernard Atha CBE

Vice Presidents Mark Dickson, Elizabeth Minkin, Arnold Reuben and Neil Taggart

Board of Governors Sir Rodney Brooke, CBE Chair Maurice Cowen, Alan Dix, Mike Ellis, Kevin Emsley, Cllr Peter Gruen, Jacqueline Harris, David Jones, Sidonie Myers, Ali Rashid, Ken Reid, Roland Stross, Cllr Christopher Townsley, Simon Walker and Sharon Watson, Board Members

Helen Nakhwal Company Secretary

Arts Development Advisory Group Ken Reid Chair Sir Rodney Brooke, Sally Coe, Cllr Roger Harington, Nikki Harrington, Tessa Mason, Jon Price, David Prosho, Jo Speak, Emma Tregidden, Cllr Christopher Townsley and Sarah Westaway



Key Funders Community Partners Corporate Partners

Leeds Theatre Trust Limited Charity No 255460VAT No. 545 4890 17 Company No. 926862, England and WalesRegistered address: Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UP

Front Cover: Beryl, June 2014 director Rebecca Gatward. Photography Keith Pattison

‘James Brining directed his first production as artistic director at West Yorkshire Playhouse this autumn – an epic staging of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. And the way he’s been exploring new strategies for using the space and connecting it with the city, via the Transform seasons and the Playground scratch initiative, is just as exciting.’— Natasha Tripney, The Stage

‘Now firmly installed at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, artistic director James Brining has started with a bang…’ — The Stage Top 100 list

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