So you may have seen the news last June that the West Yorkshire Playhouse has rebranded and is now Leeds Playhouse, marking the start of its major redevelopment.

The changes to the building will see “a new city-facing entrance, improved access, and the addition of a new studio theatre space, the Bramall Rock Void, in a venue that is both much more financially resilient and environmentally sustainable.”

Whilst this work is going on, Leeds Playhouse has and is still putting on a number of shows, both at venues throughout the City, and also in its pop-up space.

“The Pop-Up season, in association with SOYO Leeds, includes: Kes the heartfelt Yorkshire tale of young Billy and his kestrel. A bewildered family are caught up in a catastrophe in the powerful random by award-winning playwright and screenwriter debbie tucker green. Intergenerational performance Dinner 18:55 sees members of our older people’s and youth programmes make time for a meal and a conversation. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet confronts us with the mirror of our own mortality in an imperfect world, with Hamlet played by Tessa Parr. Follow the adventures of Phileas Fogg in Easter romp Around the World in 80 Days, both in the Pop-Up and community venues across the city region. The season closes with Amanda Whittington’s Be My Baby, in association with Mind the Gap theatre company, exploring shame, teenage pregnancy and female friendship the 1960s.”

Leeds Playhouse has also announced its Christmas show and it’s going to be *drum roll*… The Wizard of Oz!!! What an excellent choice. I know it’s only February, but I’m genuinely so excited about seeing this. The Playhouse’s winter shows are always amazing – The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is still one of the best productions I’ve seen – so I know I won’t be disappointed. Even MORE exciting however, is the fact that there’s going to be a sing-along performance, with audience members encouraged to dress-up. Is it too early to start planning my costume??

For a full list of what’s coming up and to find out more about the redevelopment, visit the Leeds Playhouse website.