Leeds Playhouse — Attraction in Leeds

I didn't really know what to expect from the Leeds Playhouse, but my family and I had a great experience there while visiting to see the production of Oliver. It was easy to find, and directly opposite the building was a huge John Lewis multi-storey car park. This is an ANPR car park, which only cost £5 from 5pm to 11pm.

While visiting, we enjoyed a meal at the Playhouse Kitchen. My wife and I had curries with rice and naan bread, and the kids both had pizzas. It was about £50 for all 4 meals including drinks, and I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. It looked like a school dinner hall in the way that the food was presented and served, but it was tasty, good value, and the kids pizza was amazing. The dough and base had a really authentic taste to it; I didn't realise at the time, but they use Italian pizza ovens and make each pizza from scratch for each order.

There were multiple toilets; some near the kitchen which were large non-gender specific single cubicles, and then a few standard male/female toilets near the entrances to the theater.

Some people thought that the bar was expensive for alcoholic drinks, however compared to typical theater prices, I thought it was very cheap.

Inside the theater it was an unusual setup, where the stage was almost in the center, and the seating surrounded it. The height of the seats between rows was excellent, so you'll have an excellent view of the stage. Even the furthest seats back are close by normal standards. The seats themselves were fine, but I did find the legroom a little tight.

During the intermission there were some vendors selling ice cream and drinks as well as the items available from the bar. However on our visit, they only accepted cash (which I never really carry any more!).

Overall we had a great time, and we'd definitely catch another show there given the...

The Leeds Playhouse is a fabulous theatre complex designed with the modern audience in mind. Polite and welcoming front of house staff who were happy to answer questions. Excellent facilities (bar, toilets etc).

I was in The Courtyard to see "In Dreams." Allegedly, I was in a restricted view seat, but my view was not restricted! The seats were wide and comfortable and with plenty of leg room.

Whilst I loved the theatre, I didn't even like the show. Roy Orbison was a singer with an eight octave vocal range. The best of his songs were operatic ballads of love, loss, heartache, and desire delivered with enormous emotional heft. Here, those same songs were thrown away in karaoke-lite snatches without point or purpose. They didn't advance the plot (itself a silly gossamer thin contrivance about a dying singer and a celebration of the living/dead in a restaurant down Mexico way), nor establish character. In 'jukebox' musicals, the plot doesn't really matter. However, the songs always do. Long before the end of the line was reached, my patience...

Sirs, Utterly, totally, completely, absolutely, overwhelmingly, stunningly, emotionally fantastic. (If you get my drift!) Having seen 'The Kite Runner' last afternoon (Nov 6) I was immediately engrossed, emotionally engaged and completely carried along from the very beginning by the brilliant production values (simple but very effective) acting (completely convincing, cleaver and superb), as well as the lighting and musical accompaniment. To have taken a complicated story line, with its many locations, timings and characters and made a clear and dramatic presentation was brilliant by ALL involved The best live theatre I have seen for some time.(unlike the 'Stoops to Conquer' production last week which, although a very different period and a comedy, was as normal with 'Broadsides' little more than a shouting match!) Thank you to all concerned for a thrilling experience, it deserves a national tour, or revived run so many others will have the opportunity to appreciate its brilliance..

Sincerely ...