Name a Seat
Leeds Heritage Theatres… where every seat tells a story.
Your seat, your story, your support
Leeds Grand Theatre and City Varieties Music Hall – two theatres rich in history that have become a central part of the Leeds community with countless stories woven into their fabric. From the famous faces to the everyday moments each story adds to the tapestry of these beloved venues.
Now it’s your turn to be part of the narrative and contribute to the continuation of their legacy through our Name a Seat campaign.
Our stories
Leeds Grand Theatre
November 2023 marked the 145th anniversary of The Grand entertaining the people of Leeds and the wider region. To celebrate this milestone, you can now add a unique message to one of our auditorium seats*.
Each seat serves as a canvas for you to imprint your cherished memories; whether it’s the awe-inspiring performance of Elphaba defying gravity, the raw emotion of Valjean storming the barricade, or the enchanting tale of The Nutcracker’s journey to the Land of Sweets. These moments, shared with friends, family, and special individuals, form the heart of the communal experience of live performances.
By personalising a seat with a plaque for £145 for five years, you will not only contribute to the celebratory atmosphere but also ensure that your stories become intertwined with the history of ‘The Grand Old Lady of Leeds’.
*Stalls only
City Varieties Music Hall
To celebrate its 160th year, we are inviting you to name a seat at the UK’s longest-running music hall where stars of stage and screen, including Dame Judi Dench, Kay Mellor, Danny La Rue, Barbara Windsor and John Bishop have already made their mark.
Stop. Listen. If walls could talk, they’d tell you tales of Houdini’s mystifying performances, royal romances, a baby born during panto, and mischievous schoolchildren firing peashooters at striptease acts. The echoes of Down at the Old Bull and Bush from BBC TV’s The Good Old Days, the laughter of Liverpool’s beloved comedian with his tickling stick, and Russell Crowe’s Indoor Garden Party linger in the air – all welcomed by generations of dedicated staff and volunteers.
In a world where entertainment venues come and go, The Varieties is a testament to the enduring power of live performance and community connection. Become part of our story for just £160 for five years.
How to name a seat
Add a Name a Seat Membership to your basket and proceed to check out (this is set up as a membership to enable us to manage the process). The membership only entitles you to name one seat. Should you wish to name multiple seats, please contact Box Office directly on 0113 243 0808.
Once you have paid, we will send you an email later that day where you can select the seat you would like to name* and the message you would like engraved (55 characters maximum inc. spaces). Please note, that seat plaques will be visible and read by all audience members, therefore, Leeds Heritage Theatres reserves the right to refuse disrespectful or defamatory messages that could upset other audience members.
If you are a UK Taxpayer, we can claim gift aid on your Name a Seat purchase. Please fill out the details as requested.
*Seats are currently only available in the Stalls at The Grand, and we are unable to affix plaques to seats in the Boxes at The Varieties
Terms and Conditions
- Naming a seat gives no entitlement to that seat when booking tickets. If you wish to sit in your named seat, you will need to purchase a ticket for the performance. Please note, there may be occasions when certain seats are not available for sale.
- The maximum number of characters per plaque is 55 (inc spaces).
- Seats are currently only available in the Stalls at The Grand, and we are unable to affix plaques to seats in the Boxes at The Varieties
- The membership only entitles you to name one seat. Each seat is only available to name once so don’t miss your opportunity to choose your favourite seat. Should you wish to name multiple seats, please contact Box Office directly on 0113 243 0808.
- Your plaque is valid for five years from date of purchase. You will be given the option to renew the seat three months before expiry.
- All monies from the Name a Seat campaign will come directly to Leeds Heritage Theatres and will be fully invested in ongoing projects, including, but not limited to, improved access facilities, changing our lighting to LED, and upgrading technical equipment.
Legacy
We want to ensure that we are here for generations to come, as we have been for generations past. We have ambitious plans for our future, be that programming, education, or sustainability. These plans can only be lived with the support of our audiences.
