Joining us this Wintertime...

What is Wrongsemble?

Wrongsemble is a local award-winning theatre company creating bold, joyful and accessible work for children, young people and the grown-ups who share those experiences with them.

We make ambitious theatre packed with music, storytelling, puppetry, humour and imagination, then take it into both expected and unexpected places, from major theatres to libraries, schools, parks and community spaces.

The Red Shoes brings that sense of adventure to Leeds Grand Theatre in an interactive festive journey that invites families to explore the building while discovering Ivy’s story. A festive fairytale about magic, friendship and recognising that the extraordinary qualities in each of us that make us special.

How did Wrongsemble first come about?

Wrongsemble was founded here in Leeds in 2015 with a desire to make family theatre that genuinely worked for everyone in the room. We feel strongly that work for younger audiences should be every bit as ambitious, inventive and beautifully made as theatre created for adults.

The idea of a ‘shared experience’ has been central from the beginning. We are not interested in making theatre that adults simply endure while their children enjoy it. We want to create shows that children and grown-ups can laugh at, talk about and remember together. Over the past decade, that vision has taken us all over the country, telling stories to children and families with our brilliant community of northern artists/creatives.

What do you love about the arts and culture scene in the north?

The north is full of big ideas, big hearts and people who know how to make brilliant things happen, whatever the space or budget. There’s a real generosity too: artists and organisations muck in, share opportunities and help each other get things off the ground. We all want great things to happen here!

Wrongsemble was born in Leeds, so creating The Red Shoes with Leeds Heritage Theatres feels particularly special. The show is rooted in the city, beginning on a wintry Leeds evening, and gives families the opportunity to experience one of its most beautiful historic theatres in a playful and unexpected way. Leeds is not simply the backdrop to the story; it’s part of its magic.

What is the Otley Brass Band?

Otley Brass Band is a traditional brass band based in Otley, West Yorkshire. We are a non-contesting band which means we play mostly for fun, working on a variety of projects and concerts throughout the year. These range from marching in parades and carnivals, afternoons on bandstands around Leeds, and more formal evening concerts with a range of themes that move with the seasons.

How did the band first come about?

As brass bands go, we’re fairly young, founded in 1973. The band are proud to be at the heart of the local community and being the town band means we have the privilege of performing at all the unique and wonderful events that Otley hosts every year. From the Victorian Fayre, to the eclectic Otley Carnival, we love any opportunity to perform out and about and share our music.

How do you see the community music and arts scene in Leeds?

We’re really lucky to be based in Leeds as it has such a thriving music scene with some incredible community organisations working hard to bring music to as many people as possible.

There’s quite a lot of traditions that go hand-in-hand with being in a brass band; it’s these events that happen year in, year out, that remind us how brilliant the community is around us. They continue to thrive because of the community arts and music scene that keeps them alive.

There’s a huge network of volunteers and groups working tirelessly to plan events all year round to bring the community together and we’re proud to play a small part in that.

Please introduce us to Some Voices Choir.

Some Voices is the UK’s leading contemporary, non-audition choir, bringing people together through the joy of singing. Founded in 2010, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the power of making music together, regardless of experience or ability. There are no auditions, no need to read music and absolutely no pressure. Just great music and the shared experience of singing.

With choirs across the UK and Europe, our community has grown to thousands of members. Our repertoire spans everything from Bowie and Beyoncé to Fleetwood Mac and Björk, with ambitious arrangements and unforgettable performances at the heart of what we do.

Frankie Stansfield, Marketing Manager

How did the choir first come about?

Founded in 2010 by Laura Howe, Some Voices began as a small group of friends gathering to sing and socialise in London. As Laura’s ideas for gigs grew more ambitious, she was joined by Curtis Stansfield, whom she had become friends with at Goldsmiths University. Curtis became Musical Director in 2014, and the pair’s creative partnership and shared love of music continues today.

What started as a small group of friends has since grown into a thriving community of more than 3,000 members across the UK and Europe.

Frankie Stansfield, Marketing Manager

Why do you think community participation in creative fields is important, both nationally and locally?

Now more than ever, live art and creative participation feel hugely important. We often hear from members about how joining a choir has positively impacted their wellbeing. There’s something really special about finding an instant community of people, all brought together by a shared interest.

Alongside learning arrangements that hopefully bring a little joy to people’s weeks, there’s the excitement of working towards a shared goal and culminating in a gig or performance – something many people may never have experienced before.

Particularly during the darker months of winter, that sense of connection and belonging feels so important. In fact, it’s part of what inspired this term’s theme, GLOW: A Winter’s Songbook, which explores ideas of light, hope and seasonal change through music.

Curtis Stansfield, Co-Founder and Executive Director

As a group, what do you enjoy most about performing at wintertime?

The winter term really is one of our favourites! It’s wall-to-wall joy, and we love finding unexpected ways to put a Some Voices twist on festive music. One of our favourite things to do is mash up familiar songs, like pairing Coca-Cola’s Holidays Are Coming with Madonna’s Holiday. It’s unexpected and brings something completely new to festive songs that many of us have grown up with.

There’s also such a huge amount of nostalgia around this time of year, which is really fun to lean into. We love playing with that sense of familiarity, reimagining the classics and creating something that feels both nostalgic and completely fresh.

Laura Howe, Co-Founder and Artistic Director