Rage & Reinvention

This short season of work, centred around James Graham’s powerful new adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from the Blackstuff, explores the anger of the time whilst celebrating the creativity and drive it inspired, in Leeds, the North and beyond, the ripples of which are still felt today. 

With TV credits including Brian and Margaret and Sherwood, and theatre work spanning Best of Enemies and Dear England, James Graham is one of the most exciting voices in British writing today. Whether working with the stories of real figures like the contentious friendship between Margaret Thatcher and journalist Brian Walden, or as he has done with Boys From the Blackstuff, breathing contemporary nuance into a formative British drama, Graham seems to be working to remind us at each turn of the follies of our recent past.

This short season sees a new approach for Leeds Heritage Theatres, spanning all our venues and multiple art forms. The seasonal work invites audiences to discover fresh perspectives, explore new artistic experiences, and perhaps visit one of our venues for the first time.

CEO, Vicky Cheetham, said: “I’m hugely excited about the opportunity to curate diverse seasons of work across our spaces, bringing together film, theatre, music, and dance. Our organisation can explore themes from multiple perspectives, sparking new conversations, connections, and experiences for both our audiences and those discovering our spaces for the first time.” 

Wendy Cook, Head of Cinema, said: “As we live and work through another period of significant challenge, economically, culturally and socially, learning how to be better collaborators across our venues as well as with friends across the city feels not only full of potential but also essential.”