🎭 Theatres and Performing Arts in Leeds
Leeds and its surrounding areas boast a vibrant performing arts scene, featuring a variety of theatres, music halls, and unique spaces that cater to all tastes. From historic venues to experimental spaces, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
On this page:
- 🎭 Theatres
- 🩰 Opera and Dance
- 🎶 Alternative Performance Spaces
- 📅 Theatre and Performing Arts Societies
👉 Click here to view all of these locations on a Google map
Theatres
🎭 Carriageworks Theatre
A city-centre gem that offers a mix of drama, comedy, and family-friendly performances, making it accessible for all ages.
📍 Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD
👉 Carriageworks Theatre website
🎭 Guiseley Theatre
A historic theatre in the heart of Guiseley, hosting a wide range of performances, from plays to live music and community events.
📍 The Green, Guiseley, Leeds LS20 9BT
👉 Guiseley Theatre website
🎭 Leeds Grand Theatre
A historic masterpiece, Leeds Grand Theatre hosts large-scale productions, including West End musicals, opera, and ballet performances.
📍 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
👉 Leeds Grand Theatre website
🎭 Leeds Playhouse
This iconic venue is known for its dynamic programming, featuring everything from bold contemporary theatre to reimagined classics.
📍 Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UP
👉 Leeds Playhouse website
🎭 Pyramid Theatre
Located at Leeds University Union, this theatre showcases student and independent productions, making it a hub for fresh and diverse talent.
📍 Leeds University Union, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JZ
👉 Pyramid Theatre website
🎭 Riley Smith Theatre
A vibrant performance space at Leeds University Union, hosting everything from theatre and dance to comedy and concerts.
📍 Leeds University Union, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JZ
👉 Riley Smith Theatre website
🎭 Stage@Leeds
Located on the University of Leeds campus, this innovative space showcases experimental performances and creative arts from students and professionals.
📍 1 Cromer Rd, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JW
👉 Stage@Leeds website
🎭 The Alhambra Theatre (Bradford)
A short trip from Leeds, this stunning Edwardian theatre hosts touring West End productions, dance, and live music.
📍 Morley St, Bradford BD7 1AJ
👉 Alhambra Theatre website
🎭 Yeadon Town Hall Theatre
A beautifully restored Victorian theatre offering an eclectic programme of music, drama, and family-friendly performances.
📍 High St, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7PP
👉 Yeadon Town Hall website
Opera and Dance
🎼 Opera North
One of Europe’s leading opera companies, the award-winning Opera North stages breathtaking performances and orchestral events at the Grand Theatre.
📍 8 Harrison St, Leeds LS1 6PA
👉 Opera North website
🩰 Northern Ballet Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre
The home of Northern Ballet, this intimate venue offers world-class dance performances and innovative productions.
📍 Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7PA
👉 Northern Ballet website
🤸 Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD)
The only conservatoire for dance in England outside of London.
📍 98 Chapeltown Rd, Leeds LS7 4BH
👉 NSCD website
Alternative Performance Spaces
🎶 City Varieties Music Hall
Established in 1865, City Varieties is Leeds' oldest working theatre and the nation's longest running music hall. It hosts a wide range of performances, including comedy, live music, and family shows.
📍 Swan St, Leeds LS1 6LW
👉 City Varieties website
🏛️ First Direct Arena
A premier venue in Leeds, hosting world-class concerts, live performances, and entertainment events with its unique fan-shaped design and excellent acoustics.
📍 Arena Way, Leeds LS2 8BY
👉 First Direct Arena website
❤️ Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART)
The HEART Centre is a vibrant community space hosting art exhibitions, live performances, workshops, and events. With a welcoming café and a strong focus on local creativity, it’s a hub for culture and connection.
📍 Bennett Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3HN
👉 HEART Centre website
🎭 Howard Assembly Room
An elegant, modern venue adjacent to Leeds Grand Theatre, offering an eclectic program of live music, film, and spoken word events.
📍 32 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
👉 Howard Assembly Room website
📚 Hyde Park Book Club
A vibrant cultural hub in the heart of Hyde Park, offering a mix of live music, performances, art exhibitions, literary events, and delicious food and drink.
📍 327-29 Headingley Ln., Headingley, Leeds LS6 1BL
👉 Hyde Park Book Club website
🏛️ Otley Courthouse
A unique arts and resource centre housed in a former magistrates' court, offering a variety of performances, from theatre to live music.
📍 Courthouse St, Otley LS21 3AN
👉 Otley Courthouse website
🎭 Seven Arts
Located in the heart of Chapel Allerton, this cozy venue showcases a variety of performances, including theatre, comedy, spoken word, and live music.
📍 31A Harrogate Rd, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD
👉 Seven Arts website
🎭 Slung Low
An innovative theatre company based in The Warehouse in Holbeck, Slung Low produces bold, community-driven performances and hosts a variety of creative events in their unique venue.
📍 The Warehouse In Holbeck, Crosby St, Leeds LS11 9RQ
👉 Slung Low website
🏙️ The Old Woollen
Housed in a repurposed mill, this venue offers a range of performances, including theatre, music, and comedy, with a focus on community engagement.
📍 Sunnybank Mills, Town St, Farsley, Leeds LS28 5UJ
👉 The Old Woollen website
🎙️ The Wardrobe
A versatile venue offering live music, spoken word, and cabaret-style performances in an intimate atmosphere.
📍 St Peter's Square, Leeds LS9 8AH
👉 The Wardrobe website
Theatre and Performing Arts Societies
🎭 Cosmopolitan Players
A city-centre community theatre group performing dramas and occasional musicals at the Carriageworks Theatre.
👉 Cosmopolitan Players website
🎭 Compass Live Art
A contemporary arts organisation curating unique live art performances across Leeds.
👉 Compass Live Art website
🎭 KAOS Productions
Originally Kippax Amateur Operatic Society, this group stages pantomimes, musicals, plays, and fundraising events.
👉 KAOS Productions website
🎭 Interplay National Sensory Theatre
Interplay has a 50 year history of working with young people who are disadvantaged, socially, and economically to get involved and experience the performing arts.
👉 Interplay Theatre website
🎭 Leeds Amateur Operatic Society (LAOS)
A prestigious amateur theatre company producing large-scale musicals in West Yorkshire.
👉 LAOS Musical Theatre Company website
🎭 Leeds Arts Centre
An amateur theatre group offering a variety of plays at the Carriageworks Theatre, with opportunities in all areas of production.
👉 Leeds Arts Centre website
🎭 Leeds CAN
A network supporting community theatre and performing arts projects throughout Leeds.
👉 Leeds CAN website
🎭 Leeds Children's Theatre
A volunteer-led society providing young people with experience in stage productions and drama workshops.
👉 Leeds Children's Theatre website
🎭 Leeds Combined Arts
Bringing together diverse communities through shared experiences in the arts.
👉 Leeds Combined Arts website
🎼 Leeds Gilbert & Sullivan Society
(Probably) the UK's oldest Gilbert & Sullivan society, producing award-winning musicals since 1909.
👉 Leeds Gilbert & Sullivan Society website
🎭 Leeds Youth Opera
A unique company offering young performers the chance to stage high-quality opera productions, fostering talent and creativity.
👉 Leeds Youth Opera website
🎭 LIDOS
A long-standing amateur theatre group performing plays and musicals since 1974.
👉 LIDOS website
🎭 Red Ladder Theatre Company
A pioneering theatre company focusing on socially engaged, politically charged performances.
👉 Red Ladder Theatre Company website
🎭 Wrongsemble
Wrongsemble is a Leeds-based theatre company specializing in family-friendly productions that blend imaginative storytelling with engaging visuals. They create performances designed to be accessible for all ages and often tour schools, libraries, and community spaces.
👉 Wrongsemble website
Seasonal and Festivals
👨🎨 Compass Live Art
A cutting-edge festival that transforms Leeds into a stage for boundary-pushing, site-specific art performances.
👉 Compass Live Art website
💡 Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI)
This annual event celebrates the intersection of creativity and innovation, with live performances and thought-provoking discussions.
👉 LIFI website
🌟 Light Night Leeds
One of the largest events of its kind in the country, Light Night is an annual event where the city transforms into an open-air gallery with light installations, digital art, and live performances.
👉 Light Night Leeds website
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