August marks the annual “dark weeks” at Leeds Heritage Theatres, when Leeds Grand Theatre and City Varieties close for essential maintenance to keep the venues in shape. Both sites are closed for a few weeks, but a full programme of shows runs either side of the closure.
Leeds Grand Theatre
Sir David Jason takes to the Grand’s stage on Sunday 30 August, joined by BBC Breakfast presenter Mike Bushell, for what the theatre is billing as ‘an unforgettable evening of fun, laughter, and never-before-heard stories.’
Also at the Grand this month: Radio 2’s Tony Blackburn OBE hosts Sounds of the 60s Live on Wednesday 5 August, with the Sounds of the 60s All Star Band and Singers performing a night of 60s classics.
High Society runs from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 August, arriving in Leeds straight from a sell-out West End run. Helen George (Call the Midwife, The King and I) stars as socialite Tracy Lord, alongside Freddie Fox (Slow Horses), Nigel Lindsay (Kiss Me, Kate), Julian Ovenden (South Pacific) and Malcolm Sinclair (Pie in the Sky), in a story of a society wedding unravelling into chaos as old and new flames vie for attention and a tabloid reporter hunts for a scandal.
City Varieties
Two shows run at City Varieties this month: Lata & Asha: Purane Gaane… Side A | Side B on Sunday 2 August, a musical tribute to Bollywood singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, and Legends of the 60s Show on Sunday 23 August, a feel-good live celebration of 1960s music.
