COFFEE MORNING: History of Theatre in Leeds
30th May 2025 10:15 am - 12:00 pm
Join us on 30 May as Sir Rodney Brooke, President of Ilkley Manor House Trust, explores the history of theatre in Leeds.
Rodney started regular attendance at Leeds theatres 70 years ago when, aged 15, he left school to become a junior reporter for the local newspaper in Morley and got free tickets. Later in life, he was involved in key developments in Leeds theatres – Lord Harewood bringing Opera North to the City and the building and rebuilding of Leeds Playhouse (where he was chairman of the Board for nine years). He will remember the history of Leeds theatres – not only the Playhouse but also the Theatre Royal, City Varieties, Empire Palace and Grand Theatre – together with the famous names who appeared there: Charlie Chaplin, Houdini, Lillie Langtry, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, Laurel and Hardy, Morecambe and Wise and many more.
Tickets to attend the talk in person are £5 and can be purchased via TicketTailor by clicking this link or in person at the Box Office on weekends when Ilkley Manor House is open. Tickets may be available on the door but will be subject to availability.
Arrive at Ilkley Manor House at 10:15am to have time to get a hot drink and biscuit. The talk will start at 10:30am, lasting roughly an hour, with time for questions at the end.
Accessibility Information
The location of this talk will be confirmed closer to the date, depending on the number of attendees. If held upstairs, the event will take place in the Western Gallery, accessible from the ground floor via a staircase of 18 steps. Please note that there is no lift to the upstairs area. We will notify attendees as soon as possible beforehand.
Slider image credit: Leeds Playhouse, David Lindsay
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