Wild Oats

The Leeds Playhouse is a fabulous theatre complex designed with the modern audience in mind. Polite and welcoming front of house staff who were happy to answer questions. Excellent facilities (bar, toilets etc). I was in The Courtyard to see "In Dreams." Allegedly, I was in a restricted view seat, but my view was not restricted! The seats were wide and comfortable and with plenty of leg room. Whilst I loved the theatre, I didn't even like the show. Roy Orbison was a singer with an eight octave vocal range. The best of his songs were operatic ballads of love, loss, heartache, and desire delivered with enormous emotional heft. Here, those same songs were thrown away in karaoke-lite snatches without point or purpose. They didn't advance the plot (itself a silly gossamer thin contrivance about a dying singer and a celebration of the living/dead in a restaurant down Mexico way), nor establish character. In 'jukebox' musicals, the plot doesn't really matter. However, the songs always do. Long before the end of the line was reached, my patience was exhausted.

Loved this theatre! We were in the Courtyard theatre which was fantastic. Good view from all the seats from what I could see. There was the stalls seating and then a couple of rows 'in the round' style on the other floors. Decent ticket prices and the Ice creams in the interval were AMAZING - so many different flavours (like blackcurrent or honeycomb). Staff were super friendly and helpful. The fire alarm went off at the end of our performance but they got everyone out calmly and safely although I will say the way we went out was a bit overgrown and I got stung by nettles :( Would love to go back and see more shows here.

Have seen shows in their main Quarry Theatre and the Courtyard Theatre and everything we've seen there has always been fabulous. They put on some great original productions and are a great venue to see touring productions at. Seats are comfy and well positioned so there's no bad seat in the auditorium. Staff are fabulous Strong contender for best regional theatre in the UK!