Daring, funny and visually inventive retelling of The Odyssey comes to Leeds Playhouse

A bold retelling of The Odyssey, blending Homer’s ancient myth with contemporary humour and irreverence, is set to subvert expectations at Leeds Playhouse next week.

Leeds Conservatoire, in partnership with Leeds Playhouse, is bringing Mary Zimmerman’s mischievous and modern twist on the story to the Quarry Theatre from 15-17 October.

Erin Carter, Head of the School of Drama at Leeds Conservatoire, said: “I’m thrilled to see our students take on this epic tale in a space as epic as the Quarry, alongside our partners at Leeds Playhouse. Homer’s Odyssey is having its moment in the sun – audiences will know it from Christopher Nolan’s recent film – which makes this exactly the right moment to ask: how on earth will they do that? A tale this impossible to realise is the richest kind of playground for creative artists and students alike. It demands invention, imagination and play. I can’t wait for audiences to see what has come out of that rehearsal room.”

Director Ryan McBryde said: “Gods, monsters, shipwrecks and seduction, The Odyssey is the ultimate adventure. But beneath the spectacle lies something deeply human: the longing to find our way home. In a world of conflict, displacement and uncertainty, this 3,000-year-old story feels as urgent as ever. Through live music, movement and the boundless imagination of our ensemble, we’re bringing this epic to life with one question at its heart: How far would you go to get home?”

Odysseus’s journey becomes a playful, shape-shifting adventure story – highly physical, surprising and deeply human. Praised by the New York Times as “the greatest show in the sky, on the seas, even on earth with side trips to the underworld”, this is theatre that invites you to travel, not just to watch.

Daring, funny and visually inventive, The Odyssey is a voyage not to be missed.

This amateur production of The Odyssey (ZIMMERMAN) is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

The Odyssey plays at Leeds Playhouse 15-17 October. Tickets are available here.