Performers from across the city confirmed for Leeds Playhouse’s annual festival of community creativity

Hundreds of talented performers from across the city – including school students, older people and people with learning disabilities – will be singing, dancing, acting, telling jokes and reciting poetry at Leeds Playhouse from 26 June–11 July as part of Open Season.

Open Season is the Playhouse’s annual festival of community creativity. The 2026 event is an exciting opportunity for individual performers and groups from across the Leeds City Region to share their talents with audiences at one of the most prestigious regional theatres in the country.

The theme for 2026 is Happy Birthday, Leeds! to mark the milestone 400th anniversary of the Playhouse’s hometown receiving its royal charter and becoming a city. Performances will take place in the Courtyard Theatre, Bramall Rock Void studio space and in the Level 2 Bar/Kitchen.

Lily Craig, Director of Playhouse Connect, said: “Open Season is a fantastic annual celebration of the talented people who live in our wonderfully creative city. It’s a chance for everyone to come together, to challenge themselves to perform in a professional theatre, and to enjoy the performances of friends, neighbours and nearby communities in a warm, welcoming and supportive environment.”

OPEN SEASON PROGRAMME

Click on each event to find out more.

Leeds Piano Trail Open Mic

• 26 June, 6-8pm
• A fun, inclusive and engaging piano-based open mic event – just pop in and play.

City of Tomorrow & A Gift We Pass On

• 2 July, 6.30pm
• Two amazing theatrical experiences from two schools – Leeds City Academy & Leeds East Academy.

What! A Pantomime?

• 2 July, 6pm; 3 July, 1pm  
• Feeling Good theatre company celebrates the 400th anniversary of Leeds charter with comedy, melodrama, singing and dancing.

Welcome to the next 400…

• 3 July, 7pm
• Three South Leeds schools from Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust explore their city’s history through music, dance, drama and spoken word.

Deus Ex Machina

• 4 July, 7pm
• Leeds-based Brave Words theatre company explores what might happen is all the gods ever believed in wake up on the eve of Leeds’ 400th birthday.

Buzz Open Mic Night

• 4 July, 7-9pm
• An unforgettable night showcasing talent from the Learning Disabled community, supported by parents, carers, and a warm and friendly audience.

Leeds Playhouse Schools in Residence

• 6 July, 5pm
• Children from Bankside Primary School in Harehills take us back in time to Ancient Greece.

LS18 Rocks the Playhouse

• 8 July, 6pm
• Eight brilliant bands from Horsforth-based LS18 Rocks deliver a non-stop playlist of singalong hits from across the decades.

All Sorts

• 8 July, 2pm
• Heydays Drama Ensemble presents an afternoon of entertainment that’s part cabaret, part creative, packed with scenes, improvisations and curated moments.

Milk Comedy Club

• 9 July, 11am
• A double bill of comedy for parents who need a laugh, featuring Rich McCulloch, an award-winning alternative musical comedian and Joanna Mason, aka The Yorkshire Wife.

Community Showcase

• 9 July, 7.30pm
• A popular favourite with audiences, the Community Showcase returns for 2026 as a multi-artform performance bringing together artists and groups from across Leeds to showcase their talents.

Flesh – Leeds Playhouse Youth Theatre Seniors 2

• 9-10 July, 7pm
• Written by Rob Drummond, the Playhouse’s Seniors 2 Youth Theatre groups join forces to present a play about human nature, the tribes we create and youth culture.

Gina Tavares Manuel Poetry Competition Performance

• 10 July, 6pm
• Join us as we celebrate the life of Leeds artist Gina Tavares Manuel and introduce the young winners of the first Poetry Competition launched in her memory. The winners will perform their poems, alongside a programme of music and dance from community groups.

Wild Hope

• 11 July, 3.30pm
• A thrilling new collaborative performance by choreographer TC Howard and Yorkshire Dance‘s Company of People.

Open Season is just one of the ways people can join in at Leeds Playhouse. Its artist development programme, Furnace, supports local creatives and helps to generate new work. There are also myriad opportunities offered via Playhouse Connect for children and young people, older people, teachers and students, people with disabilities, and refugees and people seeking asylum.

For further information, please find details here.