Handlist 123 LEEDS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Brotherton Collection MS 20c Theatre West Yorkshire Playhouse FROM THE LEEDS PLAYHOUSE TO THE WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE STAGE I In the 1960s, Leeds was the largest City in the country without a regional theatre - a professional producing management presenting plays in its own theatre. A small but enthusiastic group of local people had started a campaign in 1964 for a permanent Repertory Theatre (the full story of the campaign is told in Doreen Newlyn's book "Theatre Connections"). Planning permission had been obtained for a site near the Town Hall but spending cuts led to the postponement of the original plan and in 1969, the Leeds Theatre Trust Ltd (incorporated in 1968) decided to search for existing premises which could be transformed into a temporary theatre. After many disappointments, the University of Leeds agreed to lend the Trust, rent-free, the site of a proposed sports hall which cutbacks had forced them to postpone building. The conditions were that the Trust would build the shell and put the Theatre in it in such a way that it could all be removed at the end of a ten year period, whereupon the University would convert the building into a sports hall. The Theatre, designed by Bill Houghton Evans, was built for £150,000 and after six years of persistence, finally opened on Thursday 16th September 1970 with the world premiere of Alan Plater's "Simon Says". Throughout the campaign, there was tremendous support from members of the acting profession including Peter O'Toole, Dame Diana Rigg, Michael Hordern, Rodney Bewes, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Dame Judi Dench and James Mason. In December 1970, Prince Charles was invited to officially open the new Leeds Playhouse. There were two Artistic Directors at the Leeds Playhouse; Bill Hays until 1972 and John Harrison until 1990. During the 1970s, the Trust began looking for a permanent home. Two of the more ambitious ideas - to convert the old Gaumont Cinema in Cookridge Street and to create a Grand Theatre/Playhouse complex - foundered. Then, in 1978, there were rumours that the Playhouse - close to the end of its ten-year breathing space - was about to close due to reluctant Council funding. Public reaction was swift. More than 30,000 people signed a petition urging that the Playhouse stay open and be allowed to stay on its University site. STAGE II Things changed in 1984, when the Leeds City Council earmarked a site on Quarry Hill for the permanent theatre, which prompted the Leeds Theatre Trust to seek financial 1 Handlist 123 backing. It was the generosity of the now defunct West Yorkshire Metropolitan Council which secured the future of the new Playhouse by funding the initial architectural competition and investing £4 million. It was in recognition of this major financial contribution that the new theatre was called the `West Yorkshire Playhouse'. The national competition to design the theatre was won by a husband and wife team, `The Appleton Partnership' from Edinburgh. The competition was the only one ever in the country for a theatre and was judged by a panel of independent representatives from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Leeds Playhouse Board. The first sod was dug by Sir Donald Sinden in November 1987. The foundation stone was laid by Dame Judi Dench in March 1989 and the building topped by Albert Finney in September 1989. Jude Kelly was appointed Artistic Director in January 1989. She led the Company into the new Playhouse and directed the first play, John O'Keefe's "Wild Oats". The West Yorkshire Playhouse was officially opened by Dame Diana Rigg on 8th March 1990. *** ********** *** The building cost £13.5 million. Funding came from Leeds City Council (£5.4 m.), the now defunct West Yorkshire Metropolitan Council (£4 m), the Arts Council (£I m.) and other small grants and donations. The Playhouse raised £1m in capital sponsorship. *** ********** *** The Playhouse is managed by a Trust which is a company limited by guarantee and registered with the Charity Commissioners. The Trust elects a board of governors who are responsible for the general running of the Theatre. In the past Councillor Bernard Atha, a previous Chairman of the Board provided a valuable link between the Playhouse and Leeds City Council. The current Chairman of the Board, Sir Rodney Brooke, was appointed in July 2011. 2 Handlist 123 LEEDS THEATRE TRUST LIMITED DEC 2012 LEEDS PLAYHOUSE ARCHIVES ADMINISTRATION 1970-1990 3 boxes BUILDINGS (architectural competition) 1983-1987 6 boxes CAMPAIGN 1964-1995 2 boxes CORRESPONDENCE 1981-1990 1 box EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 1971-1992 9 boxes MISCELLANEOUS 1970-1989 2 boxes PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS 1970-1990 10 boxes PROGRAMMES 1970-1990 3 boxes PROMPT AND STAGE MANAGEMENT 1970-1990 12 boxes PUBLICITY MATERIALS 1970-1990 3 boxes Total 58 boxes 3 Handlist 123 WEST YORKSHIRE PLAYHOUSE DEC 2012 ADMINISTRATION 1989-2006 41 boxes EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WORK 1990-2005 19 boxes including Pirates of the Imagination, International Festival for Young People MISCELLANEOUS 1937-2009 22 boxes including Rhythms of the City PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS 1990-2006 24 boxes POSTERS 1990-2000 1 box PRESS OFFICE 1990-2004 59 boxes PRODUCTION 1990-2009 37 boxes PROGRAMMES 1990-1999 8 boxes PROMPT COPIES 1989-2010 42 boxes PUBLICITY 1989-2000 1 box STAGE MANAGEMENT & PROMPT COPIES 1990-2009 52 boxes TOURING PRODUCTIONS 1990-2004 2 boxes Total 308 boxes 4 Handlist 123 LEEDS PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTIONS FROM 1970 (dates of productions are provided when they are known) 1970 – 1971 1 SIMON SAYS... ALAN PLATER 17 SEP Director BILL HAYS 2 HENRY IV LUIGI PIRANDELLO 21 SEP Director BILL HAYS 3 THE MERRY WIVES WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 14 OCT OF WINDSOR Director JAMES GROUT 4 LOVE FOR LOVE WILLIAM CONGREVE 11 NOV Director BILL HAYS 5 OLD KING COLE KEN CAMPBELL 11 DEC Director ROGER CHAPMAN 6 OH GLORIOUS JUBILEE C. HANLEY & I. GOURLAY 10 DEC Director BILL HAYS 7 THE CRUCIBLE ARTHUR MILLER 13 JAN Director BILL HAYS 8 ALFIE BILL NAUGHTON 3 FEB Director BILL NAUGHTON 9 HAMLET WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 3 MAR Director ROGER CHAPMAN 10 THE HOSTAGE BRENDAN BEHAN 14 APR Director BILL HAYS 11 DRACULA H. BALDERSTON & 21 APR H. DEANE Director ROGER CHAPMAN 12 A STREETCAR NAMED TENNESSEE WILLIAMS 12 MAY DESIRE Director STEPHEN HOLLIS 13 TIGHT AT THE BACK LEONARD BARRAS 16 JUN Director BILL HAYS 1971 – 1972 14 FAMILY ALBUM/FALLEN ANGELS NOEL COWARD 8 SEP Director PETER FRYE 5 Handlist 123 15 PICTURES IN A BATH OF ACID COLIN WILSON 15 SEP Director BILL HAYS 16 TWELFTH NIGHT WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 13 OCT Director BRIAN MURPHY 17 LULU FRANK WEDEKIND 10 NOV adapted by Peter Barnes Director BILL HAYS 18 WAITING FOR GODOT SAMUEL BECKETT 24 NOV Director ANDREW DALLMEYER 19 TOAD OF TOAD HALL A. A. MILNE 22 DEC Director ROGER CHAPMAN 20 ROMEO & JULIET WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 2 FEB Director BILL HAYS 21 THE ENTERTAINER JOHN OSBOURNE 2 FEB Director JOHN ROCHE 22 CLOSE THE COALHOUSE DOOR ALAN PLATER 15 MAR Director BILL HAYS 23 THE ALCHEMIST BEN JOHNSON 3 MAY Director JOHN ROCHE 24 AND WAS JERUSALEM BARRY COLLINS 24 MAY BUILDED HERE Director BILL HAYS 1972-1973 25 THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE BERTOLT BRECHT 27 SEP Director JOHN HARRISON 26 OH! WHAT A LOVELY WAR! CHARLES CHILTON 5 OCT Director JAMES DUCKETT 27 MACBETH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 1 NOV Director JOHN HARRISON 28 THE WIZARD OF OZ S. HUGHES 29 A FLEA IN HER EAR GEORGES FEYDEAU 29 NOV Director DAVID CARSON 30 BLOOD WEDDING FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA Director DAVID CARSON 6 Handlist 123 31 MEASURE FOR MEASURE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 28 FEB Director JOHN HARRISON 32 THE RELAPSE SIR JOHN VANBRUGH 28 MAR Director DAVID CARSON 33 SAVED EDWARD BOND 9 MAY Director DAVID CARSON 34 LOOT JOE ORTON 16 MAY Director JOHN HARRISON 1973 – 1974 35 CANTERBURY TALES MARTIN STARKIE 19 SEP & NEVILL COGHILL with music by RICHARD HILL & JOHN HAWKINS & lyrics by NEVILL COGHILL Directors JOHN HARRISON & GEOFFREY BULLEN 36 RICHARD III WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 26 SEP Director DAVID CARSON 37 KNIGHT IN FOUR ACTS JOHN HARRISON 24 OCT Director DAVID CARSON 38 BEAUTY & THE BEAST BARRY COLLINS 21 NOV Directors JOHN HARRISON & BRIAN PARKINSON 39 PARADISE HOTEL GEORGE FEYDEAU 21 DEC Director DAVID CARSON 40 THE GOOD WOMAN OF SETZUAN BERTOLT BRECHT 30 JAN Director DAVID CARSON 41 DEATH OF A SALESMAN ARTHUR MILLER 28 FEB Director GEOFFREY BULLEN 42 THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW D H LAWRENCE 27 MAR Director DAVID CARSON 43 HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES ALAN AYCKBOURN 1 MAY Director BRIAN CARDER PARKINSON 44 SAY GOODNIGHT TO GRANDMA COLIN WELLAND 22 MAY Director DAVID CARSON 7 Handlist 123 1974 - 1975 45 WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA EDWARD ALBEE 29 SEP WOOLF? Director JOHN FERNALD 46 JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TIM RICE & 26 OCT TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT ANDREW LLOYD- WEBBER Music by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & lyrics by TIM RICE Director GEOFFREY BULLEN 47 THE TEMPEST WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 30 OCT Director JOHN HARRISON 48 THE CARETAKER HAROLD PINTER 27 NOV Director JOHN FERNALD 49 THE OWL & THE PUSSYCAT DAVID WOOD & 11 DEC SHEILA RUSKIN with music & lyrics by DAVID WOOD 50 SAINT JOAN GEORGE BERNARD SHAW 22 JAN Director JOHN HARRISON 51 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING OSCAR WILDE 12 FEB EARNEST Director MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH 52 MEANWHILE, BACKSTAGE DONALD HOWARTH 12 MAR IN THE OLD FRONT ROOM Director JOHN HARRISON 53 THE GHOST TRAIN ARNOLD RIDLEY 2 APR Director MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH 54 A DOLL'S HOUSE HENRIK IBSEN 23 APR translated by CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON Director JOHN HARRISON 55 MY FAT FRIEND CHARLES LAURENCE 14 MAY Director MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH 1975-1976 56 CATCH-22 JOSEPH HELLER 22 SEP Director MICHAEL ATTENBOROUGH 8 Handlist