Leeds Heritage Theatres Reflects on 2025 Achievements

Leeds Heritage Theatres has released a comprehensive review of its activities and milestones from 2025, highlighting performances, audience engagement, building maintenance, and community outreach across its venues.

A Year in Review

Theatres under the Leeds Heritage Theatres umbrella experienced a busy year with a total of 2,921 performances and screenings. Notable events included the 160th birthday of the City Varieties Music Hall and the appearance of Joey the horse from the production War Horse at The Grand Theatre. The Leeds Grand Youth Theatre also staged a production of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was well received.

Audience and Membership

The organisation reported 3,551 active members in 2025. Membership offers priority access to shows and exclusive perks, with new initiatives such as public venue tours introduced during the year. The Under 30s scheme expanded, providing discounted tickets and hosting members-only events, including a recent gathering linked to Northern Ballet’s Merlin.

Popular Shows and Genres

• Most popular genre: Comedy across venues, with drama leading at Hyde Park Picture House.
• Best attended show: Aladdin: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, noted as the most popular pantomime to date.
• Quickest sell-out: Tim Key’s Loganberry at The City Varieties, selling out within 24 hours.

Other significant productions included Fiddler on the Roof, Bat Out Of Hell, and Les Misérables: Let the People Sing by Leeds Amateur Operatic Society.

Partnerships and Refreshments

Leeds Heritage Theatres maintained partnerships with local businesses such as Northern Bloc ice cream and Kirkstall Brewery. Statistics from 2025 include:

• 49,269 Northern Bloc ice creams sold at Leeds Grand Theatre, with Ginger Caramel as the top flavour.
• 10,501 pints poured from Kirkstall Brewery, including low and no-alcohol options.
• 1,905 tiffins and approximately 2.4 million popcorn kernels consumed at Hyde Park Picture House.
• 1.2 million freshly ground coffee beans supplied by Leeds-based North Star roasters.

Outreach and Engagement

The Learning and Engagement team reported 13,207 engagements through workshops, school visits, subsidised tickets, and performances. Highlights included:

• Leeds Actors in Training’s Theatre in Education piece The Riot performed in primary schools.
• 263 workshops and sessions, including drama clubs and community performances.
• 900 students attended subsidised performances of Dear England at The Grand Theatre.
• 7,223 attendees at Pay What You Can screenings and 11,240 at Hyde & Seek screenings.

Building Maintenance and Developments

Leeds Heritage Theatres continued to preserve and develop its historic venues, which collectively represent over 400 years of history. Notable developments in 2025 included:

• Installation of a Sir Ken Dodd mosaic at City Varieties Music Hall by artist Ruth Wilkinson.
• New tile installations at Hyde Park Picture House created by young people.
• Discovery and preservation of vintage tiling beneath the foyer carpet at The Grand Theatre.
• Launch of the Beyond the Façade project, the first phase of a Masterplan aimed at structural improvements and enhanced visitor experience.
• Heritage Open Days featuring building tours and insights into recent renovations.

Looking Ahead

As Leeds Heritage Theatres moves into 2026, it encourages continued community involvement through memberships, volunteering, and support initiatives such as accessible shows and the Name a Seat scheme.

For further information and updates, visit the Leeds Heritage Theatres website.