Interview with Frank Burkitt, Programmer at City Varieties

Insights into the role and experiences at Leeds Heritage Theatres

Frank Burkitt, the Programmer at City Varieties Music Hall, recently shared details about his role and experiences working within Leeds Heritage Theatres. City Varieties is a well-known venue hosting over 200 shows annually, including music, comedy, and other performances.

Role and daily responsibilities

Frank described his job as highly varied, involving meeting a diverse range of people from show creators to promoters of established productions. A significant part of his work includes managing a busy inbox filled with enquiries from performers wishing to appear at City Varieties. He emphasised the excitement of developing new projects and the constant challenge of scheduling shows within the venue’s calendar.

Highlights and challenges

One of the highlights Frank mentioned was working with supportive colleagues and helping to programme “Explore,” the first family festival spanning all three Leeds Heritage Theatres venues. He also values the relationships formed with creatives and producers over time.

Regarding challenges, Frank noted the limited hours in the day and the mental load of juggling numerous tasks. He highlighted the difficulty in fitting all desired shows into the annual calendar, which inevitably means some artists cannot be accommodated.

Advice for aspiring programmers

Frank advises those interested in similar roles to maintain an open mind and engage with a wide range of creatives, show-makers, and promoters. He stresses the importance of understanding both the venue and artist perspectives, as well as knowing the audience to create a vibrant programme identity.

Personal interests and connections

Frank shared some personal insights, including his interest in folk music. He has been writing songs since childhood and developed his knowledge of Americana and Scottish folk music during his time living in Edinburgh. He is also involved in curating the line-up for the Todmorden Folk Festival, a community event held every May.

He recalled a notable historical event connected to Leeds venues: the 1899 Clog Dancing Championship of the World held at City Varieties. Leeds also hosted the 1890 championship at the Princess Palace Theatre, a venue that was demolished in 1967.

When asked about memorable shows at Leeds Heritage Theatres, Frank mentioned performances such as Shock Horror by Thunder Road Theatre Company, Testament, and Matthew Bourne’s William Blake Remixed featuring Corinne Bailey Rae.

Supporting Leeds Heritage Theatres

Leeds Heritage Theatres offers several ways for the public to support its work, including:

• Theatre For All – increasing accessible shows and reaching new audiences
• Name a Seat – a scheme inviting audiences to name seats in the venues
• Memberships – providing early information about shows and screenings
• Gift Vouchers – offering tickets for live performances and cinema across the venues

This article is based on information from Leeds Heritage Theatres’ website: In Conversation With… Frank Burkitt.