Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Date of birth: latest incarnation - 8 March 1990.
Brief history: it began life as another theatre in another place. In 1969 the Leeds Theatre Committee, which had been looking for premises for a new Leeds theatre since 1964, persuaded the University of Leeds to lend the site of a proposed sports hall. A temporary theatre was built for only pounds 150,000 and opened with the world premiere of Alan Plater's Simon Says in September 1970 under the directorship of John Harrison. Prince Charles officially opened the theatre as The Playhouse in December of that year. But as it was only designed to last for 10 years, by the mid-1980s the building was falling into dilapidation. Leeds City Council put aside a site for a new theatre and the competition for its design was won by Appleton Associates, a husband-and-wife team from Edinburgh. The Quarry Hill Flats, an infamous estate of Thirties-style apartments, was razed to the ground, and the West Yorkshire Playhouse rose from the rubble. It finally opened in 1990, having cost pounds 13.5 million, with Jude Kelly at the helm. It consists of two auditoria and an outside performance space.
Uses: the theatre stages over1,000 performances, workshops, readings and community events each year, attended by over 250,000 people..
Recommended seats: Courtyard Theatre, centre of Area A (pounds 15.50). Quarry Theatre, Centre Block F-G (15.50).
Current event: Irvine Welsh's first stage play, You'll Have Had Your Hole, a "revenger's tragedy for the chemical age", set in a disused recording studio. Welsh has recently indicated a change in his preoccupations - "I've reached the stage now where, if there's any reference to drugs or music on the dust jacket of a book, I'll put it straight down" - so perhaps it's worth checking out if there's life, and inspiration, beyond Trainspotting. Thurs to 21 Mar. Tickets: pounds 8-pounds 15. All bookings on 0113 213 7700.
Landmark productions: Alan Rickman's The Winter Guest in 1995.
Where to meet: there's a restaurant on site.
Cost of a glass of wine: pounds 1.80.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments