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Preview Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Leeds Grand Theatre

Gauche geezer gets geisher, then gives her grief

Tim Albery’s Madama Butterfly is brought forward in time to the 1950s, presumably to evoke a backdrop of that decade’s fresh wave of American imperialism in the Far East, though the production’s specific target is the seedy exploitation of child-brides, however well-mannered and formalised, rather than a more generalised cultural domineering by a colonial superpower.

Butterfly is the unfortunate casualty of a ritualised sex-trade, not a theatre of war and occupation. The production begins and ends with a silent portrayal of the brutal, desensitised underworld of a bordello’s backroom, a stark contrast to the emotional musical rollercoaster that is the…

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Preview Glamourie Exhibition at Project Space Leeds

Contemporary northern art talent set to impress at new exhibition

Since it was founded in 2006, Project Space Leeds has showcased some of the most innovative and creative talent around through various forms of art including talks, seminars and education workshops, as well as a vibrant exhibitions programme. Its aim is to place Leeds on the national and international radar by featuring both local artists and those from further afield.

‘Glamourie’ is the latest exhibition to be shown at PSL and it features work from 26 northern contemporary British artists. A number of new and exciting works will be going on show, such as Joseph Lewes’ Portative Church, in which…

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Preview FILMusic Season at Howard Assembly Room

An investigation into the relationship between music and film takes over the Leeds city centre venue for much of the month

Film and music have, of course, always been intrinsically linked. From the early days where silent films were shown in cinemas accompanied by a live pianist, to some of the great modern composers – the likes of Phillip Glass and Ennio Morricone – providing the musical backdrop to a number of great and often classic films, and then more recently certain directors, such as Quentin Tarantino, becoming almost as well known for the music of their films as for the films themselves.

To celebrate the divine interplay of music and film, the Howard Assembly Room is giving much of…

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Preview Hectik Cancer Research Party at Mission

A night of vocal house on 21st January with proceeds going to a very good cause

Hectik takes place at Mission on the third Saturday of every month and on 21^st January it is hosting a special party in aid of the Cancer Research charity. The now well established clubnight saw its inception at the end of 2010, when two friends decided that they had had enough of the manufactured nights that they saw in Leeds. They decided that the city needed something more, and that Hectik would be it.

If you trot down to Mission for Hectik you will hear a mixture of uplifting vocal house, you will be dazzled by dancers, and…

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Preview Jive Cats at Milo

Rock'n'roll, surf freakout and more on Thursday nights on Call Lane

Throughout my years in Leeds I’ve had a lot of good times in Miloand I expect I’ll have a few more before I’m done. The Call Lane bar that looks onto the grand circular edifice of the Corn Exchange became something of a second home when I first immersed myself in Leeds’ nightlife and I’m still drawn to it when I’m in town.

The brass-ceilinged den of carousers has held its appeal for me and many others mainly thanks to the music that can be heard there. Yes, Milo offers crisp beers and tangy, potent cocktails, but so…

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Preview Hyena Comedy Club's Christmas Cracker

A chance to see one of Ricky Gervais' favourite comedians in action

After Harrogate’s most successful Comedy Festival to date, the Hyena Comedy Club is itching to open its doors and light up its stage once again with this month’s cream of the comedy crop –

headliner Adam Bloom, support act Danny Deegan and compere Sam Avery.

On Saturday 17th December the comedy club presents its Christmas Cracker show, welcoming Adam Bloom, a dab hand on the circuit who was hailed by Ricky Gervais as "one of his favourite comedians for about 10 years" and by Jerry Sadowitz as "one of the cleverest and most inventive comedians I have ever seen".

Bloom…

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