Leeds Rhinos legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan has taken on a distinctly new challenge recently as he begins rehearsals for Leeds Lads, our new community production commemorating one hundred years since the Battle of the Somme. Here’s what Jamie’s had to say about the process so far:

‘Rehearsals for the Leeds lads has been fantastic.   I’m definitely out of my comfort zone but that’s where I like to be because that’s the only place I will grow.

They say time flies when your having fun and each days work has gone off in a shot.  Rod and the rest of the company have been really welcoming and extremely helpful in something that is completely new to me.  In many ways, the skills and disciplines aren’t too dissimilar to what I go through as a rugby player, some of which are even transferable.

Each member moves through the day with a real focus, like playing rugby, there’s a physical projection in acting and the communication is every bit as important as in a big game.  Every member works hard as an individual for the purpose of serving the team as a whole.  Rod, like my coach Brian Mcdermott, has a huge amount of emotional awareness and knows how to produce an environment in which we can thrive as a group…  I am fortunate to be working with an extremely talented and diverse group of men and women,  and I very much look forward to learning everything I can from them in the next 10 weeks.’

Leeds Lads is on at the Carriageworks Theatre from 17th to the 25th of June. More information available here>>