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Red Ladder Theatre Company

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Leeds Lads Screening Event

Relive Leeds Lads on the big screen at Carriageworks Theatre, Millennium Square, Leeds as we invite you to a cinematic version of the stage show – a kind of Red Ladder Live!

The film screening of our latest production Leeds Lads, will take place at The Carriageworks Theatre on 12 October at 7.30pm.

If you are interested in coming along to this free screening event book online here >>

Thank you to all of the funders and supporters who made Leeds Lads possible including; Leeds InspiredLeeds City CouncilArts Council EnglandThe Carriageworks Theatre and Leeds Civic Arts Guild.


Strategic Tour Funding

Red Ladder Theatre Company has been awarded £186,463 by Arts Council England to deliver a programme of work in clubs and pubs across Yorkshire.

We will work with West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Civic Barnsley and Cast Doncaster to tour eight  exciting, challenging and relevant productions to fifteen non-traditional venues such as pubs, rugby league and sports & social clubs to maintain and develop new audiences across the region over the next two years.

Shows include Rabbitskin, The Life and Soul, Playing The Joker, Wrong ‘Un and We’re Not Going Back together with some brand new work.


Jamie Jones-Buchanan visits Carr Manor School Drama Group

Leeds Rhino’s Jamie Jones-Buchanan recently visited the Carr Manor School Drama Group, who are creating work inspired by our upcoming community project Leeds Lads.

A group of 14 students from Carr Manor Community School have been working on a devising project alongside Leeds Lads and examining the themes of the play. Their 15-minute piece called 104 Questions, will be performed before Leeds Lads on the Carriageworks stage on Monday 20 June at 7pm, press night for the show.

Jamie visited the school to talk to them about the challenges of acting, the character he will be playing and some information about the production. Students were then given the chance to ask Jamie anything they wanted to know about his acting experiences before Jamie himself led them in a warm-up exercise.

Speaking about preparations for the play Jones-Buchanan said: “Rehearsals for Leeds Lads are fantastic. Each cast member moves through the rehearsal 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. The Director, Rod Dixon, 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.”


Leeds Lads Open Rehearsal at Central Library, Leeds

We recently did an open rehearsal at the Leeds Big Bookend Festival 2016 for our upcoming production, Leeds Lads. The rehearsal finished with a Q&A with our artistic director Rod Dixon and co-writer Anthony Clavane and gave people an opportunity to find out more about the show and the inspiration behind the play.

Breathing life into the characters of Leeds’s past, this vibrant production transports you from the turmoil and tensions of war, to the rich and multi-cultural city we know today. Leeds Lads is a new play about the people of Leeds past and present – their fears, their love and their friendships, performed by the people of Leeds today for the people of Leeds.

A community cast of 40 local performers and musicians will be joined by Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain international Rugby League player Jamie Jones-Buchanan for his debut appearance on stage.

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Wanted! Musicians for Leeds Lads

As part of our new community production Leeds Lads we are looking for the below musicians to take part.

Line up tbc but probably:

  • a guitar player
  • bass player (electric/acoustic)
  • drummer/percussionist
  • trumpet player
  • (instrumentation is fairly open/undecided at the moment so all instrumentalists welcome to apply)

Show: Leeds Lads 

Theatre: Carriageworks, Leeds

Dates required (with some flexibility):

  • Three band calls throughout May
  • Two all-day Sunday rehearsals (in May/June)
  • 14th, 16th June for technical/dress rehearsal
  • Shows run from Friday 17th June to Saturday 25th June

Information on show:
It’s 2016. Tara stands on the steps of Leeds Town Hall on the day the city commemorates the Leeds Pals at the Battle of the Somme. She holds in her hand her great grandfather’s medal for bravery. Why should Tara care about the past when the present seems so bleak?

Celebrate Tara’s story as she discovers the sacrifice of her forefathers and how these have moulded the community that surrounds her today. Breathing life into the characters of Leeds’s past, this vibrant production transports you from the turmoil and tensions of war, to the rich and multi-cultural city we know today.

Leeds Lads is a new play about the people of Leeds past and present – their fears, their love and their friendships, performed by the people of Leeds today for the people of Leeds. A community cast of 40 local performers and musicians will be joined by Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain international Rugby League player Jamie Jones-Buchanan for his debut appearance on stage.

Money:
This is a community project so, as such, this is not a paid engagement but generous porterage and instrument packages are available by arrangement. It is a tremendous opportunity to work with an experienced and talented creative team and be part of a vibrant and exciting project.

Apply / Contact:
If interested please send your CV/portfolio with a video/recording of you playing to producer Chris Lloyd (chris@redladder.co.uk) and musical director Sam Sommerfeld (berkosbigband@gmail.com).

The deadline is 5pm on Friday 13th May.


Jamie Jones-Buchanan talks Leeds Lads

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>>


Leeds Lads Finds Local Talent

Thanks to everyone who auditioned for Leeds Lads, we had a brilliant turn out and have now fully cast the show.  Below are a few short videos to give a taster of how we will be working behind the scenes with Director Rod Dixon, Musical Director Sam Sommerfeld and Natasha Harrison, our Movement Director.

 


The Damned United – The reviews are in!

The Damned United is receiving incredible feedback from audiences and critics in Derby, after selling out to full houses at West Yorkshire Playhouse.

“…as a piece of theatre it really hits the back of the net.”
British Theatre Guide

 “You don’t need to be a football fan to get fired up by the show” 
★★★★ The Times

 “If you haven’t got a ticket already put it on to your to-do list for today.”
Arts Beat Blog

“The play is ingeniously staged by Rod Dixon,” 
The Guardian

The show is on until 16 April, don’t miss out on your last opportunity to catch us at Derby Theatre this week.

 

Andrew Lancel & Tony Bell outside Derby Country F.C Pride Park Stadium

Andrew Lancel and Tony Bell outside Derby Country F.C Pride Park Stadium, in front of the Brian Clough and Peter Taylor statue


Leeds Lads Audition Information

Leeds Lads auditions will be held at the following times and places:

Saturday 19th March 09:30 – 13:00 Carriageworks Theatre, The Electric Press, 3 Millennium Square, Leeds LS2 3AD

Saturday 19th March 13:30 – 17:00 Hunslet Hawks, South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove, Leeds LS11 5DJ

Sunday 20th March 09:00 – 12:00 Try Zone, Headingley Carnegie Stadium, St Michael’s Lane, Leeds, LS6 3BR

You will not be required to bring an audition piece as the audition will be in a workshop format.

Auditions will run consist of registration followed by a warm up, some ensemble movement and vocal exercises. Smaller groups will be given the opportunity to play any instruments they play, more precise movement and vocal exercises and some short passages to read out.

Please wear casual, loose fitting clothes that you feel comfortable in and bring your own food/water.

It will be fun. It will be instructive. It will be invigorating.

No experience needed but we can only audition over 18’s – sorry!

Rehearsals for Leeds Lads will be Sundays from and including 10 April 2016 from 10am – 5pm for the full cast and then, in addition, Monday and Tuesday evenings for principal characters and band practices.

Leeds Lads Preliminary Rehearsal Schedule

We will need commitment to the whole rehearsal period and then the technical and dress rehearsal period week beginning 13 June 2016 plus the week of shows including the potential matinee on Wednesday 22 June 2016 and the definite matinee on Saturday 25 June 2016.

To apply please fill in an audition registration form and send over to Jenny Sullivan by email: jenny@redladder.co.uk

Download Audition Form


Ever dreamed of being on stage?

Want to see your name in lights?

 

From the company bringing you The Damned United at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Red Grit is a professionally run actor training course for anyone aged eighteen and over.

  • Try something new
  • All abilities welcome – no experience necessary
  • Meet new people
  • Free – deposit paid at the beginning to secure your place, and refunded to you week by week
  • Guaranteed audition for Red Ladder’s upcoming production Leeds Lads at Carriageworks Theatre, featuring Leeds Rhinos’ Jamie Jones-Buchanan!

Workshops will be run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Tuesday 15th March to Thursday 7th April in the Phoenix Room at Hunslet Hawks RLFC

Areas covered in the workshops are:

Character building, voice work, movement and working with text

These skills can help to begin a career in acting or simply boost your self-esteem and confidence levels for job/college interviews. It’s a great way to gain new experiences and meet new people

Leeds Lads auditions will be held on Saturday 19th March in the Phoenix Room and at various locations across the city.

Download Registration Form 2016

For more information, email jenny@redladder.co.uk.