JAN 2022 — APR 2022
Booking Tickets can be booked 24 hours a day online at thelbt.org, via our phone lines between 12pm–2pm Mon-Fri or in person on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am–5pm and from 90 minutes before the show. Booking line: 01484 430528
Getting Here We are located on Queen Street in Huddersfield Town Centre (HD1 2SP). Parking: Visit the Kirklees Council website for the most up-to-date parking information. All information is correct at time of printing. Please visit thelbt.org for the most up-to-date information.
Visiting We’ll continue to make sure we’re totally in line with government guidance at all times, so things might change (again!) but for now… Please wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable.
We can’t tell you how incredible it has been over the last few months as we’ve been able to have audiences back in the theatre. We spent the summer completely refurbishing the auditorium so that we’d be able to welcome everyone back to a more comfortable, more accessible and greener building. We are so excited to now be looking ahead to 2022 with a brand new season of work. Before we get too excited though, we just wanted to say a few huge thank yous. To Kirklees Council who have done absolutely everything possible to keep us going over the last 18 months – we genuinely couldn’t be more grateful to have such an amazing local authority supporting us; to Arts Council England and DCMS who have generously supported us with emergency and cultural recovery funding; to the Garfield Weston Foundation’s Culture Fund who allowed us to keep creating live and digital work over the pandemic; and finally, most importantly, to you - our amazing audiences. Without your support we wouldn’t be here, it’s as simple as that. We can’t wait to see you again soon.
Additional cleaning of all touch points. Hand sanitising stations for you to clean your hands.
Key
2
British Sign Language
Under 30s tickets available
Captioned
Audio Described
BOX OFFICE: 01484 430528
THELBT.ORG
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DRAMA
Unseemly Women, HER Productions & Girl Gang Manchester
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Wed 19 – Fri 21 January Main House 7.30pm Tickets £16 Directed by Kate Colgrave Pope. Set on a wild hen night in Manchester where anything and everything is possible…even a little magic. Think Manchester Canal Street’s explosive imagination meets the instability of love of ‘Love Island’ meets the classiness of ‘The Real housewives of Cheshire’. Throw in all the smut and sequins one woman can take.
Divina De Campo
CABARET & VARIETY
Sat 22 January Main House | 7.30pm Tickets £18
Age Guidance: 14+
Brighouse drag sensation and runner-up of Rupaul’s Drag Race UK Divina De Campo returns home. Expect laughs and naughtiness.
Motionhouse
Nobody
DANCE
Tue 25 January Main House 7.30pm Tickets From £12 Fast-moving and highly physical, Nobody explores the tension between our inner lives and how we make sense of the world around us. Motionhouse’s renowned dance-circus style combines with mesmerising choreography to tell this emotional and ultimately uplifting story that resonates with the times we live in.
“One of the very, very best telling’s of this timeless tale.” – North West End UK “Even if you’ve never enjoyed Shakespeare before you will love this.” – Audience Member “enough raunch to make the Bard blush” — ilovemanchester “Punchy, insane, moving & hilarious.” – Audience Member “Fresh, current and funny.” – Audience Member 4
Reece’s Pieces
SPOKEN WORD & TALKS
Sun 30 January Main House | 7.30pm Tickets £10 Join actor and television director Reece Dinsdale for a joyful evening of stories from his illustrious career. 5
DRAMA
COMMUNITY THEATRE “So beautifully written, staged and acted that it takes ones breath away” — The Sunday Telegraph on Philip Stokes’ Heroin(e) for Breakfast
Huddersfield Thespians
Dark Sublime
Wed 2 - Sat 5 February Cellar Theatre 7.15pm & 2pm Sat Matinee Tickets £14
Age Guidance: 12+
An obsessed fan arrives at the door of an actress, from an old cult TV show. He forces her back into the past, and a strange, outrageous world she hasn’t visited in almost 40 years. Together they discover what every good relationship needs is time and space. Michael Dennis’ comedy boldly explores how far friendships and relationships can be pushed. Presented as part of LGBTQ+ History Month 2022.
MUSIC
Olivia Hyde, with Joanne Harris and the Storytime Band
An Open Letter to Death Lawrence Batley Theatre in association with Ketchup Productions
Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me
Main House 7.30pm & 2pm Wed Matinee Tickets £14
Age Guidance: 14+
Tue 1 – Thu 3 February
Meet Daniel. He’s a strange boy. His devotion to Jesus is slightly compromised by his obsession with a certain Wakefield born diva. He’s the ultimate super fan! His fanaticism is shared by his Mother, until one day it all goes horribly wrong. Has Daniel returned home to seek revenge or heal old wounds? He just doesn’t know what to believe in anymore…
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Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me is a hilarious and moving drama from acclaimed playwright & director Philip Stokes about idolisation, growing older and the complex relationship between a son and mother.
Fri 4 February Main House 7.30pm Tickets £15
Age Guidance: 14+
Olivia Hyde is a singer-songwriter, actress, film director, and the beating heart of cult indie-rock band Bad Pollyanna. Joanne Harris is an acclaimed author, musician and performer with the Storytime Band. With an array of special guests, An Open Letter to Death is an exciting fusion of theatre, dance, storytelling and song, exploring the one subject that unites us all.
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MUSIC
Northern Swing Orchestra
A Tribute to the Rat Pack Sat 5 February Main House 7.30pm
Fake Escape
Saving Britney
DRAMA
Fri 11 - Sat 12 February Cellar Theatre 7.45pm Tickets £12
Age Guidance: 12+
Tickets From £16 Be transported back to the Rat Pack heyday with an evening featuring some of the band’s timeless hits along with classic songs from other similar artists.
DANCE
Inspired by the #FreeBritney movement, Saving Britney is a hilarious and heartbreaking look at celebrity obsession, sexuality and growing up in the early noughties; featuring more nostalgia than you can shake a Tamagochi at! Millennials like Jean grew up with Britney Spears. Over the course of an hour see how the Princess of Pop influenced Jean’s life and how the connections shared between them lead to an unbelievable moment of self-discovery.
Ian Ashpitel & Jonty Stephens as Eric & Ern Levantes Dance Theatre
THE BAND Tue 8 February Main House 7.30pm
COMEDY
Wed 9 – Thu 10 February Main House 7.30pm Tickets £22.50
Tickets £12 Sandy & Bruno met in the Seventies. She was fame hungry, he was doomed to follow her. As one hit wonders, this is a story of their big come-back. With striking aesthetics and a rousing soundtrack, THE BAND is a quirky, humorous display of desperate ambition and blind affection told through awe-inspiring dance, theatre and circus. 8
For all the family from 8 to 108, Eric & Ern is a brilliant homage to Morecambe and Wise from the Olivier Award nominated duo Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens. Bringing you sunshine, this show is full of Morecambe and Wise’s most loved routines, songs and sketches and of course a musical guest. 9
Rose Condo
FAMILY
The Empathy Experiment 2.0
SPOKEN WORD & TALKS
Thu 17 February Cellar Theatre 7.45pm Tickets £10
In 2019, Canadian poet Rose Condo created The Empathy Experiment, asking if empathy faced extinction because of our addictions to mobile devices. The Empathy Experiment received critical acclaim and was set to tour internationally in 2020. And then... the world changed. The Empathy Experiment 2.0 explores new questions about our relationships with - and to – technology in this post-pandemic age.
Awkward Productions
Dragons & Mythical Beasts Fri 11 – Sun 13 February
Main House Various times please call or see website for details Tickets £14 Enter into a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical new interactive show for all the family. From the creators of the West End smash hit Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life, audiences will come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Take your place among legendary heroes, just don’t wake the Dragon…
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how to live a jellicle life: life lessons from the 2019 hit movie musical cats
COMEDY
Fri 18 February Cellar Theatre 7.45pm Tickets £14
Age Guidance: 16+
A show that provides a jellicle discussion about the jellicle aspects of the jellicle cats in Cats and how you can apply them to your life in order to make it truly jellicle. A one-man comedic parody that celebrates one of the biggest cinematic flops of recent years. Come along for a silly, ridiculous, very queer and unquestionably jellicle time. 11
CABARET & VARIETY
Ashleigh Owen
HIP HIP I’M GAY
DRAMA
Sat 19 February Cellar Theatre 7.45pm Tickets £12
Age Guidance: 16+
HIP HIP I’M GAY! is a powerful, funny, moving, heartfelt, uplifting comedy cabaret delivered by a cast of fabulous queer performers that follows real-life stories and experiences of coming out and the mental health struggles people have faced alongside their sexual identity. Intertwined with hilarious sketches, original songs and dazzling dance routines, this show is guaranteed to take you on an emotional roller-coaster.
DRAMA
Jonny Donahoe
Forgiveness Sat 26 February Cellar Theatre 8pm Tickets £12
“Painfully honest, funny, joyous... possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop” – The Guardian Back with his first new solo show in five years, Forgiveness is about the cycles of abuse that affect who we are; if and how we can escape them. Jonny Donahoe co-created and performed the touring sensation Every Brilliant Thing that was performed over four hundred times in four continents. 12
BOX OFFICE: 01484 430528
Dracula Thu 17 - Fri 18 February Main House 7.30pm Tickets £20 What if everything we thought we knew was just the beginning? What if the legend – is real! When James Gaddas (Bad Girls, Coronation Street, Medics) comes across Bram Stoker’s original handwritten copy of the Gothic horror story while working on a satellite channel TV show, what he reads chills him to the bone. This copy contains pages never actually published… One actor, fifteen characters, and a terrifying discovery. THELBT.ORG
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Milkshake! Live
FAMILY FAMILY
Thu 24 February Main House 12pm & 3.30pm
Apphia Campbell
DRAMA
Black Is The Color Of My Voice Wed 16 March
Tickets From £17
Main House 7.30pm Tickets £16 Written and directed by Apphia Campbell.
Milkshake! Monkey is back and can’t wait to put on a spectacular NEW Show for you all, joined by some of his favourite Milkshake! friends plus two Milkshake! Presenters creating the most dazzling show you have ever seen! This brand-new show has plenty of laughter, audience interaction and great fun to get everyone up on their feet. It’s a family show not to be missed!
Michael Jordan
High Jinx Magic, Illusion & Circus Show Sat 26 February
Age Guidance: 4+
Direct from the World Famous Blackpool Tower Circus and The Sooty Show Live. Michael Jordan and the wonderful High Jinx Dancers are back once again on our main stage with the mind boggling, spell binding show filled with crazy circus thrills and outstanding illusions that are sure to knock your socks off and leave you wanting more. 14
CIRCUS
COMMUNITY THEATRE
Dick & Lottie
Absent Friends Wed 16 – Sat 19 March Cellar Theatre 7.30pm & 2.30pm Sat Matinee Tickets £15
Main House 2.30pm & 7.30pm Tickets From £12
Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, Black Is The Color Of My Voice follows a successful jazz singer and civil rights activist seeking redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.
It’s always good to see old friends - isn’t it? All Diana wants to do is to console the recentlybereaved Colin with a gathering of old friends and a nice cup of tea. But the reunion succeeds only in pouring salt into wounds, and what a shame Gordon couldn’t come, being so poorly. Join Dick & Lottie for a road-crash of a party in Alan Ayckbourn’s sad and touching but always bitingly funny Absent Friends. 15
SPOKEN WORD & TALKS
London Artists Projects
COMMUNITY THEATRE
Truth To Power Café Sat 19 March Main House 7.30pm Tickets £12
Truth to Power Café is a profound theatrical reflection on loss, hope and resistance. This internationally acclaimed performance event is told through memoir, poetry, image, music, film and live testimony from the people of Huddersfield with passionate stories to tell in response to the question ‘who has power over you and what do you want to say to them?’ Community participants of all ages, beliefs and experiences are invited to take part.
DANCE
Erica Mulkern
Suzy Homemaker Fri 25 March Cellar Theatre 7.45pm Tickets £12
Age Guidance: 13+
Woodhouse Musical Theatre Company
Kinky Boots The term “Suzy Homemaker” is used as a derisive reference to any woman with habits linked to stereotypical domestic activities traditionally done by women. In this performance we see women throughout history trapped in a role they did not ask for, they had no choice. Domestic Bliss quickly turns into a distorted nightmare. This performance will be followed by a Q&A with the artist. 16
Tue 22 – Sat 26 March Main House 7.30pm & 2.15pm Sat Matinee Tickets From £11
Age Guidance: 12+
Based on the Miramax motion picture (written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth), Kinky Boots The Musical tells the story of Charlie Price who, having inherited a shoe factory from his father, forms an unlikely partnership with cabaret performer and drag queen Lola… With music and lyrics by the incredible Cyndi Lauper, this community production promises fabulous sets, costumes and talent to bring sheer joy! This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe www.mtishows.co.uk
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BalletBoyz
DRAMA
Deluxe
DANCE
Mon 28 March Main House 7.30pm Tickets £18
Highly Suspect
The Death of the Great Detective Sat 26 March Cellar Theatre | 7.45pm Tickets £12
“Contemporary dance, boy band-style… Dance at its most riveting and fearless” – The Independent on Sunday BalletBoyz are one of the most cheekily original and innovative forces in dance, thrilling audiences and critics with their unique style, blending achingly beautiful dance both exhilarating and graceful, with stunning music and film. Deluxe fuses beautiful dance with original music and includes collaborations from some of the world’s most inventive and thought-provoking choreographers and composers.
You are invited to solve the seemingly impossible murder of world’s greatest detective; Sherlock Holmes. Even if it appears no-one but Doctor Watson believes that the man is actually dead… ‘Mystery maestros’ Highly Suspect present an immersive interactive murder mystery that has a fiendish plot, evidence to examine, and cryptic clues to crack. But can you catch the killer?
DRAMA
The Dear Boys Wed 23 March Cellar Theatre 7.45pm Tickets £12 Lords Anthony Mason and Michael Holmes cordially invite you to their musical extravaganza, with songs such as Mad Dogs and Englishmen, London Pride and Mrs Worthington.
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The Herd
FAMILY
SLIME
FAMILY
Mon 28 March Cellar Theatre 11am & 2pm Tickets £9.50 Age Guidance: 2+
Slug and Caterpillar are starving, and the only leaf left in the garden is out of reach. Slug thinks they should work together. Caterpillar doesn’t.
LIVE O STA N GE
Enter Slug and Caterpillar’s world and sit in a giant garden to squish, squelch and play your way through this hilarious, surreal show for 2-5 years and their families, told with a handful of words and lots of SLIME.
Freckle Productions in association with Rose Theatre
Zog and the Flying Doctors DRAMA
Sam Freeman
Sat 2 – Sun 3 April
Every Little Hope You Ever Dreamed (But Didn’t Want To Mention)
Main House 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm Tickets From £15
Tue 29 - Wed 30 March MUSIC
Cellar Theatre 7.45pm Tickets £10
Age Guidance: 14+
This is a show about love. Love, Calippo lollies, lazy days under blues skies, cats, answerphones, stabilisers, google earth, the necessities of strong planning, dead phones and wiggling toes, hills, bravery and hi fives. But mostly, love. Performed by a man in a red checked shirt, black jeans, red converse, and decidedly wonky glasses, armed only with a notebook, a passable knowledge of Powerpoint and an inexplicable love of Excel. 20
Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s modern take on the classic fairytale, Zog and his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, when the King decides princesses shouldn’t be doctors, Pearl’s locked in the castle back in a crown and a silly frilly dress! Can Pearl prove princesses can be doctors too? Zog and the Flying Doctors © 2016 Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Published by Alison Green Books, an imprint of Scholastic Children’s Books.
Huddersfield University Big Band Fri 8 April Main House 7.30pm Tickets From £8 An eclectic mix of classic swing, evocative ballads, exciting latin and original funk from this renowned student band. 21
FAMILY
Easter
at the Lawrence Batley Theatre
COMMUNITY THEATRE
Shark in the Park Mon 11 - Tue 12 April Main House 11am & 3pm Tickets £15
Age Guidance: 2+
Timothy Pope is looking through his telescope – but wait, is that a Shark, in the Park!? This fin-tastic, family musical follows Timothy Pope (and his telescope!) on three exciting adventures based on Nick Sharratt’s loveable tales including Shark in the Park, Shark in the Dark and Shark in the Park on a Windy Day – all brought to life live on stage!
FAMILY
Northern Ballet
Pinocchio Sun 10 April Main House 2pm & 4pm Tickets From £8 With sell-out performances and a string of hugely successful CBeebies TV adaptations, Northern Ballet’s productions for children are not to be missed. An original retelling of the classic children’s story, Pinocchio is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre. Join Pinocchio on his adventure as he discovers that where there is love and honesty, there is always magic.
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Huddersfield Light Opera Company
Shrek the Musical Mon 18 – Sun 24 April Main House Various times please call or see website for details Tickets From £5
“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek…” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short tempered bad guy and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand...and his name is Shrek. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI Europe www.mtishows.co.uk
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DANCE
40 Years of Phoenix Thu 7 April Main House 7.30pm Tickets £18
Ingenious Fools
Eugene
Phoenix Dance Theatre are delighted to celebrate their milestone 40th birthday with us, bringing together a range of work from across the company’s illustrious history. Featuring an eclectic selection of work by internationally acclaimed, award winning choreographers, including former Artistic Directors and collaborators, this evening of celebration and reflection promises to be a rich, unforgettable experience.
DRAMA
Sat 9 April
REGINALD D. HUNTER JASON BYRNE
Tickets £12
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STEWART LEE PATRICK KIELTY
Main House 7.30pm
In the not too distant future, millionaire and inventor ‘Hugh’ from Hu-Bris industries is launching the first superhuman artificial intelligence at a press conference. And you’re invited. Think The Terminator does a Ted Talk.
JASON MANFORD
“A completely unique experience” – The Reviews Hub
GEOFF NORCOTT JOSH BERRY FLO & JOAN RAFE HUBRIS thelbt.org for more details!
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Attic Stories
WORKSHOP
Mon 21 February, Mon 21 March, Mon 25 April 7.30pm Tickets Pay as you Feel Calling all word lovers! The monthly night of words returns. Hosted by award-winning poet Rose Condo, each month features a special guest performer sharing poetry and stories. Want to take part? Open mic spots are available – sign up on the night!
Pre-order your drinks Beat the interval queues and pre-order your drinks at the bar before the show. Serving the finest local beers from Magic Rock and miniature bottles of prosecco and wine. There’s plenty more choice for all tastes.
Tea & Tour Sat 19 February, Sat 19 March, Sat 30 April 11am Tickets £15 Join us for a special backstage tour taking in the stories of our historic building and a look behind-the-scenes guided by one of our expert team. 26
Young Company Running year round, our Young Company offers young people aged 6 – 17 weekly workshops to help develop their performance and creative skills. Each half-term our passionate Young Company leaders focus on a specific theatre-related theme building up to an informal sharing for parents, carers, family and friends. Previous sessions have seen the young people work towards creating their very own murder mystery play, radio play and pantomime. Find out more about getting involved on our website.
Gallery Open before the shows and on Saturdays
The Half
by Simon Annand Three decades of actors preparing for the stage. 35 years photographing 35 minutes.
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Under 30s
INTRODUCING C
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CM
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Lawrence Batley Theatre Membership Scheme
CY
CMY
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For just £30 per year, you can get these exclusive benefits: Priority booking on headline shows Invitations to special meet the artist events and talks Members only newsletters Annual thank you from the Chief Executive The opportunity to support and sustain an arts charity
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BOX OFFICE: 01484 430528
Visit thelbt.org for more information
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Schedule January
March
Comedy Cellar
Thu 13
Reginald D. Hunter
Wed 9
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Wed 19 – Fri 21
Comedy Cellar
Thu 10
Divina de Campo
Sat 22
Black Is The Color Of My Voice
Wed 16
Nobody
Tue 25
Absent Friends
Wed 16 – Sat 19
Jason Byrne
Thu 27
Tea & Tour
Sat 19
Reece’s Pieces
Sun 30
Truth To Power Café
Sat 19
Attic Stories
Mon 21
February Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me
Tue 1 – Thu 3
Kinky Boots
Tue 22 – Sat 26
Dark Sublime
Wed 2 – Sat 5
The Dear Boys
Wed 23
An Open Letter to Death
Fri 4
Suzy Homemaker
Fri 25
A Tribute to the Rat Pack
Sat 5
The Death of the Great Detective
Sat 26
THE BAND
Tue 8
Geoff Norcott
Sun 27
Ian Ashpitel & Jonty Stephens as Eric & Ern
Wed 9 – Thu 10
Deluxe
Mon 28
Comedy Cellar
Thu 10
SLIME
Mon 28
Dragons & Mythical Beasts
Fri 11 – Sun 13
Every Little Hope You Ever Dreamed
Tue 29 – Wed 30
Saving Britney
Fri 11 – Sat 12
Dracula
Thu 17 – Fri 18
The Empathy Experiment 2.0
Thu 17
how to live a jellicle life: life lessons from the 2019 hit movie musical cats
Fri 18
Tea & Tour
April Zog and the Flying Doctors
Sat 2 – Sun 3
Josh Berry & Rafe Hubris
Tue 5
40 Years of Phoenix
Thu 7
Huddersfield University Big Band
Fri 8
Sat 19
Eugene
Sat 9
HIP HIP I’M GAY
Sat 19
Pinocchio
Sun 10
Attic Stories
Mon 21
Shark in the Park
Mon 11 – Tue 12
Milkshake! Live
Thu 24
Shrek the Musical
Mon 18 – Sun 24
High Jinx Magic, Illusion & Circus Show
Sat 26
Attic Stories
Mon 25
Tea & Tour
Sat 30
Jonny Donahoe: Forgiveness
Sat 26
Stewart Lee
Sat 30
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BOX OFFICE: 01484 430528
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