This touching and funny adaptation of Julie Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's Stick Man is coming to Leeds for the festive season.
This delightful production comes from Freckle Productions, the award-winning team behind Zog and the Flying Doctors,Tiddler and other Terrific Tales, and Tabby McTat.
The heartfelt children's story follows the journey of a wooden stick who becomes separated from his family home and embarks on an Odyssey-like adventure to return there.
Leeds Playhouse describe this children-friendly production as "What starts off as a morning jog becomes quite the misadventure for Stick Man: a dog wants to play fetch with him, a swan builds a nest with him, and he even ends up on a fire! How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree?"
Image: Freckle Productions
The production will showcase three fantastic actors whom will perform an array of puppetry, live music and funky dance moves.
The play will run for 55 minutes and is aimed at children aged 2+, making it the perfect afternoon of fun for all the family.
From 7 December - 31 December 2022, awaited audiences can grab a ticket to watch the Stick Man embark on his exciting adventure.
Image: Freckle Productions.
Performances will be held at 10.30am and 1.30pm from Wednesday - Sunday, as well as a 4pm performance during the weekends.
After a long two years of halted and cancelled performances, the future looks much brighter for one of Leeds’ favourite theatres. The performing arts is an industry that has been hit in a way unfathomable and incomparable to most other working positions, so all tickets sold will help to reignite their livelihood once more.
Image: Freckle Productions.
Ticket prices range from £14 - £21 and can be booked with an additional £2.50 administrative fee on the Leeds Playhouse website.
Feature Image- Freckle Productions
Leeds
A slice of New York has arrived in Leeds – and the pizzas are 18 inches wide
Popular pizza pop-up Edges Pizza has opened a permanent home in Leeds city centre.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residencies across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason. Edges Pizza has just opened a permanent new takeaway under the arches in Holbeck, and it's absolutely class.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Owners Grace and Edge who are from Harrogate opened Edges two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
They've completely transformed the space into a proper love letter to the big apple. It will operate mainly as a takeaway, but there is a small seating area where you can perch and tuck into your pie.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu is perfectly curated, consisting of eight pizzas and three dips. And trust us, they are absolutely massive.
We opted for the American Hot with spicy pepperoni, banana peppers and parmesan as well as the mushroom pie topped with garlic creme fraiche and chestnut mushrooms.
Drizzled and dunked into moreish hot honey, it's rivalling some of the best pizza in the city.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For now, grabbing a pizza from Edges operates through a pre-order system. Pre-orders open at 12pm the day before via their website, you can pick your collection time and then you simply have to rock up and get your pizza.
There's loads of parking available nearby and if there are any remaining slots available you can pre-order up to an hour before collection.
We've got a feeling they're going to very busy indeed.
Mamma Mia! The Musical at Leeds Grand Theatre – more than a jukebox musical | Review
Declan Kelly
Mamma Mia! continues to resonate with audiences through its themes of love, identity and belonging.
More than 25 years after it first premiered in London's West End, Mamma Mia! remains one of musical theatre's greatest success stories.
Created by Catherine Johnson and built around the timeless songs of ABBA, the musical has become a global phenomenon, spawning countless international productions and two blockbuster films. Far from feeling dated, the 2026 UK tour, which arrived at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House on Wednesday 17 June, served as a vibrant reminder of why this feel-good favourite continues to captivate audiences.
From the opening bars, the production embraces everything that has made Mamma Mia! such an enduring crowd-pleaser. Packed with beloved hits from ABBA's catalogue, the evening is overflowing with nostalgia, joy and infectious energy.
Image: Supplied
Classics including "Dancing Queen", "Voulez-Vous" and the title number are delivered with enthusiasm and flair, earning enthusiastic reactions from an audience eager to revisit songs that have become part of popular culture.
While the music provides the soundtrack, it is the relationships at the heart of the story that give the production its emotional depth. Lydia Hunt's Sophie Sheridan is portrayed with a clear sense of character, her mannerisms and youthful curiosity making her quest to discover her father entirely believable.
Image: Supplied
Opposite her, Jenn Griffin brings warmth and vulnerability to Donna Sheridan, balancing strength with the anxieties of a mother whose past unexpectedly returns. Together, the pair share a natural chemistry that grounds the production and ensures the emotional stakes remain genuine. Their performances highlight that Sophie's journey is not simply about discovering who her father is, but understanding herself and appreciating the family she already has.
Comedy is never far away, and some of the evening's biggest laughs come courtesy of Sarah Earnshaw and Rosie Glossop as Tanya and Rosie. Their chemistry injects humour throughout the production, with much of the show's lighter side relying on the antics and personalities of Donna's lifelong friends.
Image: Supplied
However, it is "Does Your Mother Know" that emerges as one of the evening's defining moments. Sarah Earnshaw's Tanya commands the stage with confidence and charisma, while Joseph Vella's Pepper matches her energy perfectly, creating a number brimming with playful humour and infectious fun. Their comic timing and exaggerated flirtation are executed with precision, allowing the audience to fully embrace the absurdity of the situation.
More than simply providing laughs, the sequence encapsulates what makes Mamma Mia! such an enduring piece of musical theatre. The number is staged with a sense of joy and theatricality that transforms a familiar ABBA hit but also memorable moments from the film we all recognise and love.
Image: Supplied
The audience's reaction throughout demonstrated just how effectively the show uses comedy to complement its emotional moments, and the chemistry between Earnshaw and Vella ensures that "Does Your Mother Know" becomes far more than a novelty number. Instead, it stands as one of the production's finest examples of how Mamma Mia! expertly balances humour, character and musical performance, delivering a sequence that is both hilarious and quintessentially entertaining.
Visually, the production retains the sun-soaked charm that audiences have come to expect. Colourful costumes, energetic choreography and the idyllic Greek island setting create an atmosphere of escapism, transporting the audience from Yorkshire to the Mediterranean in an instant. The pace rarely falters, allowing the musical numbers and quieter moments to complement one another seamlessly.
Beneath the glitter, platform boots and familiar melodies, however, lies a surprisingly poignant message. Mamma Mia! is ultimately a story about identity, family and accepting that life does not always provide neat answers.
Image: Supplied
Sophie's search for her father reveals that the versions of ourselves we think we need to find may not be the answers we are searching for after all. Instead, the musical celebrates love, friendship and the families we create, reminding audiences that happiness often comes from embracing what is already in front of us rather than chasing perfection.
More than two decades after its debut, Mamma Mia! The Musical continues to prove why it has become a modern classic. Blending iconic songs, heartfelt performances and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this latest touring production leaves audiences exactly as it should: smiling, singing and perhaps viewing the meaning of family a little differently.
Running at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House from 16 June to 27 June, you can get your tickets here.
Clementine Hall -
19th May 2022 
