Easter week is upon us and here are our top picks of what to do.
We are well into April now and with Easter kindly gifting us a 4 day weekend, there is lots to do this week to make the most out of the festivities. Of course we will all be indulging in chocolate on Sunday, that goes without saying. But if you're looking for something else to do then here are our top picks of what's happening in and around Leeds.
From Yorkshire's biggest Easter Egg hunt to award-winning theatre, there's something for everyone in this week's What's On.
Chow Down Opening
Temple Arches, Leeds | Opening Thursday 14th April 2022.
Image: Chow Down
The beloved outdoor food and drink bonanza, Chow Down, is back for the Summer and opening on Thursday 14th April.
From April to September, Temple Arches will be transformed into a Summer-themed haven with a new food village, three-tier sun terrace, DJ huts and much more. There will even be a nine-hole alfresco crazy golf course where you can challenge your mates whilst sipping on your favourite cocktail. There will be a host of street food vendors to cater to all tastes which will change every few weeks to keep you coming back for more.
Chow Down will officially reopen on Thursday 14 April, opening 4.30pm – 11 pm on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the season. On the weekends, the venue will open 12pm – 11pm on Saturdays and Sunday 12pm – 9pm. Tickets can be purchased here and we encourage you to not miss out, this is a unique experience which is truly unmatched in Leeds.
Bradford trio Bad Boy Chiller Crew are coming to Leeds and performing at the 02 Academy on the 13th and 14th April. The British group began by uploading comedy and prank videos onto Youtube before producing music influenced by the UK Bassline scene. They quickly rose to fame and have a loyal fanbase, especially in the Yorkshire region.
These gigs are sure to have an electric atmosphere in this intimate venue and are not to be missed. Tickets are running low so if you want to party with the chiller crew, you best me quick. Find them at thislink.
Eggcelent Easter Egg Hunt
Thackray Museum of Medicine, Harehills | Monday 4 April – Friday 22 April 2022.
Image: Chapter 81
This Easter, the Thackray Museum of Medicine is hosting a whole range of egg-citing activity programmes to bring the Easter holidays to life. Visitors are invited to explore the museum as part of the ‘Eggcellent Easter Egg Hunt’, in which several eggs will be hidden throughout the exhibitions, and participants asked to complete a trail to get their hands on a mini Easter treat.
Suitable for even young children, there will even be an ‘Egg and Sperm Race’, where players will compete to reach the egg first, and an ‘Absolutely Smashing Matching Hatching Game’, which will put your knowledge of eggs and growth in the animal kingdom to the test. Please note that parental supervision required at these events.
Monday 4 April – Friday 22 April 2022. Find out morehere.
Yorkshire's Biggest Easter Egg Hunt
Multiple locations across Yorkshire | Friday 15th April – Sunday 17th April 2022.
Image: Jason Jarrach, Unsplash
Provenance Inns and Hotels will be hiding chocolate eggs across the county this month in the lead-up to Easter.The event is thought to bring ‘Yorkshire’s biggest Easter egg hunt’, spanning across Harogate, Moulton, Helperby and other Yorkshire hotspots. Lucky hunters who seek out the eggs will be able to enjoy a free drink at any Provenance site and there will be a host of Easter-themed dishes on the menu for those looking for a little more than a chocolate egg to satisfy their hunger.
Raising money for the Red Cross, Yorkshire’s biggest Easter egg hunt is set to take place across the bank holiday weekend, beginning on Good Friday and running until Easter Sunday. The idea is that clues will be dropped across Provenance Inns social media pages and those successful in finding the eggs can then redeem a free drink from the bar.
Leeds Grand Theatre | Tuesday 12 April – Saturday 16 April 2022.
Image: Brinkhoff/Mögenburg
The National Theatre’s Olivier and Tony Award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time returns to Leeds this April for one week only.
This life-affirming and unmissable production follows the story of Christopher, a 15 year old boy with an extraordinary brain. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbour’s dog, it takes him on a journey that upturns his world. Become immersed into Christopher's world and experience theatre at it's very best.
Don’t judge a book by its cover... or in this case, a musical by its posters.
Going in completely blind, I really didn’t know what to expect from Operation Mincemeat. In fact, after the first number, I found myself thinking, I’m not sure this is quite my cup of tea.
How wrong I was.
Watching Tuesday night’s performance at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House, I was quickly proven wrong about what I thought a musical needed to be. There are no huge sets, endless costume changes, or hundreds of performers filling the stage. Instead, Operation Mincemeat delivers a genuinely funny, surprisingly heart-warming story with just five performers, while somehow teaching you a bit of history along the way.
If I had to sum this show up in two words? Belly laughter.
Based on the real-life British intelligence operation during the Second World War, the musical follows the unlikely group tasked with convincing Hitler that the Allies were planning to invade Greece rather than Sicily.
And honestly, if you didn’t already know it actually happened, you’d probably think someone had made it up. That ridiculousness is exactly what makes the show work. The comedy comes thick and fast, with characters, accents, and personalities constantly changing as the five-strong cast jump between roles.
And this is where the production really impressed me.The multi-roling is incredibly slick. A pair of glasses, a change in voice or a small shift in posture can completely transform a character, and somehow it never feels like a gimmick. Instead, it becomes part of the magic of the production. It’s a brilliant example of how much can be achieved on stage without throwing money at elaborate sets or costumes.
Credit: Matt CrockettCredit: Matt Crockett
But underneath all the comedy is where Operation Mincemeat really surprised me.
One of the standout performances for me came from Christian Andrews as Hester Leggatt. During ‘Roses’, Andrews completely captivates the audience while portraying an older woman writing about the experience of wives waiting for their loved ones away at war.
What makes the moment so effective is its simplicity. With little more than a pair of glasses, Andrews transforms into Hester, but there is never any sense that the character is being played for laughs. Instead, there is real care and respect in the performance.
Andrews captures the loneliness, vulnerability, and uncertainty of a woman whose life has been put on hold while her partner is away fighting. After so much laughter, the sudden change in tone really lands. For me, it was one of the clearest examples of the craftsmanship behind the show. Both the writing and performance manage to find genuine emotion without losing the production’s personality.
The music follows the same balance, moving between big, energetic numbers and quieter moments that give the characters room to breathe. It never feels like songs have been added simply because this happens to be a musical; they actually help tell the story.
And despite being based on a historical event, it never feels like a history lesson.
Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House / Credit: Matt Crockett
In fact, I left the theatre wanting to find out more about the real Operation Mincemeat, which is probably the biggest compliment I can give it and definitely will be watching the film very soon.
If you’re heading to the theatre expecting huge dance numbers, powerhouse ballads and elaborate sets, then this might not be the show for you. But if you want something different, something that will have you laughing at one of the strangest stories in British history while leaving you amazed at just how slick a production can be with only five cast members, then this is absolutely worth seeing.
What I initially thought wasn’t my cup of tea ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the evening.
Funny, clever, completely bonkers at times and unexpectedly moving, Operation Mincemeat proves you don’t need a massive production to make a big impression. I have seen a lot of theatre productions in my life, but I have never seen anything as slick as this production, and that is pure talent at its finest.
Sometimes, all you need is a ridiculous true story, five brilliant performers and a whole lot of belly laughs.
Featured Image - Matt Crockett (Supplied)
News
Retail giant Uniqlo delays opening date for new Leeds store
Clementine Hall
It's official, Uniqlo is making its way to Leeds. Well, it's about time isn't it?
You may remember last June that murmurings of Uniqlo opening in Leeds were happening.
The news spread after planning documents appeared for new ‘Uniqlo’ signage on the Store House building on Briggate.
We've been keeping our fingers crossed that the news was actually true, and it is.
Uniqlo themselves have confirmed that three new stores will be popping up across the UK over the next two years, with one of them being right here in Leeds.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Their first store of the roll-out opened in Birmingham's Bullring, followed by a new store in Bristol this year.
Leeds was also meant to open this year, but unfortunately, Uniqlo has announced things are delayed and its opening will be pushed into 2027.
The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site.
CGI mockups from firms Thirty One Design and Ink Associates include the glass fronted store with Uniqlo’s signature red signage hanging above the door and off the building.
These will be made from sheet metal with a “sprayed finish” – sounds pretty swanky if you ask us.
Uniqlo UK COO Alessandro Dudech stated: "Uniqlo remains committed to strengthening its presence within the UK retail sector by expanding both our physical store network and ecommerce capabilities nationwide.
"As part of this strategic initiative, we look forward to introducing Uniqlo to the communities and visitors in the North of England, at the new Leeds location and simultaneously reaching customers in the South West in Bristol's Cabot Circus.".
Uniqlo is known for its affordable and minimalist clothing, stocking everything from raincoats and puffer jackets to jeans and a wide range of accessories.
We’ll keep you updated on the timeframe, as to be honest we’re just as excited as you are to be welcoming Uniqlo to the high street.
Clementine Hall -
11th April 2022 
