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The true stories behind new Leeds-based Amazon drama Rock Bottom

Created by Leeds local Jason Lumsden, it's essential viewing

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 20th May 2021

New drama Rock Bottom draws inspiration from the real-life stories of children living on the breadline in Leeds.

The new series showcases the effects of ten years of austerity on Leeds' poorest families, following the lives of three children living in poverty in the city.

It's created by Leeds local Jason Lumsden, who has had first-hand experience of life at both ends of the scale - going from rags to riches, and back to rags again.

Born and raised in Leeds, he loves the city and says he "knows everywhere."

Having run an organisation working with children and families living in poverty in the city for many years, he also has intimate knowledge of the local issues experienced by the most vulnerable.

Now, he's written a TV series to highlight them to the rest of the country.

It's not necessarily an easy watch, but an essential one in Lumsden's opinion - who hopes the show will bring to light the problems experienced by those living in poverty in the city right now.

He's drawn on his own experiences to shape some scenes, including one in which a little boy opens his fridge to find absolutely nothing inside.

“There’s a strong link between financial anxiety and depression, and when you hit rock bottom to open the fridge door and there’s nothing there," he told Leeds Live.

A lot of the issues in the series are based on the issues I came across when I was working with kids in poverty,” he said.

“It was in the early 2000s, and around then, cuts hit and there was less budget to go around and more people were living in austerity.

“I met lots of kids who felt like no one cared, and I used to say, ‘You could fill Elland Road stadium up with all the kids not going to school’.”

Jason added: “Kids had been let down and faced financial discrimination, which I think is underestimated.

“These were the observations I made when working with people on the breadline and I tried to show that in the series.”

Five years in the making, the drama has been a real passion project for Lumsden and is now available to watch on Amazon Prime.

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History has never been this fun – Operation Mincemeat at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House | Review

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

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 Crockett
Credit: 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)

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Retail giant Uniqlo delays opening date for new Leeds store

Clementine Hall 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.

Read more: A discount Greggs has opened in Leeds with half price sandwiches, donuts and sausage rolls

Featured image - Uniqlo

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