Winter replaces summer in this unsettling Midsummer Night.
A night of dark magic swarmed Leeds Playhouse last night as Headlong Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe brought a strikingly dark reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, transforming Shakespeare’s most effervescent comedy into something far more psychologically raw.
For those who don’t know who Headlong Theatre Company are, they are known for their bold reimaginings of classics and for commissioning powerful contemporary plays that provoke fresh ways of seeing familiar texts, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream was their next task, directed by Holly Race Roughan.
Gone was the warmth and floral abundance traditionally associated with the play, a play which is fixated on fairies and magic and all things whimsical. Instead, this production unfolded in a stark, wintry landscape.
Image: Supplied
The eerie white setting with pale tones and biting chill created an atmosphere that felt closer to a nightmare than a fantasy. From the outset, there was a sense that this dream would not offer escapism but confrontation.
In this production, the quartet of lovers Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena played by Tiwa Lade, David Olaniregun, Lou Jackson and Tara Tijani, rendered a complex love story not as the bright, mischievous romantics of summer light, but as figures caught in a corrosive and bruising emotional spiral.
Image: Supplied
The love potion, rather than a whimsical device, became a symbol of manipulation and control.
Whilst the show did have its comedic parts throughout, laughter was present but not like we’d expect a Shakespearean comedy to be. A standout performance throughout was Danny Kirrane’s portrayal of Bottom. Rather than serving solely as comic relief, Kirrane emerged as unexpectedly poignant.
The play-within-a-play still delivered moments of levity, but even here the humour seemed edged with fragility, as though the comedy might fracture at any moment.
Sergo Vares gives a strikingly original and unforgettable portrayal of Puck, transforming Shakespeare’s playful trickster into a darker, more unsettling figure. Ditching the usual impish charm, Vares appears in a peculiar combination of tutu and dinner jacket, his face painted white and movements measured and haunting, commanding the stage with an eerie intensity.
Image: Supplied
Small, seemingly inconsequential actions, like silently eating a banana, become disquieting, while his prowling presence turns mischief into something deliberate and menacing. Surprising entrances and exits keep both characters and audience on edge, and his closing address to the audience carries a sharp, ironic bite that lingers long after the play’s ending.
What distinguished this production was its commitment to exposing the brutality that pulses beneath Shakespeare’s text. Love was presented not as a harmless folly but as a force capable of humiliation, control and harm. The final moments resisted the usual buoyant reconciliation; instead, the ending felt ambiguous, leaving the audience reflective rather than reassured. This was not a dream bathed in moonlight and romance as we would have expected.
The production took on a colder, more introspective tone, serving as a striking reminder that even Shakespeare’s lightest comedies contain threads of darkness. Whether audiences find this approach exhilarating or simply a departure from the familiar, it is undeniably thought-provoking, prompting reflection on what kind of “dream” they have truly witnessed.
Overall, reimagining Shakespearean texts like this is an exciting venture, offering fresh opportunities to explore themes that might otherwise remain hidden and Roughan accomplishes this with remarkable ease and insight.
Headlong Theatre Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is on at Leeds Playhouse until 28 February 2026 and you can get your tickets here.
Authentic Turkish street food is coming to Kirkgate.
Leeds city centre is gearing up to welcome yet another new food spot, and this one is all about homemade lahmacun, shawarma wraps and plenty of signature tahini sauce.
Tahin will open its doors at 10 Kirkgate, next to The Cat Cafe, and with signs already up we don't think it'll be long until they welcome their first customers.
The restaurant is listed as a Turkish restaurant that specialise in their homemade tahini sauce, hence the name.
According to the restaurant's Instagram profile which has been going for a few years, Tahin also specialises in home-made lahmacun wraps alongside shawarma wraps.
For anyone unfamiliar with lahmacun, the Turkish staple is often described as a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a richly seasoned mixture of minced meat, herbs and vegetables.
Wrapped up with fresh salad and sauces, it makes for a satisfying and flavourful lunch to enjoy on-the-go.
Their Instagram suggests that Tahin once existed before back in 2022, so although this may not be a completely new venture, we're nevertheless very glad to see them back.
Its location puts it right in the middle of one of Leeds' busiest areas, making it the perfect mid-shopping pit stop for those wandering around Briggate or stopping for a bite to eat before heading out on the town.
The new opening comes at a time when Leeds' food scene is continuing to expand, with a string of independent restaurants and street-food concepts opening across the city centre throughout 2026.
The Leeds artist you’ve probably seen everywhere has just opened a beautiful shop in the city centre
Declan Kelly
Art by Arjo has officially got a permanent home in the city.
If you’re Leeds-obsessed, chances are you’ve seen an Art by Arjo print at some point. Maybe it was a drawing of Elland Road, maybe the Corn Exchange, maybe your university, favourite pub or one of Yorkshire’s many iconic landmarks.
And now, instead of waiting for the next market or scrolling through Instagram trying to decide which print to buy, you can find them all under one roof. Art by Arjo has landed in Leeds Corn Exchange.
And honestly, it feels like a pretty perfect home for a brand that's all about celebrating the places we know and love.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For those who don't know the name, Art by Arjo is the work of Leeds-based artist Yusef Arjo, who has turned his background in architecture and love of drawing into a full-time creative business.
What started out with Yusef creating illustrations for family and friends eventually grew into something much bigger. In 2018, he took the leap into becoming a full-time artist, building Art by Arjo into a business selling his detailed architectural illustrations across the UK and beyond.
And now, he's gone from market stalls to his own permanent shop in the heart of Leeds. The whole idea behind the brand is pretty simple: take the places people love and turn them into something they can hang on their wall.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We're talking football grounds, music venues, universities, cricket grounds, city centres, pubs and some of Yorkshire's most recognisable landmarks.
Naturally, Leeds gets plenty of love.
You can find illustrations of Elland Road, Leeds Town Hall, the Corn Exchange, Kirkgate Market, Leeds Dock, Headingley and the Royal Armouries, alongside plenty of other places that will have you saying, “Wait, I know that place.”
And that's what makes the prints so good: they're not just pictures of buildings. They're little reminders of places you've actually been. The stadium where you watched your first match. The university where you spent three years. The city centre street you've walked down a thousand times. The pub where you've spent far too many Friday nights.
Arjo takes those familiar places and turns them into something you can keep.
And with the new Corn Exchange shop, you can now see the artwork properly in person, rather than just double-tapping it on your phone.
So whether you're looking for something to add a bit of Leeds personality to your wall, hunting for a gift for someone who is very proud of where they're from, or simply fancy having a browse, Art by Arjo is well worth a look.
And there's an extra little surprise waiting in the shop too, with Arjo's very own print machine creating personalised, hand-drawn prints, meaning you can walk away with a completely unique keepsake made just for you.
We're always here for local businesses that turn Leeds memories into wall art.
And going from a market stall to having your own shop in the Corn Exchange? Not a bad little upgrade.
Declan Kelly -
19th February 2026 
