Bringing a well-known 1980s film to the stage is never an easy task, especially one so tied to nostalgia, but The Karate Kid: The Musical at Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House rises to it with confidence, invention and a real sense of theatrical energy.
It reshapes the familiar coming-of-age story into something that feels made for the stage, driven by sharp choreography, thoughtful staging and performances that give it genuine emotional weight.
From the opening moments, the production makes its intentions clear visually. Japanese-inspired sliding doors, glowing panels and quick, fluid scene changes carry us between California streets, school corridors and the Cobra Kai dojo with ease. Rather than chasing realism, the design leans into style and atmosphere, using light, projection and movement to shift tone and location. The result is a pacey, almost cinematic flow that still feels distinctly alive.
At the heart of it all is the relationship between Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi, which remains the emotional centre of the piece. What gives it extra depth is the sense of absence running through both characters. Daniel is without a steady father figure, while Miyagi carries the quiet grief of losing his own son. That shared lack gives their bond a more layered quality, turning what could have been a simple mentor and student relationship into something closer to family. Over time, Daniel finds the stability he is missing at home, while Miyagi reconnects with a sense of purpose through someone who begins to feel like a surrogate son.
Gino Ochello, making his debut as Daniel LaRusso, brings a fresh, unforced energy to the role. He avoids imitation and instead focuses on Daniel’s awkwardness and emotional uncertainty, shaping a version of the character that feels grounded and believable rather than copied from the film. It is a performance that feels honest, especially in the quieter moments where Daniel’s frustration and isolation come through most clearly.
Adrian Pang’s Mr Miyagi provides a steady counterbalance throughout. His performance is warm, controlled and quietly funny when it needs to be, but never loses sight of the character’s emotional weight. The chemistry between him and Ochello gives the production much of its heart, particularly in the slower scenes where their relationship is allowed to breathe.
Abigail Amin’s Ali Mills is another strong presence. She brings a natural ease to the role and avoids turning Ali into a standard love interest, instead playing her as someone grounded and self-assured within Daniel’s unsettled world. Her vocals are especially striking, clear and confident without being pushed, adding a lift to her musical moments and giving her scenes an extra layer of emotional clarity.
The Karate Kid: The Musical is in Leeds this week. Credit: Manuel Harlan
The choreography is one of the show’s real highlights. Martial arts and musical theatre movements are blended in a way that keeps everything feeling fluid and purposeful rather than decorative. Training sequences are tightly structured and almost repetitive by design, reflecting discipline and repetition, while the tournament scenes build steadily in intensity through lighting, rhythm and ensemble precision.
On a technical level, the technical elements feel cohesive. Lighting is used effectively to separate the harsher world of Cobra Kai from the calmer tone of Miyagi’s influence, while sound remains balanced and clear across dialogue and musical numbers. The ensemble keeps the energy up throughout, moving the production forward without any real drop in pace.
By the end, The Karate Kid: The Musical works because it understands what to lean on. It is not trying to reinvent the story, but to reshape it for a live setting where movement, atmosphere and performance do the heavy lifting. With a strong debut from Gino Ochello, solid central performances and a clear visual style, it delivers an enjoyable, emotionally grounded evening that balances nostalgia with something more immediate and theatrical.
The Karate Kid: The Musical is running at Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House from 26 to 30 May - you can get tickets HERE.
A new crafting paradise has opened in Leeds city centre, right in time for the summer holidays.
Happy Hour Workshop has already been a smash hit over in Greater Manchester, and now owner Lili has brought her playful and creative business over to Queens Arcade.
The brand-new, sunny yellow crafting destination has walls absolutely crammed with colourful supplies, with a big focus on the current trend of cream gel DIY.
The level of customisation here will send an indecisive person into a tailspin.
First you can choose the item you want to customise, whether it’s a mirror, a claw clip, a pencil case, a handheld fan, a phone case, a water bottle, a notepad, or just about any other useful item you can think of.
Then you’re let loose with a bowl and dream, to peruse the many, many drawers of colourful charms you can add to your chosen product.
There are literally thousands of charms - food items like hot dogs and ice cream cones; characters like Labubus and Minions; and adorable motifs like bows and rainbows.
The wall of craft suppliesThousands of charms to choose fromYou can customise a glass tumblerOr make a notepadOwner Lili outside Happy Hour Workshop Leeds
You could spell out your name with bubble letters, make a whole buffet’s worth of fake food items, design yourself a beautiful garden, or create a new world for the K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Your final step before heading to your craft station is to choose a colour cream gel, which you can pipe onto your item like icing a cake before wedging your charms into place.
As well as the charms, Happy Hour Workshop is offering other crafting experiences like bracelet making, money box painting, paint by numbers, slime making, and loads more to come.
You’ll find it at 9 Queens Arcade and it’s open now.
Pints of Knowledge, Callum Campbell’s fastest-growing event, is coming to Leeds city centre this summer
Clementine Hall
The pub night that's packing out venues across the UK is coming to Leeds.
Let us introduce you to Pints of Knowledge, a phenomenon founded by Callum Campbell that has built a social media following of more than 160,000 people.
This is different to your average night out, it's a chance to meet new people and spark interesting conversation all in the relaxing surroundings of a pub.
The event has attracted thousands to its unique mix of expert talks, conversation and community in pubs across the UK.
Image: Supplied
And if you're looking to get in on the action then you're in luck, because Pints of Knowledge is arriving at The Wardrobe on Sunday 9 August.
So, what can you expect? From landmark legal history and the hidden pressures behind big systems to the evolving language of gaslighting and radical cinema, Sunday's Leeds programme will demonstrate exactly why Pints of Knowledge has struck such a chord with audiences across the UK.
Founder Callum Campbell, who has spent more than a decade producing live events across Britain, said bringing the concept to Leeds was the natural next step - and we're so happy he thought so.
Image: Supplied
He said: "I've always wanted to bring Pints of Knowledge to more cities across England, and Leeds has such a strong appetite for ideas and conversation. Watching this grow has been amazing, and I can't wait to bring it here.
"As more people look for experiences beyond a traditional night out, Pints of Knowledge offers something different: expert speakers, thought-provoking conversations and the chance to meet new people, all in the relaxed surroundings of a pub.
"People still love going to the pub, but they're looking for more from the experience. Pints of Knowledge is about hearing incredible stories, asking questions, meeting interesting people and leaving having learned something new."
Image: Supplied
The Pints of Knowledge programme at The Wardrobe will look like this:
12pm - Human rights lawyer Mahnoor Omer presents '10 Legal Cases that Changed History'.
2pm - Georgina Shute asks 'Why billion-pound systems are built by people who can't finish their to-do lists'.
4pm - Isobel Logan explores 'Gaslighting: The Evolution of a Concept Across Art, Relationships and Politics'.
6pm - Angelos Koutsourakis will examine 'Third Cinema, The Global South & Climate Change'.
Campbell added: "One hour you can be unpacking landmark legal cases, the next you're hearing about the psychology behind gaslighting, before finishing the day exploring cinema and climate change. That's what makes Pints of Knowledge different.
"This is just the beginning. We've seen an incredible response across the UK, and we're excited to build on that by bringing Pints of Knowledge to more cities across the country.”
Pints of Knowledge takes place at The Wardrobe in Leeds on Sunday 9 August, and you can get your tickets here.
Declan Kelly -
27th May 2026 
