The House Party, a contemporary reimagining of Strindberg's Miss Julie, bursts with raw energy and visual spectacle.
After premiering at Chichester Festival Theatre, the play now embarks on its UK tour, making a stop at Leeds Playhouse before heading to Manchester's HOME Theatre from 25 until 29 March.
Written by Laura Lomas and directed by Holly Race Roughan, the play unfolds in a dynamic, post-modern setting that is both exhilarating and unsettling.
At the heart of this production is Julie, a young woman at a desperate crossroads in life. Her 18th birthday party becomes the catalyst for a series of charged and volatile encounters.
This collaboration between two powerhouse theatre companies - Headlong Theatre, known for its visual artistry, and Frantic Assembly, famous for its contemporary movement - results in a performance electrified by style and energy.
Movement director Scott Graham transports the audience into the chaotic, adolescent world of a house party through highly stylized choreography. The seamless blending of visual, audio, and movement is one of the production’s standout elements, crafting a playground that reflects the naivety and childlike behavior of the characters.
The House Party at Leeds Playhouse, review - one party invite you don’t want to miss
Synnøve Karlsen’s portrayal of Julie is nothing short of captivating. She expertly navigates the emotional volatility of a character who is both searching for connection and consumed by loneliness.
The play’s choreography, full of wild dance numbers and frenzied intoxication, amplifies Julie’s spiralling emotional state. Karlsen’s performance is a powerful exploration of a young woman’s internal struggles with identity, heartbreak, and the longing for validation.
The supporting cast also delivers strong performances. Sesley Hope brings a haunting depth to Christine, a woman caught between loyalty and personal aspiration, while Tom Lewis, as John, plays a quiet, longing character who is entangled in Julie’s tumultuous world. His yearning for her encapsulates the central theme of unattainable love that permeates the story.
While the production’s energy is undeniably captivating, at times it overwhelms the quieter moments of reflection that underscore the deeper themes of loneliness and isolation.
The digital clock, counting down the time of the party, serves as a stark metaphor for the fleeting nature of the characters’ lives, their brief connections, and their doomed desires. However, the relentless momentum sometimes drowns out the subtler, more poignant moments that provide emotional depth to the play.
In the end, The House Party is a compelling modern take on a classic drama. Its vibrant, high-energy atmosphere pulls the audience in, while the complex emotional currents linger long after the performance ends.
It’s a tense, occasionally uncomfortable exploration of intimacy, isolation, and the messy, often painful consequences of desire.
A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.
Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in.
Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.
Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.
The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.
While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.
Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.
The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.
If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.
Miniature tiramisu drawers have landed in Leeds
Clementine Hall
The tiramisu hype lives on, and this time it's coming to Leeds.
It really does feel like the traditional Italian dessert has taken the world by storm as of late.
Everything from tiramisu cups and tiramisu coffees have been popping up all over our feed, and now tiramisu in drawer form is popping up in the city centre.
Misu Tiramisu is an independent business that began at Manchester's Christmas Markets and quickly became one of the most popular operators, all thanks to its miniature tiramisu ‘drawers’.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The individually portioned and colourfully packaged desserts quickly became one of town’s top puddings, and owners Aleem and Aishah went on to launch a stand inside the Manchester Arndale too.
And now they’re branching out again in Leeds inside Trinity shopping centre for a two month residency.
You’ll find all their delicious flavours of handmade tiramisu, including classic, pistachio, chocolate, Biscoff, mango, and lemon - they'll also have some gluten-free tiramisu on offer as well, so no one has to miss out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Misu Tiramisu owners Aleem and Aishah spent a year refining the recipe for their tiramisus after a trip to Milan, first launching with their first market stall in Sale.
Misu Tiramisu is now open inside Trinity shopping centre opposite Boots Opticians and Pop Specs.
They're open every day of the week for you to get your tiramisu fix, from 9am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 5pm on a Sunday.
And trust us Leeds, they're just as delicious as they are adorable.
Declan Kelly -
5th March 2025 
