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.
Leeds Playhouse delivers a powerful story about the walls we build.
August Wilson’s Fences is a powerful and deeply personal family drama, exploring race, fatherhood, ambition and the emotional scars that can be passed from one generation to the next.
At Leeds Playhouse, the strength of the production lies largely with its cast. Ray Fearon gives Troy Maxson a commanding presence, balancing humour and charm with a growing sense of anger and resentment. It is an uncomfortable performance at times, but one that keeps you invested in Troy even when his actions become increasingly difficult to accept.
Madeline Appiah brings real warmth and emotional depth to Rose, while Josh Tedeku captures Cory’s frustration as a young man determined to make his own way rather than inherit his father’s limitations.
Image: Supplied
For me, though, Act 2 is where the production really comes alive.
The first half feels comparatively restrained. That isn't necessarily a criticism of the performances or Wilson's writing, but having experienced previous Headlong productions, I went in expecting a little more theatrical imagination from the staging. There were moments where I felt the production could have pushed the material further visually.
Act 2 begins to deliver that.
The rotating set adds movement and energy, while the bright LED lighting works particularly well with the live music, creating a more heightened atmosphere as the family's tensions reach breaking point. The production suddenly feels more visually ambitious, and the design starts to work hand-in-hand with the emotional journey of the characters.
Images: Supplied
The fence itself is an effective recurring image, initially a practical task, but gradually becoming a representation of Troy's need for control, protection and separation. The more the story unfolds, the more the fence feels like a barrier between Troy and the people he loves.
There is a lot to admire here, particularly in the performances, and Wilson's writing remains as relevant and affecting as ever. However, I couldn't help feeling that some of the theatrical ambition found in Act 2 could have been introduced earlier.
Ultimately, Fences is a moving and thought-provoking evening, with a particularly strong second half. For me, it was Act 2 that turned a solid production into a genuinely memorable one.
Running until 23 September at Leeds Playhouse, get your tickets here.
A new açai cafe promising to be Leeds’ ‘neighbourhood social club’ is opening soon
Clementine Hall
An independent açai bowl pop-up is opening a permanent cafe in Leeds city centre.
It seems the açai bowl trend isn't over just yet, and we're absolutely not mad about it.
The aesthetically purple frozen treat isn't just delicious, but is also known to have numerous health benefits making it guilt-free and the perfect post-workout pick me up.
You may remember Açai Social Club that opened as a pop-up in the Victoria Quarter last year, and now they're moving into a permanent spot in the city centre.
Run by a lovely husband and wife duo who have spent the last 15 months exploring cafes around the world, it's safe to say they know exactly what they're talking about.
Their açai is made with the very best ingredients, topped with the freshest fruit and sprinkled with their homemade granola - it doesn't get much better then that does it?
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, they said: "Açai Social Club is getting a home. Our very first store is officially on the way! We’ve been working behind the scenes to create a space that’s more about than just açai.
"What started as an idea is finally becoming something you can walk into…There’s still a lot we’re keeping under wraps for now, but we’re so excited to finally share the beginning of what’s to come.
"We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you in. Your new neighbourhood social club, coming soon."
The exact location of the cafe and its opening date is still under wraps, but we'll of course keep you updated as and when we find out.
Declan Kelly -
5th March 2025 
