We asked Director of Slung Low Alan Lane what he recommended we do over the forthcoming chilly months.
Well immediately I’m stupidly excited about this week’s 2.8 hours Later the zombie immersive chase show that is in Leeds this week.
I haven’t been able to get to one yet but by all accounts the Opera North concerts in the crumbling chapel at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park are meant to be quite something. Seems one of the more progressive and natural combinations of our big regional arts organisations.
At the risk of being accused of bias (Slung Low are currently co-producing a project with the West Yorkshire Playhouse) the upcoming King Lear at the WYP is one of things I am looking forward to the most. There aren’t many directors better than Ian Brown at the big plays on the big stages and this is one of his last projects before he leaves the building and Tim Piggot-Smith was on absolutely stunning form in the recent The Hour on the BBC recently which makes me think that if the two of them really get hold of this play then they could rip it apart. I’ve never seen King Lear so I’m pretty excited.
Graham Linehan’s new version of the classic comedy The Ladykillers looks to be outstanding. I am massive fan of Peter Capaldi and it will be well worth a trip over to Liverpool.
Melanie Wilson’s new piece Autobiographer is coming to the Arc at Stockton on Tees. Melanie Wilson is one of the most impressive artists I saw last year so can’t wait to see the new show.
Action Hero’s Frontman (part gig, part performance is how it’s disguised) is coming to the Leeds Met Studio at Northern Ballet’s building. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about this messy, anarchic company but never managed to see their work. Great to see them performing in Leeds.
And finally Invisible Thread are performing at the Leeds Met studio (that venue’s whole programme is worth a look quite frankly). This dark puppet company used to be Faulty Optic, always worth a trip out. They developed this new show, Plucked at Slung Low’s space The Holbeck Underground Ballroom earlier in the year . The showing was great and I can’t wait to see the finished product.
Apart from those I’ve made the promised to myself to see more live music which is something I don’t have much experience in. I’ll be hunting out opportunities to see local bands I love like the brilliant Hope and Social and Arthur Rigby and the Baskervilles and any others I get recommended
Alan Lane is Artistic Director of Slung Low who are based in The Holbeck Underground Ballroom, providing making and rehearsal space for progressive performance makers in the city. Slung Low are this autumn making Original Bearings with the West Yorkshire Playhouse and 15 Minutes Live with I Love West Leeds Festival. More details can be found at www.slunglow.org