OUGD601 - Practical - City Variety Music Hall Research

• It is the country's longest-running music hall is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a special open day.
• was the home to BBC series The Good Old Days from 1953 until 1983.
• Its managers said the venue, which is believed to be the country's longest-serving music hall, began life as a room above a pub to provide entertainment to the working classes.
• "Affluent" sister venue The Grand Theatre, used to serve the higher classes, they said.
• Escapologist Houdini and a woman who "hypnotised alligators" were among some of the "weird and wonderful acts" to grace the Varieties' stage.
• “Steeped in History…still regarded as the best venue for stand-up in the land”. Dara O’Briain: Tickling the English –
• When Charles Thornton, opened his New Music Hall and Fashionable Lounge in 1865 above a public house in a Leeds side street, few could have guessed that almost a century and a half later, this much-loved venue would still be packing audiences in and its reputation would have spread around the globe.
• The City Varieties is renowned today for the very best in live music, variety and comedy as well the hugely popular pantos which have entertained the families of Leeds and beyond for generations.
• The coat of arms over the stage is because the Prince of Wales used to go incognito to watch and take his lady friends with him
• 'At the City varieties it was a place that didn't rely on swearing'
• Any age group could go
• Always felt welcome there
• Nice, friendly atmosphere 
• older than its sister, Leeds Grand Theatre
But it’s not just the venues appearance that has stayed the same, as Leeds City Varieties still maintains the same values from those early days, inviting in a huge array of acts. An average week will see musicians, comedians, magicians and dance acts take to the stage to entertain the masses.

The city’s original music hall and variety theatre has been spruced up and dusted down for a 21st-century audience, so while there are still ‘Good Old Days’ nights out, with ventriloquists, clog-dancers, crooners and vintage comedians, City Varieties is also a headline space for big-name bands, hip comedy, tribute acts and off-the-wall stage shows. Sing-along-a-Grease anyone? The building‘s an absolute beauty too – get there early for a pre-performance drink in the excellent bar. Link

Photo Taken in the 1900s

Whats on this year:

• Aladdin the Rock 'n' Roll Panto 
• NT Live present Follies 
• The Transports - A Tale of Exile and Migration 
• NT Live presents Young Marx Encore Screening
• John Robins: The Darkness of Robins 
• Shappi Khorsandi - Mistress and Misfit
• Jimmy Osmond: Moon River and Me 
• The Grumbleweeds 
• A Country Night in Nashville 
• Reginald D Hunter - Some People V. Reginald D Hunter (Support act tbc) 
• Alun Cochrane 
• Ed Byrne: Spoiler Alert 
• Paul Chowdhry: Live Innit 
• Joe Lycett: I'm About To Lose Control and I think Joe Lycett 
• Albert Lee and his Electric Band 
• The Hypnotist LIVE: Andrew Newton 
• Good Old Days 
• Jess Robinson: Here Come the Girls 
• Moya Brennan - The Voice of Clannad  
• Andy Parsons 
• NT Live presents Julius Caesar Live Streaming
• Turin Brakes 
• Adam Patel: Real Magic Live 
• Paul Gambaccini 
• Tom Paxton & The Donjuans 
• Feast of Fiddles 
• Eric Bibb 
• Henry Blofeld 78 Retired 
• Richard Herring : Oh Frig I'm 50
• Count Arthur Strong is Alive and Unplugged
• Simon Evans: Genius 
• NT Live presents Macbeth 
• The Fureys: 40th Anniversary Tour 
• Radio Active 
• David Baddiel - My Family not the sitcom 
• Les Musicals - Jonathan Ansell and Rhydian Roberts 
• Gary Delaney: Gagsters Paradise

'Built in 1865, this much loved venue, hidden in the heart of Leeds city centre, has survived virtually unchanged across three centuries while most other Victorian Music Halls have passed into history. 

Many of the world's greatest entertainers have trodden the boards here including, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harry Houdini, Lilly Langtry, Harry Lauder and Mickey Rooney. It has played a key role in the careers of the likes of Frankie Vaughan, Ken Dodd, Ray Alan (and Lord Charles!), The Chuckle Brothers, Roy Hudd and Barry Cryer. For thirty years, the Varieties was also the home of BBC TV's record breaking The Good Old Days which began broadcasting in 1953 and was screened around the world.

Following our closure in early 2009, the Varieties has undergone an amazing amount of work including a complete demolition and then reconstruction of the backstage areas, painstaking ceiling and plasterwork repairs, new carpeting and seating throughout the auditorium and major excavations to re-establish the ancient cellar network.

Over the last 20 years, City Varieties has established an unrivalled reputation for presenting the very best in live music, variety and comedy as well as hugely popular annual pantomimes which have entertained Leeds' families for generations.

The £9.925m refurbishment of City Varieties was funded by Leeds City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund with the remainder coming from our own fundraising efforts. Significant sums have been raised by the Friends of the City Varieties and The Monument Trust and individual donors in addition to revenues from other events and activities but there is still almost half a million pounds to be found and the campaign continues following the re-opening with ongoing fundraising activity and a nominal 60p ticket levy on all performances.

We very much appreciate the many performers who have given us their time and support over the last few years including Barry Cryer, Paul Merton, Dara O'Briain, Marc Almond, Kate Rusby, Dave Spikey, Roy Hudd, Tony Robinson, Gervase Phinn and Ken Dodd. We are hugely grateful to the family of Leeds entrepreneur and philanthropist Jimi Heselden which has chosen to name the City Varieties auditorium in his honour, establishing a very fitting tribute within a venue very close the hearts of the Leeds' community.'