The Lawrence Batley Theatre has announced its summer season featuring Yorkshire premieres from National Dance Company Wales and a new co-production with award winning company ThickSkin.
Centre stage in the Huddersfield theatre’s summer season is Blood Harmony (Tue 28 June – Sat 2 July), a powerful new play by award-winning theatre company, ThickSkin building on their successful partnership with the Lawrence Batley Theatre – the co-producers behind the five-star show, How Not To Drown (Fringe First winner and Hector Macmillan Award 2019).
This new production is soundtracked by the music of indie folk trio The Staves, featuring live singing from the talented cast of three women, the band have also written an original song exclusively for this unique production. A stellar creative team lead the creation of Blood Harmony including award winning playwright Matthew Bulgo, Frantic Assembly director Jonnie Riordan and National Theatre movement director Jess Williams.
Blood Harmony shares the story of a fractured trio of sisters, pulled back together with news that turns their worlds upside down. Tensions from the past and worries about the future leave them feeling paralysed. When it feels like your world has come to a stop, how do you find a way to keep moving forward?
National Dance Company Wales takeover the Lawrence Batley Theatre this May for a thrilling two days full of dance.
As well as the Yorkshire Premiere of their triple bill One Another (Wed 4 May), the public are invited to Watch Dance Class at lunchtime on the same day. This is a great opportunity for drawers and photographers to come along and create studies of the body in movement.
The following day the company are staging an interactive performance, Discover Dance (Thu 5 May) this is a special experience designed for children between 7 and 11 to have a go, ask the professionals some questions and then watch a snippet of the previous night’s show.
A host of touring productions will visit the theatre including: Qweerdog Theatre’s Absolute Certainty? (Fri 29 April), Full English (Thu 19 May) made in Bradford last year met sell out crowds on its first run in 2021, Marsden’s Mikron Theatre Company bring Raising Agents and Red Sky At Night (Sat 21 May) for a day to celebrate their 50th anniversary, The History of Soul (Fri 24 June) featuring an exceptional nine-piece band and the Olivier award-winning star Le Gateau Chocolat is joined by alternative drag queen Jonny Woo in their melting pot of musical theatre Now That’s What We Call Musicals! (Thu 14 July).
Lawrence Batley Theatre was opened in 1994 as a multi-arts space. Although the theatre has mainly staged live performances, during its recent refurbishment all the screening and sound equipment was upgraded, and this summer season sees the venue throwing a festival full of the best films, Let’s Go to the Movies (Fri 27 May – Sun 12 June) featuring cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, family favourite Paddington, as well as silver screen musical Singin’ in the Rain, amongst many more.
Fabulous family shows are here to stay. Some of the absolute highlights this season include Dinosaur World Live (Fri 22 – Sun 24 July), which features phenomenally huge puppets that are sure to leave you awestruck, CBeebies favourites Twirlywoos Live! (Fri 6 May) is the perfect introduction to live entertainment for your little ones and for the slightly older ones Top Secret – The Magic of Science (Sat 7 May) will inspire and educate the whole family with the miracles of magic and science.
Those looking for a good laugh can enjoy a wealth of comedy performances kicking off with Count Arthur Strong (Thu 12 May), musical duo Flo & Joan (Wed 18 May), and Northern Irish star Patrick Kielty’s new show Borderline (Thu 16 June).
Henry Filloux-Bennett, Chief Executive & Artistic Director of the Lawrence Batley Theatre said; “As we announce my final season at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, I am so excited to be working with so many friends and long-time supporters of the theatre. As the creative heart of Huddersfield, our focus is on building a stronger and prouder community through a love of art. This season is filled with the most excellent shows around, we’re set to make this summer one to remember for all the best reasons.”
Tickets for the summer season are now on sale. More information and tickets can be found here.
