Leeds Playhouse and Corn Exchange collaborate for family take-over

The Corn Exchange was filled with free activities and workshops for young people aged five to 16 and their families on Saturday.

The packed programme included story dens, festive choirs and singing groups, craft activities and workshops, all inspired by Leeds Playhouse’s current yuletide offering A Christmas Carol, which is on at the moment in the Playhouse’s Pop-Up theatre.

It was the first time that both places has worked together and they wanted to promote the theatre to a wider audience and show off the historic Corn Exchange building.

Events throughout the day were delivered by the theatre’s award-winning Creative Engagement programme, which works with more than 10,000 people per year on weekly workshops and projects.

Kids were able to dress up as their favourite characters in a pop-up photo booth with outfits from the theatre. Leeds Playhouse’s head of young people Gaby Paradis said: “At Leeds Playhouse we aim to make theatre as exciting and as accessible as possible and being able to host the event in the centre of Leeds and in partnership with the Corn Exchange demonstrates our commitment to opening up creative possibilities for everyone whilst showcasing some of the fantastic organisations within the city.”

Leeds Corn Exchange centre manager Adam Warner added that the organisation was trying to create valuable relationships with key city centre partners and this was the ideal start.