Leeds community groups to go Into The Woods with new joint production

For the first time, West Yorkshire Playhouse is teaming up with Opera North and they are to stage a production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Into The Woods.

Tonight members of community groups linked to both organisations have been invited to a special evening at the Howard Assembly Room to learn more about the show.

And it is hoped that the joint production will encourage even more groups to get involved with both.

Alice Gilmour, Opera North Community Engagement Manager, said: “As the first major co-production between West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North, Into the Woods has provided us with the perfect opportunity to bring together all of our community members in one place.

“Out of 148 groups, only 18 are currently members of both the West Yorkshire Playhouse Community Network and Opera North Encore Scheme, so this offers a very real opportunity to increase awareness of the benefits which community groups can enjoy by being involved with both, and for the members to meet each other in a relaxed, informal setting.”

The schemes aim to engage with people facing barriers to the arts and those to benefit so far include refugees and asylum seekers, people with mental health issues, recovering from addiction or dealing with social exclusion, people with learning or physical disabilities and those with dementia.

Into the Woods runs at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from Thursday until June 25. Tickets cost from £13 via 0113 213 7700.