Leeds Playhouse unveils new season, including Brassed Off revival

Leeds Playhouse has unveiled its spring/summer 2026 season.

The programme includes adaptations of Andrea Levy’s Small Island, Zanib Mian’s Planet Omar and a new staging of Brassed Off, alongside James Graham’s Punch, Ballet Black’s 25th anniversary double bill and Dash Arts’ Our Public House.

Brassed Off runs at the Quarry Theatre from 18 June to 11 July. Adapted by Paul Allen from Mark Herman’s screenplay, the production is directed by Amy Leach and features live music from local brass bands. The story follows the Grimley Colliery Band as its members face the threat of pit closures and fight to keep their music alive.

The season opens with Small Island from 11 to 28 March, directed by Matthew Xia. The adaptation by Helen Edmundson explores migration, memory and belonging through the lives of Jamaican and British characters during and after the Second World War.

From 7 to 25 April, Planet Omar brings Zanib Mian’s children’s books to the stage in a co-production with Unicorn Theatre and Birmingham Rep. Adapted by Asif Khan and directed by Sameena Hussain, the show introduces audiences to Omar’s world of family, friendship and imagination.

Other highlights include the return of I, Daniel Blake (28 April to 9 May), Ballet Black’s anniversary programme (8 May), and The Beekeeper of Aleppo (28 April to 2 May). Visiting work features Motionhouse’s Hidden, BAC Beatbox Academy’s Pied Piper, and Emma Rice’s Malory Towers. The season also includes new writing such as Casey Bailey’s Please Do Not Touch and Mohamed-Zain Dada’s Blue Mist, plus family shows from Little Angel Theatre and balletLORENT.

The programme precedes the first season from incoming artistic director Tom Wright, due to be announced in spring 2026.