Light on Leeds

Kenn Taylor is the Lead Cultural Producer North at the British Library based at Boston Spa.

There are over 170 million items stored there and in 2023 they will be celebrating their 50th birthday. 

Kenn…

Archie Brooks remotely connected to tell me about Assembly House in Armley - an artist led studio housing 21 artists in an old textile mill.

Archie chose to feature the track "The Hunt" by Three Stre…

I have known Augustus for quite a while, so when he told me about his project to raise money for a school in Ghana I asked him to  remotely connect and tell me all about it.

If you are inspired to he…

It was great to catch up with Chesca Joy the Artistec Director of Imagine If Theatre Company (founded by her in 2015) and based in Armley Leeds.

Chesca tells me about her grandad who she based her pla…

Welcome to this new series entitled Light On - pretty much the same as Light On Leeds except in this series I shine the light a little wider onto people doing amazing things outsideof Leeds.

My first …

Happy New Year Leeds (and beyond!)!

Boff Whalley is my guest on this episode that was recorded just before Christmas.

Boff is formerly the lead guitarist of Chumbawamba, is a playwright and the founde…

Tony Lambert was a blast to remotely talk to - he told me all about the fantastic project Bringing It All Back Home which is a mental health project using music as a resource - music recorded at Chap…

Colin Griffiths is a Store Co-ordinator at SCRAP - a wonderful and much loved resource for arts and play.

Colin tells me about his background in graphic design about being a "Reimagineer" and some of…

I really enjoyed chatting to Adekola and I was veryhonoured to hear him perform a beautiful poem in this episode.

"Abdullah Adekola is a writer, performer, poetry promoter, and all-around creative bas…

Alan Lane is the artistic director of Slung Low which is an award winning theatre company specialising in making performances usually in non-theatre spaces.

Their work has adapted to running a food ba…

Ruth Middleton is the community producer at the wonderful Slung Low.  She remotely connected to tell me about all of the amazing work they do and how she got involved.

Leeds theatre company Slung Low …

Jon and Dan remotely connected to tell me about The Liquor Studio, Yorkshire's first and only Spirit School and creative drinks space.

"The Liquor Studio is the brainchild of two thirds of The Hedonis…

Ian & Libby remotely connected to tell me about The Purple List - a gay dementia venture:

"is a 35 minute, one-man play. It opens on Sam and Derek’s wedding day and goes on to explore the highs and lo…

Alice Gilmour is the Community Partnerships and Access Officer at Opera North.

Alice tells me about bringing opera to audiences that are not traditionally engaged with the arts or with opera.

She also …

Ben Buddy Slack is the founder and creator of The Swan Song Project whcih helps those facing the end of their life write a song. 

"The songwriting process in an incredibly powerful method of exploring…

Sarah Oldknow remotely connected to tell me all about the Leonora Project - could you nominate someone inspiring?

Sarah also told me about her work as an Ambassador for Women's Lives Leeds and an actr…

David Ward and Louise Garner set up the Northern Opera Group who have just celebrated their 5th anniversary.

They tell me about why people can be wary of opera (and why they shoudn't be), about their…

Abi Whistance is a very busy woman!

She founded To The Local, is the Head of Music at Leeds Student Radio, is a writer at Clash Magazine, writes for the Yorkshire Post and is a DJ on LDC Radio (97.8 …

This episode of Light on Leeds is dedicated to the memory of Nigel Whalley.

John and Catherine remotely connected to tell me about the poignant and beautiful film they made together "Nigel". They talk…

Garance Rawinsky connected to tell me about the Little Woodhouse Street Art Project run by the Little Woodhouse Community Association in conjunction with Leeds Civic Trust - they worked together to p…