Leeds Arts Centre is a prestigious amateur theatre group which presents a wide variety of plays at the Carriageworks Theatre on Millennium Square in Leeds.
We offer opportunities to all who are interested in becoming involved with any aspect of drama, including acting, directing, stage management, props, design, costumes, lighting, sound, publicity and front of house.
The Maids
• directed by Francesca Butler
Various Times • Thursday 1st – Saturday 3rd May 2025
The Carriageworks Studio
What happens when a gruesome game becomes a reality?
In a luxurious French apartment, two sisters serve their wealthy employer, Madame. When their Madame is away, the sisters play a dangerous game: taking turns pretending to be her. But this is no harmless roleplay – it’s preparation for a murder they’ve never managed to carry out, before quickly cleaning up and returning to who they were before.
The tension rises when their scheme to accuse Madame’s lover of a crime begins to unravel, threatening to expose their darkest secrets.
Inspired by a real-life murder case, Jean Genet’s The Maids remains as shocking today as it was in 1947. This bold and thought-provoking play will stay with you long after the curtain falls.
Tickets are available from the Leeds Ticket Hub and, before performances, from the Carriageworks Box Office in the Electric Press building on Millennium Square. Please book your tickets online, or by telephoning 0113 376 0318 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday.
Leeds Arts Centre’s licence to present Jean Genet’s The Maids is granted by Rosica Colin Limited, London. This amateur production of The Maids (Frechtman translation) is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
Get involved
Whether your interests in theatre lie on-stage or off, or even just in the audience, there are opportunities to get involved with Leeds Arts Centre.
In addition to acting roles, our members carry out all of the backstage tasks in our productions. Alongside the main productions, we also organise regular play readings, workshops and social events – and even stage the occasional ‘green room’ production just for fun.
We’re an open group with no auditions to join, and have members from a wide range of backgrounds. New members are always welcome, and you don’t need any past experience in the theatre. If you would like to meet up with us at one of our activities, contact us!
From the archives
In February 2020 we produced Little Women by Peter Clapham, adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott. The production, directed by Zöe Freedman, took place in The Carriageworks Main Space. You can find more details – including cast, crew, photos and archive documents – in our archive.
This is just one of the plays that Leeds Arts Centre has staged in our city since the 1940s – memories of many others can also be found in our production archive.
Costume hire
Leeds Arts Centre has an extensive mens’ and womens’ wardrobe, which incudes period and character costumes, suits and evening dress, military uniforms and accessories.
All of these are all available for hire at competitive rates: check our costume hire information if you would like to know more.
The design pictured here was created for Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime in May 2007.
Production photos
The picture at the top of this page is from Little Women in February 2020.
Pictures of many of our past productions can be found in our photo gallery.
