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.

Leeds Arts Centre presents A Night of Crime Theatre
Tuesday 8th – Thursday 10th October 2024
The Carriageworks Studio
Stake Out
by Simon Brettdirected by Camilla Asher

A thrilling two-hander. Detective Sergeant Craig Downs is on his final stakeout before retirement to catch the serial ‘Kilburn Killer’. Ever the traditionalist, Downs is keen to tell newcomer, Hayley Poulson, all about being a proper cop; she, however, is also keen to show Downs an alternative approach.

Will they see eye to eye, and can they work together to catch the Kilburn Killer before they strike again?

Death in Character
by Stuart Arderndirected by Camilla Asher

A comedic whodunnit. It’s Limelight Theatre Company’s last meeting in their beloved theatre. Chairman Richard does his best to keep the meeting focused, but all are more interested in poking fun at each other and reminiscing about their previous plays, favourite roles, costume and props and discussing what constitutes proper theatre!

Once the meeting has closed, the lights go out and two will never be in the limelight again. Will Detective Inspector Murray and Detective Constable Kelly solve the crime in time, and will Limelight ever put on another pantomime?

Tickets for this double-bill are on sale now, 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 12 noon and 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday.

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 October 1966 we produced One Way Pendulum by N. F. Simpson. The production, directed by James J. Boyer, took place in The Civic Theatre. You can find more details – including cast, crew 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 Blood and Ice in October 2017.

Pictures of many of our past productions can be found in our photo gallery.