LCT in 2020 (blog)

LCT's Christmas Social, 20 December 2020 via Zoom

13/12/2020

'TIS THE SEASON (to stay in and do quizzes)!
As we come to the end of a year that has seen us forced to cancel shows and move our Saturday workshops online, the Leeds Children's Theatre committee would like to invite our members to our first (and last) social of the year on Sunday 20 December 2020.

The social is an evening of festive fun, quizzes, games and simply a chance to catch up before Christmas. Whilst the socials are normally aimed at our adult members, we would like to extend this invitation to all of our members and their households.

So dig out your festive jumpers, pour yourself a glass of something sparkling and get ready to show us how much you know about Christmas !

Members should have received their invitation via email on 9th December

Manda and the rest of our Workshop Team send their Christmas wishes to everyone at LCT

The Potted Pantomime

13/12/2020

Janine is directing a special Zoom version of Judith's Potted Panto, to be performed online on 30 January 2021 to an invited audience. The show has been cast, the first rehearsal has taken place and we're all looking forward to watching the play.

Cast:
Villager/Narrator/Dwarf 1 - Naomi K
Villager/Narrator/Dwarf 2 - Lily R
Villager/Narrator/Dwarf 3 - Grace F
Mother Hubbard - Scarlett M
Handsome Prince - Helena A
Cinderella - Lauren V
Humpty Dumpty - Sirius W
Fairy Clumsy - Matilda S
Giant - James H
Rent-a-crowd - Mrs Jane
Dog – Sam L
Director - Janine W

Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsal 1:
12/12/2020 - 10am to 12 noon

Rehearsal 2:
09/01/2021 - 10am to 12noon

Dress Rehearsal
23/01/2021 - 12noon to 1:30pm
(after workshop)

Final Rehearsal - 30/01/2021 - 12noon

PERFORMANCE - 30/01/2021 - 2pm

Members Newsletter, December 2020

5/12/2020

The newsletter was posted out, along with activity packs and copies of Manda's LCT postcard in December. Here's a pdf copy if you missed yours ...

newsletter_dec2020.pdf
File Size:	548 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Looking back over the 2020 season ...

1/12/2020

Sadly, due to Covid-19, we had to cancel our 2020 season, and postpone the two plays that we had in production at the time.

We were actually in the theatre and about to open a five performance run of Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr Fox (adapted by David Wood) when word came through that our dress rehearsal was cancelled and the theatre was closing until further notice. Devastating for everyone working on the show, and hugely disappointing news for our sold-out audiences due to see performances that week.

The good news is that we will be back as soon as we are able to do so safely. As we write this (in December 2020) there is still no date for when we will be allowed back into theatre.

Please check back to see the details of our future production plans, or check our Facebook page as we'll be "shouting it from the rooftops" once we have some definite news.

Can You Hear Me?

27/10/2020

This short play was devised and written by members of our 13+Workshop Group, with a live performance to an invited audience via Zoom.
Suggested audience age is 13+ due to subject matter.

LCT Teen Workshop during Lockdown 2020

30/9/2020

Our teenagers quickly found ways to continue their workshop activities, albeit online. They worked on various projects via their weekly Zoom hosted get togethers.

Work developed around Lauren's short poem written during lockdown

Our tribute to Judith

5/9/2020

This year's LeedsCAN Awards took place online due to Covid restrictions. As part of the event we created a montage of photographs from our achives that was broadcast as our tribute to the late Judith Unwin, President of LCT.

What's been happening @LCT in 2020 ?

20/4/2020

LCT in 2020 (yes, we're still in lockdown)
This is not the anniversary year we were planning for, but on the whole we're a resilient bunch so while we wait to resume "business as usual" with our workshops and theatre productions we'll be sharing news of our members work during 2020.
Perhaps you're learning to play a musical instrument, a new dance perhaps, or maybe you've been improving your craft skills. Have you written a new play, poem or monologue that you can perform and share?
Do let us know, so we can share it here.
Thanks.

added 20 April 2020
Naomi has just taken up learning the guitar, and has already recorded a song that she's written and composed ...

Leeds Children's Theatre members are invited to send in their own recordings so we can share some of the artistic and creative activities that are taking place while we're waiting to get together again at workshops and rehearsals.

added 4 May 2020
a monologue by Thomas

I wish I could tell you...
I wish I could tell you this. But I’m a tortoise and thus cannot speak to you out loud. My jaw prevents it. But I want you to know that tortoises are actually the most perceptive of all animals in the world, only no one has had the patience to observe it happen. And we go slow by not only nature, but by choice. It’s much nicer to go slow. I wish I could tell you about how good it feels when I don’t feel the need to please other people, or to go as fast as the world around me. I wish I could tell you that those friends of yours you please and try and keep up with aren’t worth it. I know because I am a tortoise and tortoises are the most perceptive of all animals.

I wish I could tell you about what it feels like to be able to see how I see things. Much slower, more relaxed. I wish I could tell you that I know that you’re happy when it’s just you and me. When it’s just you and me. We’ve been through alot, got me at twenty, as a laugh, as a joke, but it didn’t hurt me, because tortoises are the most perceptive of all animals, I knew that deep down you genuinely wanted me. I watched you grow. I wish I could tell you that I saw when you cried, when you laughed and that I cried and laughed with you, but I am a tortoise and one of the least expressive animals, I cannot talk. My jaw prevents it.

Yet I sat in this glass cage, and watched on over all these years. As they go by, quickly for me, I just sit. But for you it’s a whirlwind. I wish I could tell you that I know you are old now. I wish I could tell you that I know that your pet’s going to out live you... and it’s fine but please can you call your son back. I know he cares about you. Even if he doesn’t call. I know this because I am a tortoise and tortoises are the most perceptive of all animals. I know when he came round all those years ago, he did mean to call you. Just he’s forgetful and resentful for it. But you grow estranged and old now, you don’t speak. Just remember to make sure I’m in your will. I wish I could tell you this so I don’t starve to death. I wish I could tell you this so I don’t feel like I outlived you without saying thanks. If I died first, you could tell me all these things because you can speak. But I have to wish. And you will go before my time and I wish I could tell you this. I can see you don’t know this, don’t believe this, you deny I’ll live longer than you. Because I am a tortoise and tortoise are the most perceptive of all animals.

Thomas also wrote and directed a film. Although this wasn't made for/by Leeds Children's Theatre he's happy to share the film with us.
YouTube link
NB I think it's more suitable viewing for our teen & older members rather than younger members ...

Celebrating 90 years of Leeds Children's Theatre (1935-2025)

"The aim of Leeds Children's Theatre is to produce plays suitable for children,
the players to be either children or adults or both, as is necessary for the production".
This was drawn into the constitution in April 1937
and it remains the aim of Leeds Children's Theatre today

© 2025 Leeds Children's Theatre (updated 10 May 2025)