Whilst flicking through the pages of the trusty BBC Leeds website I manage to find an article about Leeds Youth Opera's next production, on this week (5-8 July 2006), and my mind was instantly transported quicker than Doctor Who and Rose. ...The year is 1985, and being a bored child I decided to try and join a theatre group in Leeds. My mum and I stumbled upon a youth opera group based on the top floor of the old College of Music, as I entered their rehearsal rooms I was enthralled to watch as they put the finishing touches to their forthcoming production - which funnily enough was Sweeney Todd!
 | | Sing your heart out! |
Now really this story is a tale in three parts as, if we fast forward to 1993, in that same rehearsal room a different generation of Leeds Youth Opera were once again putting on their cockney accents to perform this tale of blood, gore, revenge and pork pies filled with the unknowing customers of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street! Now in 1985 I had to watch the show from the balcony seats in The Civic Theatre, in 1993 however I was up there, on stage, singing along with my friends, making life long friendships... living the dream. For anyone who's not really into opera.. this isn't as heavy as your Mozart, Puccini or Bizet. It's advisable to go see this current production as the group are excellent, especially the chorus, and the show's are always well produced...you can't often tell they are only an amateur group. The shows are always so well produced by their musical director and artistic Director and in 1993 part of the fun was that I got to help do some of the behind-the-scenes jobs, which were often done by the parents and friends of the members, like building the magnificent set or helping get out the many costumes from the group's costume store.
 | | The big line-up live onstage |
It seems ages ago that I sat on the Civic's vast stage eating a mouldy pork pie but those were some of the best days of my life here in Leeds. So go see this production if you wish to be amazed and try not to gasp as the barber slices his victims. ... oh and I hear on a Friday July night in Millennium Square true opera lovers can go to a special sing-along Turandot which will be screened on the big screen! Wonderful, for any wannnabe Pavarottis and a great way to spend a summer's evening! See you in the interval, mine's a slice of priest! cheers! | 
