Theatre’s family ties still sewing strong as Carriageworks celebrates 20 years

With the venue’s official celebrations taking place this month, the irrepressible pair have been looking back on years of managing endless quick changes, wardrobe malfunctions and last-minute job swaps behind the scenes.

The family’s love affair with theatre began 29 years ago when Helen, then just 14 years old, landed her debut dancing role in a festive production at the old Leeds Civic Theatre.

Mum Kath followed her into the business a year later, taking up the vital post of wardrobe supervisor. The two both moved to The Carriageworks when it opened in 2005 and have been working side by side on the theatre’s panto ever since.

During that time, Kath has spent each year ensuring the entire cast’s costumes are washed, ironed, repaired and laid out for every show during the annual seasonal run. On an average year, that means polishing 200 pairs of shoes and ironing around 4,000 items of clothing.

During shows, Kath and Helen also team up to manage a rapid succession of speedy costume changes and emergency repairs, with Kath’s trusty sewing box coming to the rescue on numerous occasions.

Kath, 76, said: “It’s like a military operation and the key is to be organised at all times. People will often come off stage between scenes with ripped trousers or a button that’s popped and I’ll have to quickly do the repairs so their pants aren’t showing to the audience.

“The real challenge though is the panto dames, they can have 10 quick changes a show, and the costumes are quite something. Last year we had to change the dame out of a leotard covered in pots and pans and into a giant cupcake. Our record is 16 seconds for a full change, and we’ve never missed one yet.”

Helen occupies a similarly hectic role in the Carriageworks team. As well as working with her mum on the panto costumes, she also helps out behind the bar, at the front of house and with any unexpected crises which require a cool head and an experienced pair of hands.

Helen, 42, said: “Basically, if something goes wrong or breaks down, I’m the one they call. I’ve had to stand in and operate one of the puppets in Snow White before and one year I worked the stage lights for a show at the last minute because the technician’s wife went into labour right before the curtain went up.

“Every year it’s hectic and stressful and I never get to see a show from the front, but working in theatre is what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl, so I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”

This November marks 20 years since The Carriageworks first opened its doors, taking its name from the West Riding Carriage Manufactory which occupied the site in the early Victorian era in what is now The Electric Press.

Over the last two decades, the venue has hosted more than a million audience members to more than 2,000 productions, with an eclectic programme focused on community and children’s theatre and created by local theatre-makers.

The theatre also hosts comedy, music and a range of guest speakers throughout the year, with the aim of celebrating Leeds and its diverse communities, as well as being the home of the Leeds Community Arts Network (LeedsCAN), a community-led initiative that works to make the arts accessible to everyone.

For Kath and Helen, year after year the theatre is also a place full of friends, laughter and memories.

Kath said: “I’ve always said to myself that I’ll keep doing this as long as I still enjoy it, and I still do. We’re all the same – if you didn’t love it, you wouldn’t do it, because it’s just too crazy otherwise.”

Helen added: “I’ve got friends here who I’ve been working with for more than 20 years and we all keep coming back. I’m already here with my mum, but it’s like we’re all part of one family really.”

The Carriageworks programme for its celebration year includes productions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Gingerbread Man and this year’s panto Sleeping Beauty, starring Jez Edwards, Thomas Currie and Serena Walsh.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “The Carriageworks occupies a very special place at the heart of performing arts in Leeds, giving tireless and passionate local performers the chance to showcase their talents and express themselves in a space dedicated to community theatre.

“For twenty years the theatre has been entertaining Leeds audiences, giving families the chance to come together and experience local, accessible productions. It’s a huge milestone for the theatre and for all the organisations which have helped shape its unique story.”

For more information on the theatre and to book tickets, please visit: Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds

ENDS

Carriageworks Factfile

• The Carriageworks Theatre officially opened its doors in November 2005, following the closure of the Leeds Civic Theatre earlier that year.
• The development where The Carriageworks is located includes the Grade II listed Electric Press, built in 1894 and once used by Chorley and Pickersgill as a printing works.
• The Leeds Community Arts Network, formerly Leeds Civic Arts Guild, is based at the theatre and includes 11 vibrant community arts groups.
• Groups which are part of the network include Leeds Writers Circle, Leeds Children’s Theatre and Cosmopolitan Players and Kippax Amateur Operatic Society.
• Since opening, the theatre has welcomed more than one million audience members to over 2,000 productions.
• Around 300,000 of them have been panto audiences, and the Carriageworks panto audience numbers have doubled from 9,000 in 2005 to more than 19,000 expected this year.