About the project
The directors that brought you our opening ceremony - The Awakening - invite you to a very special closing show, The Gifting. With original music by Rash Dash, and design by Keith Khan, this is a rare theatre experience.
Drawing from the magic of the darker winter nights and the dawning of a new year. The Gifting is a story-telling ceremony in which the past collides with the present and welcomes in the future.
Gather outside Leeds' very own film studios, Versa Studios in Holbeck. Put on headphones and enter into a surprising world to experience 12 stories inspired by the Year of Culture. A final event that promises beauty, joy and hope in equal measure.
You won't want to miss it!
Join us at The Gifting
Fri 22 to Sun 31 Dec
A unique event with beauty, song and stories at its heart. Something special and unforgettable to end the year. Gather outside Leeds’ very own movie studios - Versa Studios in Holbeck, put on headphones and enter the large, cavernous space to experience twelve individual stories inspired by the Year of Culture told through performance, dance, song and illusion. You’ll be guided on this journey by Khorin Khorin Gurav; an experience which will live long in the memory.
We cannot wait to see you there.
Alan Lane, co-director of The Gifting and Artistic Director of Slung Low appeared on Sanchez Payne's show on BBC Radio Leeds on 5 October to discuss The Gifting.
You can read the transcript and find our more about The Gifting now.
The Gifting is, in part, inspired by Northern Dreaming. Northern Dreaming is a free book published by LEEDS 2023 and the British Library that will be gifted to every child in Leeds born in 2023. The book is a collection of poetry and stories by 18 early career and published writers. The book is available to collect, for free, from various locations in Leeds, including from all Leeds libraries.
The story so far...
As our final celebration of this wonderful year it feels like an appropriate time to look back on 2023.
Flashback to where we started things
Rediscover January in Headingley Stadium by reading all about our premiere event, The Awakening.
Highlights
LEEDS 2023 is a Year of Culture like no other, discover more about the year. Take a look back at the year so far.
Dreaming
This is the final season in our year-long act of epic storytelling for the city from Awakening, Playing and now to Dreaming. As the winter approaches, and summer comes to a close we look to the future and encourage you to continue to let your imaginations fly and dream.
Credits
The Gifting will be co-directed by Kully Thiarai and Alan Lane and co-produced by LEEDS 2023, Slung Low and The British Library.
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.
Discover more behind the scenes stories
The WOW Barn
What happens when you raise a barn, then fill it to the rafters with hopes for the future?
Following a spectacular 24 hour build by 300 women, girls and non-binary people, The WOW Barn was a place to enjoy activities, gatherings and inspired by this dream of an equitable world; a world in which all women, girls and non-binary people have the space, time, support and permission to live their dreams.
Children's Day: Reimagined
Children’s Day: Reimagined was a free, family-friendly event in Roundhay Park, celebrating the children of Leeds.
Inspired by the Children’s Day event of the past and boldly reimagined for the future, it imagined what the world would look like if children were in charge.
Northern Dreaming
LEEDS 2023 and the British Library have come together to gift a collection of stories to babies born in 2023.
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For latest announcements and get involved opportunities, sign-up to the LEEDS 2023 Email Newsletter.