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Leader of Leeds City Council Cllr James Lewis cuts the ribbon to mark completion of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme next to Baroness Judith Blake (in centre, former leader of the council) along with Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung (furthest left) and Cllr Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development (furthest right) together with invited partners and stakeholders.

The flood storage gate demonstrated as part of phase two of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme

This year stars on stage for Beauty and the Beast will include Leeds favourite and panto veteran, Jez Edwards, returning for his 15th Carriageworks panto as the hilarious Philippe Philoppe. Jez will share the stage with his wife, Gemma Edwards, who plays the villainous Mauvaise. The couple first met on the Carriageworks stage 15 years ago in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. This year’s production also stars real-life couple Kristel Herrera and Joshua Mumby as Belle and the Beast.

The beautiful ornamental fixture hung for more than 30 years at Leeds Town Hall, where it illuminated performances by artists including The Rolling Stones, Elton John and Queen before being removed and placed in storage in the late 1990s. Credit Leodis.

The beautiful ornamental fixture hung for more than 30 years at Leeds Town Hall, where it illuminated performances by artists including The Rolling Stones, Elton John and Queen before being removed and placed in storage in the late 1990s.

Carriageworks technicians have been busy breathing new life into the elegant light fitting, polishing up its elaborate ornamental brass ahead and using all the tricks of the trade to ensure it looks its brilliant best. Although its age means it can no longer be powered by electricity, by carefully affixing a disco ball to the centre of the chandelier, stage lights can be reflected through its bulbs and around the theatre’s auditorium. Vines and roses have also been draped from the chandelier, in keeping with the décor of The Beast’s castle.