The Leeds Library and acclaimed Glasgow-based theatre company Visible Fictions have teamed up to bring the national premier of The Hidden, a meticulously crafted dramatic interactive theatre experience to Leeds. Fresh from its sell-out run at Edinburgh International Book Festival, The Hidden comes to the Leeds Library for 4 days (31st Oct to 3rd Nov) as part of a year-long programme of events to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Library.
Across the year, the Library has hosted a range of talks, theatrical performances, discussions, installations and festivals to mark the anniversary, and to build its reputation as a thriving cultural space for arts and creative projects. The Library has designed an Autumn season that focuses on arts organisations and artists which champion libraries through their work, the Glasgow based Visible Fiction being the latest in a line of cultural partners that have worked with the Library to present it in a new light. The Hidden, in many ways, is the most radical project yet to be played out in the atmospheric settings of The Leeds Library.
The task of participants will be to solve a mystery by piecing together information found in books, written on index cards and scribbled on the back of items. The event invites participants to bring their curiosity and critical faculties to become part of the performance.The experience is designed to get participants thinking twice about their relationship with social media and artificial intelligence. It should appeal to a broad range of people who love the challenge and intrigue of problem solving.
Carl Hutton, the Chief Executive of The Leeds Library, explained the idea for bringing The Hidden to The Leeds Library, “We have been very conscious that any celebrations for the 250th anniversary should not just look back into our history but also be at the forefront of how arts based organisations such as Visible Fictions are reinterpreting libraries as cultural spaces. The Hidden is a unique experience engaging with all ages in an innovative and fun way. The production was designed as a creative way of getting people back into libraries and off social media. It was sold out during its run in Edinburgh where it had widespread critical acclaim, so we are really looking forward to how Leeds audiences will respond.”
Tickets are available through the Library’s website and on Eventbrite. The Hidden runs from Wednesday 31 October – Saturday 3 November. There are two 90 minute shows per day: Weds-Fri: 12.30pm to 2pm and 5.30pm to 7.00pm; Sat: 10am-11.30am and 1pm to 2.30pm.
This event is supported by Arts@Leeds and Leeds City Council.
Details of all of the events taking place at The Leeds Library for its 250th Anniversary can be found at www.theleedslibrary.org.uk/events and will include forthcoming events with The Leeds Playhouse, Red Ladder Theatre Company and The Bronte Society.
