Debut show is a musical first for the Playhouse

HE hasn’t even opened his first production for the West Yorkshire Playhouse yet, but already James Brining is making friends in high places.

Brining, the man who took over the Leeds theatre last year when Ian Brown stepped down, is about to reveal his first piece of work for the theatre, as director. There’s a lot riding on it.

Brining, a no-nonsense Leeds native, claims there’s as much riding on it as any other production he will helm over the coming years, but the fact is that this is the big one that everyone will be watching, to see if it reveals how his work will look in the coming years. Some might accuse him of playing safe by going for Sweeney Todd, a production that has already been a hit for Brining at his previous theatre the Dundee Rep.

He’s having none of it. Early on a rehearsal day morning he’s in combative mood when it’s suggested it might be an easy choice. “There’s never been a Sondheim at the Playhouse, there’s the quality of the material, the content, the form, the story, this is a supreme example of work of this kind,” says Brining.

“There were ten different shows that I could have done, but just because I have had some success with this show before, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do it again.”

He is right to fight his corner, vigorously, when it comes to justifying opening his tenure in charge of the Playhouse with Sweeney Todd. Not only has it already got people talking, but it has attracted the support of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, which will co-produce the piece, but has also now garnered the attention of the Welsh National Opera, which has asked Brining to stage the piece for him in a couple of years time. When he does restage it with the opera company, in 2015, he will be in charge of the piece being staged at the Wales Millennium Centre. It is a feather in the cap for Brining – and for the West Yorkshire venue which he runs.

“Yes, it’s really nice to have been asked to direct for the Welsh National Opera and it’s nice to be directing my first opera, but what’s most useful about that is that it will be a West Yorkshire Playhouse production that is being put on an international stage,” says Brining.

Once it has opened at the Playhouse, Brining will be headlong into re-directing the piece for Manchester’s Royal Exchange, which is an entirely different shape to the Playhouse’s cavernous mainstage the Quarry.

And he is adamant that just because he’s had success with it before, it’s not an easy option.

“There is nothing retrogade about restaging it – it is one of the greatest musicals ever written. I think that’s a great reason to bring it to the stage here.”

Award-winning productions

During Brining’s tenure at Dundee Rep the theatre won and was nominated for more TMA and Critics’ Awards than any other Scottish Theatre. His productions of Sunshine on Leith and Sweeney Todd won TMA Best Musical Awards in 2007 and 2010.

Sweeney Todd, West Yorkshire Playhouse, to Oct 26. 0113 2137700.