One month to go!

[Photo: Graham Watson ‘Eyes on Le Tour de France’, Whitecloth Gallery]

It’s exactly one month today until the Tour De France Grand Départ from our very own city of Leeds! On July 5^th, the 101st Tour de France, the world’s biggest annual sporting event, will begin in the North of England for the very first time.

On Saturday 5^th, the athletes will cycle the first 190km, stage 1 of 21, beginning right here in Leeds and finishing in Harrogate. The cyclists will travel through Otley, Ilkley and Skipton before making their way to Harrogate.

Featured back in May on TSOTA, the Yorkshire Festival is the first ever arts festival to precede the event and runs for 100 days until 6^th July.

Since the official countdown began back in March, the Festival has already seen a variety of events related to The Grand Départ 2014, including a number of free film screenings across the county (in indoor and spectacular outdoor locations), creative workshops, exhibitions and theatre.

With just a month to go, The State of the Arts is excited to still see an abundance of exciting events to watch, visit and get involved in. With all the events listed on our ‘Events’ pages, here are just a few things you can find around Leeds to get you in the spirit ready for The Grand Départ on July 5^th…

 

JUNE 14th

Opera: Götterdämmerung

Opera North premiere this new production as part of Yorkshire Festival 2014 – [More info]

JUNE 22^nd

Theatre: Le Grand Voyage

Harrogate Theatre present an exceptional and unforgettable theatrical experience that puts participants into the heart of the Tour de France like no other, at The Hub – [More info]

JUNE 25^th

Theatre: Bike Story: What’s Yours?

Free outdoor theatre show at West Yorkshire Playhouse written by award-winning Mike Kenny – [More info]

UNTIL JULY 6^th

Exhibition: Yorkshire Festival Exhibition

at The Craft Centre & Design Gallery– [More info]

UNTIL JULY 27th

Exhibition: ‘Graham Watson: Eyes on le Tour de France’

at White Cloth Gallery – [More info]

UNTIL JULY 5^th

Exhibition: ‘My Yorkshire’

at The Stanley & Audrey Gallery – [More info]

24^th JUNE – 7^th JULY

Exhibition: ‘Bicyclism’

at Leeds City Museum – [More info]

JULY 2^nd

Music: Tour de Proms.

Experience the very best of French and British classical music in the stunning setting of Leeds Town Hall to celebrate the opening of the Tour de France with a traditional, rousing prom concert. Orchestra of Opera North – [More info]

JULY 2^nd

Film: Tour de Cinema.

Outdoor film screenings in Leeds’ Millennium Square between 11am – 2pm – [More info]

JULY 5^th

Workshop: Make Your Own Souvenirs Workshop.

Whether it’s a postcard, a flag, a plate, cup or badge, there will be something for everyone to make as a memento of the day that the Tour de France departed from Leeds, at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery. Suitable for all ages. –[More info]

JULY 5^th

Le Grand DépartDay.

Join Otley Courthouse, open from 8am-6pm, for a day of music, dance, food, drink and coverage of the race – [More info]

JULY 5^th – 19^th

Theatre: ‘Beryl’.

West Yorkshire Playhouse present a stage adaptation of Maxine Peake’s Radio 4 play about cycling world champion Beryl Burton – [More info]

 

Visit The State of the Arts Events pages for a full range of events around Leeds this summer and for more information on Yorkshire Festival, visit http://www.yorkshirefestival.co.uk and follow on Twitter @YFest2014

Don’t miss The Grand Départ on July 5^th – follow the route at letour.yorkshire.com

 

Kate’s Pick:

Outdoor Screening of Jour de Fete, Leeds’ Millennium Square – July 2nd – FREE event!