A Man For All Seasons

Leeds Playhouse is bringing A Man For All Seasons to Playhouse Square from Tuesday 20 October to Saturday 24 October, presented by Theatre Royal Bath. It's Robert Bolt's award-winning play, a historical drama about power, conscience and defiance at a pivotal moment in English history. The story centres on Sir Thomas More — scholar, ambassador, Lord Chancellor and friend to King Henry VIII — a man of integrity loved by the common people and by his own family. When Henry demands a divorce from Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, the staunchly Catholic More is forced to choose between his loyalty and his conscience, an act of defiance for which he eventually pays the ultimate price.

Martin Shaw takes the lead as More, and he's a face you'll recognise from television roles in Judge John Deed, Inspector George Gently and The Professionals, as well as recent West End stage turns in Hobson's Choice, The Best Man and Twelve Angry Men. The production is directed by Jonathan Church. The reviews have been kind to Shaw's performance: The Observer called it "Martin Shaw's finely tuned More" and The Times said he "brings gravitas" to the role.

There are plenty of options for catching it across the five days. On Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October, there are matinees at 1.30pm and evening shows at 7.30pm. Thursday 22 October has a 2pm matinee and a 7.30pm evening show, and Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October both run at 7.30pm. Tickets are £17.00, and the Playhouse is at Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UP.