A SEASON of urgent and intimate stories is promised at the West Yorkshire Playhouse this winter and spring.

The Leeds theatre is staging fresh new work alongside celebrated classics, each production asking distinct and important questions about the current cultural landscape.

Productions include Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, classic comedy Pygmalion and modern classics The Graduate and The Grapes Of Wrath.

There will be a new musical adaptation of Frederick Fellini’s film masterpiece La Strada, Northern Broadside’s adaptation of French romantic comedy Cyrano de Bergerac, and Kay Mellor drama A Passionate Woman.

Ode To Leeds is a drama following five young poets to an international poetry slam in New York, while Barber Shop Chronicles is a “generously funny, heartwarming and insightful” new play about African men.

Shows for young children include Babe The Sheep Pig, David Williams’ The First Hippo on The Moon, Michael Morpurgo’s drama Running Wild, and The Gruffalo.

The Playhouse’s artistic director James Brining said: “This season is an artistic reflection and response to the narratives, debates and events which are shaping this city, our nation and the world.

“We’re exploring moments of discovery of identity, place and voice; moments as proudly distinctive and diverse in their telling as our audiences.”

“West Yorkshire Playhouse is championing visionary female directors such as Amy Leach, Abbey Wright and Lucy Bailey, we’re co-creating with leading national companies including Headlong and the National Theatre, and most importantly we’re creating a platform for stories from our own streets.”

Visit wyp.org.uk or call 0113 2131700 for further information.