Leeds Beckett students go behind the scenes at Leeds Playhouse

Leeds BID is a not-for-profit organisation working to improve Leeds city centre through a range of events, initiatives and projects. Through our university's partnership with Leeds BID, students and staff can access a variety of opportunities, including project and research support, work experience, and visits that bring learning to life.

Most recently, the partnership gave students the opportunity to join Martin Dickson, Director of Brand and Innovation at Leeds BID, for an exclusive tour of Leeds Playhouse ahead of this year's Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI).

The Leeds International Festival of Ideas is an annual programme of talks and discussions designed to inspire debate, challenge perspectives and explore some of today's most important issues.

During the 60-minute tour, students accessed key areas of the venue as preparations were underway, including performance spaces and backstage facilities. They also observed the construction of the main stage and the installation of lighting rigs, gaining valuable insight into the operational and technical work involved in delivering a large-scale event.

Throughout the tour, Martin highlighted the importance of collaboration, effective planning, attention to detail and strong project management. Students saw firsthand how these skills contribute to the successful delivery of major events and how event management theory applies in a real-world environment.

Reflecting on the experience, one student said: "I think today will help me with my course as it's shown me an event working behind the scenes the day before, and how the cogs are moving".

Dr Michelle Lanham, Senior Lecturer in Events Management and Student Experience Lead said: “We really value our partnership with Leeds International Festival of Ideas over the past five years. It's been fantastic to build such a strong relationship and create opportunities for our Events Management students to experience the industry first-hand. From field trips and guest talks to working on live consultancy projects in their final year, the partnership gives students the chance to learn from industry professionals, develop their confidence and put their knowledge into practice.

“These experiences are so important in helping students understand the realities of working in the events industry, and it's great to see how much they get out of being involved. We're really proud of what we've developed together so far with many more plans up our sleeve for future collaborations.”

Find out more about Event, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University.