Brave Words theatre company explores what happens when every god ever believed in wakes up.

At those times a city sees itself, the gods themselves come out to play. It is Leeds’ 400th birthday, and the city is celebrating. Every god ever believed in here is waking. But Leeds in 2026 is divided, a tinder box of anger, disillusionment and loneliness. Will the celebrations bring the city together, or tear it apart?

This event is part of Open Season, the Playhouse’s annual festival of community creativity. The theme for 2026 is Happy Birthday, Leeds! commemorating the milestone 400th anniversary of our hometown receiving its royal charter and becoming a city.