'Why we're using the power of song to take on the Otley Run with a surprise choir performance'
Meet the team behind the Otley Run Complaints Choir - and how they aim to use song to tackle the infamous pub crawl
On a typical weekend, Headingley’s pavements are filled with princesses, pirates and partygoers.
But this weekend they will be joined by a different kind of fancy-dress group: a complaints choir.
The Otley Run Complaints Choir will be performing songs inspired by the Leeds neighbourhood’s love-hate relationship with the infamous pub crawl.
It is part of a research project led by the University of Leeds which aims to engage Otley Runners with a song about the effects on the local community.
The choir will perform outside two of the busiest pubs on the route in fancy dress costume on Saturday.
Dr Anna Douglas, is a lecturer in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University, is leading the project.
Dr Douglas, who was born-and raised in Headingley and also leads the Otley Run Action Group, said: “Our research so far has shown that the Otley Run brings a lot of joy for participants, from students to 70th birthday parties.
“But residents and small independent businesses often experience the downsides of the crawl all year round, with thousands of Otley Runners visiting every weekend and putting pressure on Headingley’s infrastructure.
“By performing in costume along the route, we hope our song makes visitors think, laugh, and at times join in with the performance – using participation to explore how the Otley Run is experienced by different groups.
“The Otley Run isn’t going to change overnight. But tackling this growing problem with creativity is something that needs to happen, to innovate a solution to a complex situation.
“The project doesn’t aim to stop the run, but it will hopefully contribute to its de-escalation and management over the next year, working alongside a team of partners including Leeds City Council officers, local councillors, West Yorkshire Police and the local MP.”
Dr Douglas added: “The origins of the Otley Run are not precisely known. However, former students from the late 1950s say it started with the medical student societies at the University of Leeds as part of the annual ‘Raising and Giving’ (RAG) Week, in aid of charities.
“Towards late Saturday afternoon, Medical students would run towards the local market town of Otley to get there in time for last orders at 11pm, as these pubs were open later than Leeds’ pubs for Otley’s farmer’s market day.
“Over the 1980s, the Otley Run expanded to include all students, eventually losing its charity focus. Today, adults of all ages take part, with many stag and hen dos visiting from outside Leeds.”
The complaints choir was started by two Finnish artists in 2005 and since then the movement has grown with more than 160 across the world.
It aims to bring together different perspectives – expressing the joy and fun of the Otley Run, as well as residents’ concerns.
The Otley Run Complaints Choir has worked with a group of residents, including students, long-term residents, local business owners and University of Leeds alumni, to discuss their thoughts and ideas around the Otley Run.
Community songwriter Nicky Bray will then turn the ideas, and some verbatim quotes, into a song for the group to perform, putting the voices of residents at the forefront.
Sue Jennings, director of Left Bank Leeds is part of the project team. She said: “Otley Runners tell us that fancy dress is a big part of the attraction of doing the Run.
“We’d like to see more creativity and innovation with this, so our Choir will wear specially made costumes to emphasise the importance of creativity and sustainability, over buying one-wear only ones bought from the likes of Amazon, and often discarded by the end of the night.”