Leeds United inspired work in national award call after Bielsa favourites joined audiences
Leeds Playhouse has encouraged audiences who enjoyed a Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa inspired play to help it get nominated for national awards.
Through It All Together was written by Chris O'Connor, co-host of the YEP's Inside Elland Road podcast and a lifelong Leeds fan who was inspired by Bielsa's time at Elland Road. The play starred Reece Dinsdale, Shobna Gulati, Natalie Davies, Everal A Walsh and Whites supporter Dean Smith, who portrayed a number of characters including ex-Leeds director of football Victor Orta.
Described as a ‘love letter’ to Bielsa, the beautiful game and the bond that unites families and fans, Through It All Together followed the lives of ordinary Yorkshire couple Howard and Sue as they navigated the challenges of a dementia diagnosis, all the while following their beloved Leeds United and an attempt to regain Premier League status.
O’Connor said: “When I was growing up we were in the Champions League, and I just thought that's how it would be. Then we have 16 years outside the top flight. It took so long that it just became this, I don't know, like it just weighed on me. And then when Bielsa came in, so much just lifted. It lifted my kind of negative perception of football, which seems to have lost something about its soul, and it just was a huge breath of fresh air. So as a writer, I wanted to write something about that and capture that."
Audiences last summer included Bielsa favourites Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford, while Bielsa himself was made aware of the production and it received international media coverage.
Leeds Playhouse is now asking audiences to support the play if it struck a chord, by nominating it for the 26th WhatsOnStage Awards. The Playhouse suggestion is that Leeds fans nominate Through It All Together for Best Regional Production and Best New Play, with Dinsdale and Gulati candidates for Best Performer and Davies, Walsh and Smith for Best Supporting Performer.
Leeds United supporters group Marching Out Together have joined the call for support, posting on their social media accounts: "If you have a couple of minutes, please consider voting for the excellent team involved in Through It All Together at Leeds Playhouse. Truly fabulous performances from all involved and would be deserving winners at the WhatsOnStage Awards."
Nominations close on Thursday November 20 and you can vote HERE