High Society – Review – Leeds Grand Theatre
By Steve Crabtree, August 2026
Going into the theatre completely blind is something I don’t do nearly enough. Often, I’ve seen something before, seen the film, or read up on the plot… something like that.
But turning up to Leeds Grand Theatre on a Tuesday evening, Cole Porter’s High Society was total unchartered territory for me. I’d never seen the stage production, never watched the film, and deliberately dodged reading any synopses beforehand so I could just sit back and take it in fresh.
My wife was with me tonight. She’d seen the film, knew the story and was as excited to see this as the rest of the theatre seemed to be. And she’s usually a good judge of stage stuff, so I was looking forward to this one…
“Slightly daft, and genuinely funny”
High Society centres on wealthy socialite Tracy Lord as she plans her latest wedding to a sensible, stiff fiancé, only for her suave ex-husband and a couple of snooping tabloid journalists to gatecrash the estate. From the off, it’s light, slightly daft, and genuinely funny.
Helen George leads the cast as Tracy, and she leans right into the physical comedy once the character starts hitting the champagne. Julian Ovenden brings a cool, relaxed confidence as her ex, Dexter Haven, and the two share an easy banter that makes their history feel quite nice.
For me though, the star of the show was Nigel Lindsay as Uncle Willie. He was an absolute riot from start to finish. Stumbling across the stage with a drink in hand, he wrung every ounce of comedy out of the part, milking his facial expressions and earning the loudest laughs of the night.
“Cheeky charm”
The supporting cast are just as strong. Naomi Pacquette was superb as Tracy’s younger sister Dinah, full of cheeky charm and constantly getting one over on the grown-ups with razor-sharp timing. Then there’s Freddie Fox as reporter Mike Connor. He was very good, completely at home under the lights and clearly loved by the audience, who warmed to his playful antics straight away.
The music had everyone hooked. And in-between the story, I think people were here for those as much as the show. Numbers like ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’, ‘Let’s Misbehave’, and ‘Well, Did You Evah!’ had feet tapping, while ‘True Love’ added a lovely bit of warmth. If there was a piece of silver being handed out for vocal of the night though, Carly Mercedes Dyer would be taking it home after a perfect, beautifully delivered ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin‘.
If I had one small niggle, the early ensemble dance routines in Act One lacked a bit of impact, but that picked up massively after the interval with plenty of energy.
Behind the performance, the scenery was very impressive too. The adaptations were silky smooth as the stage shifted between grand rooms, a fairy-lit garden, and the way they brought in the swimming pool was very good.
“Heads are pounding”
As the wedding day finally dawns, the champagne-fuelled chaos of the night before catches up with everyone. Secrets spill out, heads are pounding, and Tracy is forced to confront what – and who – she actually wants before walking down the aisle. The final stretch untangles the mess in true vintage Hollywood fashion, delivering a neat, satisfying resolution that avoids feeling cheesy and leaves everyone with a smile.
We had a brilliant time at this one. By the end, lots of those watching rose to give the company a deserved reception, with plenty of cheering across the stalls.
High Society isn’t trying to be a deep drama; it’s an enjoyable, witty night out that sends you into the Leeds streets humming classic tunes with a smile on your face.
High Society continues its run at Leeds Grand Theatre until Saturday 29th August 2026
images: Pamela Raith Photography
Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.
