What Is the New Wedding Present Musical In Leeds? Cast, Dates & Story

Ever hear a song and think, “Yep, that’s literally my life”? Some bands have this uncanny way of writing stuff that just gets you. Like they’ve cracked open your brain and poured it into a melody. Now imagine watching those emotions unfold live on stage, with guitars, heartache, dodgy decisions, and awkward reunions. That’s exactly what Reception: The Wedding Present Musical promises.

Set in Leeds and built around the legendary indie band The Wedding Present, this brand-new musical kicks off next summer. Whether you’ve been playing their records since the ‘80s or you’ve never heard of David Gedge, this show might just be your next obsession.

Growing up, falling apart, and coming back again

So, what’s the story? Well, it all starts in 1980s Leeds. A bunch of mates have just wrapped up uni and are trying to figure out what real life actually looks like. Over the next five years, we follow them through everything, weddings, funerals, messy parties, and moments where everything changes.

Think of your own group of friends. You laugh, you fight, you lose touch, and sometimes you find your way back to each other. That’s what this musical is about. Love, regrets, big dreams, and awkward dancefloors, basically, life.

It’s all told through the raw, emotional songs of The Wedding Present. The lyrics already feel like tiny plays, so putting them on stage just makes sense. And directing it all is Matt Aston, who’s been dreaming up this idea for nearly 20 years. He’s teamed up with Slung Low, one of the coolest theatre companies in Leeds, to bring it to life at The Warehouse in Holbeck.

Who are The Wedding Present, and why are they a big deal?

If you don’t know them, here’s the crash course: The Wedding Present are an iconic indie band formed in Leeds in 1985. Picture fast guitars, honest lyrics, and no-nonsense northern charm. Their frontman, David Gedge, has been pouring his heart into songs for nearly 40 years, about breakups, bad choices, and those quiet moments you can’t quite explain.

They’ve had 18 Top 40 hits. They’ve got a loyal cult following. And now their songs are being reimagined for a whole new audience. Even better, the show will feature music not just from The Wedding Present but also from Gedge’s other project, Cinerama. There’s even a brand-new song written just for the musical.

And here’s the cool bit, the actors are also the musicians. That means when someone’s having a dramatic moment on stage, they might also be belting out the tune or strumming a guitar. The music doesn’t just sit in the background, it’s part of the story.

Meet the cast (and the characters you'll grow attached to)

These roles aren’t just filled by actors, they’re filled by actor-musicians, many of them trained right here in Leeds. Expect real instruments, real emotions, and real talent.

Here’s a quick who's-who:

Character	Played By	Who They Are
Rachel	Zoe Allan	Leeds Uni grad with a plan—until life throws her a curveball.
Harry	Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings	Rachel’s first love, chasing something more.
John	Richard Lounds	Harry’s older, slightly wiser best mate.
Sally	Amara Latchford	Rachel’s ride-or-die. Big energy, big dreams.
Dad	Matthew Bugg	Rachel’s dad. Teacher, creative, knows more than he lets on.
Jane	Hannah Nuttall	The quiet one. Watch her closely.
Joe	Zach Burns	Rachel’s little brother, still figuring things out.
Emma	Caitlin Lavagna	The local rector. Definitely not boring.
Keir / Keith / Kevin	Jack Hardy	The barman. No one ever gets his name right.

Zoe Allan and Amara Latchford are both Leeds Conservatoire grads, keeping that strong local flavour. And Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings? You might have spotted him on Fool Me Once on Netflix.

Straight from the people who made it happen

Here’s what the show’s writer and director Matt Aston had to say:

“I first imagined this musical nearly 20 years ago after seeing David perform with the BBC Big Band. His lyrics are cinematic, emotional, and rich with story, they felt naturally theatrical. Now, with this phenomenal cast of multi-talented actor-musicians, we’ve found the perfect group to bring that vision to life with heart, humour and edge. I couldn’t be more excited.”

And what about David Gedge himself?

“When Matt approached me with the idea of a Wedding Present musical, I was intrigued... I’d never imagined my songs being used in a musical, but I loved how Mamma Mia reimagined ABBA, and I’ve always been up for trying new things. I’m excited to see how the show brings the songs to life in a new way.”

Honestly, if David Gedge is on board, that’s reason enough to give this a go.

All the info you need to see it for yourself

Right, here’s everything you need to plan your night out:

• What: Reception: The Wedding Present Musical
• Where: The Warehouse, Holbeck (Slung Low), Leeds
• When: Friday 22 August to Saturday 6 September 2025
• Press Night: Tuesday 26 August 2025
• Tickets: From £16.90, with special “Wedding Guest” table packages available
• Booking: Go to the Leeds Playhouse website or pop into their box office

So, should you go?

If you’ve ever grown up, fallen out with a friend, danced your heart out to a breakup song, or just love seeing something new that’s packed with music and meaning, yeah, this show’s for you. It’s got heart. It’s got guitars. It’s got stories that feel a bit too familiar.

And it’s all happening in Leeds, built around a band that never sold out, never softened, and never stopped telling it how it is.

Grab your mates. Get your tickets. Bring tissues. And maybe don’t wear mascara, you’ll probably cry.