TWO EMMERDALE STARS TEAM UP FOR NEW LEEDS UNITED PLAY CELEBRATING MARCELO BIELSA
Two former Emmerdale stars are teaming up for a new play about Leeds United.
Reece Dinsdale, who played Paul Ashdale in the TV soap, and Dean Smith, who had a stint in Emmerdale back in 2022, will appear in Through it All Together. Former Coronation Street fave Shobna Gulati and Reece Dinsdale, who also had a spell on the cobbles, will play Sue and Howard, a Yorkshire couple navigating a diagnosis of dementia while cheering on their beloved Leeds United during manager Marcelo Bielsa’s glory days in the first two years of “Bielsaball” with Leeds United.
The production will be staged at Leeds Playhouse between Monday, June 23 and Saturday, July 19. You can find ticket information here.
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Reece Dinsdale said: “I’m honoured to play Howard in Through It All Together at Leeds Playhouse - a heartfelt piece that so many will relate to. Whether it’s through the beautifully observed portrayal of someone living with dementia and the people who care for them, something many of us have experienced, or through the deep connection of being a football fan, this play speaks to the heart.
“I have to say, I’m a dedicated Huddersfield Town fan so I know the love a football fan has for their team is unfaltering - whether it’s Huddersfield, Halifax, Real Madrid or Leeds United. If you know what it means to live through a club’s highs and lows, you’ll understand the extraordinary love affair Leeds had with Marcelo Bielsa. I salute Chris O’Connor for penning such a moving and resonant piece.”
Joining Reece and Shobna on stage will be Bradford’s Natalie Davies, Dean Smith, who as well as being an actor is a presenter on the Leeds United podcast The Square Ball, and Everal A Walsh who recently starred in the Olivier-nominated Animal Farm at Leeds Playhouse.
Written by life-long Leeds United supporter Chris O’Connor, the play is a love letter to Bielsa - celebrating the Argentine’s time in-charge of the Whites when they ended their Premier League exile. Directed by Gitika Buttoo, the play has been commissioned and developed by Leeds Playhouse. The production has also been closely developed with members of Leeds’ Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP), which is co-run by Leeds Playhouse and Dementia Friendly Leeds.
Writer Chris O’Connor said: “Through It All Together is the culmination of two things I felt compelled to write about. It tells a story of dementia that isn’t just a narrative of loss, but one that balances the challenges with hope, showing how people can still live well despite it. It’s also my tribute to Marcelo Bielsa, who not only inspired a weary fanbase and brought my beloved Leeds United back to the Premier League but stood as a man of principle and integrity in the money-driven world of modern football. This play is a love letter to him, to Leeds United, and to the power of love in helping us overcome life’s challenges. It’s an honour to have such a talented cast and creative team on board to help bring this story to life.”
Director Gitika Buttoo said: "I'm thrilled to direct Chris O’Connor’s play. Working on a new piece of writing is always so rewarding, and Chris has created something special, capturing the humour, tension, and tenderness of a family dealing with dementia, set against Leeds United's rise during the pandemic - a time that still sits so vividly in our collective memory.
“As a director from this region, it's a privilege to tell a story so close to home with an outstanding northern cast. They bring skill, heart, and authenticity to their roles, and I know audiences will be moved by their performances.
The timing of the play also comes at a time when Leeds United supporters are celebrating the club’s return to the Premier League - this time helmed by manager Daniel Farke.
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2025-04-25T10:14:47Z