THE UK CABARET CLUBLAND PAGE
The Leeds & District Club and Institute Union Entertainment Section in West Yorkshire must be one of the last of the great Clubland associations in the land. The Yorkshire people have managed to forge friendships with live entertainment minded club people up and down the country, in the North Midlands in particular. Mark Ritchie reports:
With many entertainment agents going along to support their monthly meetings and showcase nights, The Leeds C&IU remains influential, despite the diminishing national Clubland scene. The entertainment agents have certainly helped what remains of the northern social club scene remain relevant, but a concern for the members of the section must be the apparent lack of new Clubland talent.
I have a particular affection for the Leeds entertainment section, as just last year they invited me along to their annual Clubland Awards Evening at East End Park club in Leeds. Once there, I was surprised and honoured to be presented with a life achievement award for my services to the club movement, both as an entertainer and as an entertainment columnist, which was a job I did for certain West Yorkshire newspaper titles for over 32 years.
The monthly showcase nights are presented at a different club every time, with recent venues including Garforth Club, Rowland Road club and The Jubilee Club, all situated in and around the great City of Leeds.
Agents such as Harry Heywood and Ashley Wheelhouse, both of Ricky Graham Leisure are great supporters of what we are trying to achieve here at UK Cabaret and they have supported us from our humble beginnings. Other agents who help the Leeds C&IU with their endeavours are Dukeries Entertainments and The Crossland Agency. Unfortunately, we have not thus far managed to convince these two agencies that subscribing to UK Cabaret is a good idea, but we live in hope.
Like all areas of light entertainment, we give our utmost to help and support the Clubland movement. For two years out of the last three I have acted as Compere for the C&IU Command Showcase, which is staged in Blackpool on the weekend of the C&IU conference.
Clubland nationally has shrunk immeasurably in the first quarter of the 21st century, but perhaps there are signs that the strong will survive in some form. The union seem to have mostly dropped their outdated discrimination against women and many are marketing themselves robustly in various communities all over the UK these days.
Here’s hoping The Leeds Club and Institute Union Entertainment Section continue to be vibrant and relevant for many years to come. As for us here at the National Monthly Digital Publication for the Entertainment Industry, we will support the Clubland scene as long as a scene exists.
We are always on the lookout for Clubland people who would like to write something of their own experiences for this page. If you have a Clubland story to tell, please e-mail the editor at mark.ritchie@ukcabaret.com
