Transform

powerful, international performance festivals Transform is an engine room for powerful performance.

We create exhilarating international festivals and work year-round to catalyse future-gazing artists and creatives to reimagine what theatre can be. We bring Bold, Brave, Vivid & Socially-Conscious international performance to the Leeds City Region and beyond.

'Transform has changed how audiences experience Leeds' - The Guardian

08/09/2026

Now live on our website 📑 Our 2025-26 biennial report paints a picture of Transform's impact across our last festival cycle, culminating in Transform 25.

In the report, we also set out our mission, vision and values, and of course thank the funders and partners that make our work possible.

🍰 If you want to take a look behind the scenes of Transform – from insights into our artist development strand Engine Room, to the exact number of metres of cake we shared as part of The Last Supper – lift the lid here!

🔗 https://transformfestival.org/transforms-2025-2026-biennial-report/

📸 MEXA, The Last Supper, at Transform 25. Photo: JMA Photography

04/09/2026

📰 Read our Young Curator Lauren’s perspective on her experience as a Transform Young Curator in our 2024-25 cohort.

Using an approach called Most Significant Change – a participatory, story-based evaluation method that avoids leading questions – we spoke to Lauren about the impacts and learning our Young Curators programme resulted in.

🔗 Head to our website to read Lauren’s story – link in bio. https://transformfestival.org/most-significant-change-story-lauren-young-curator/

10/08/2026

In June, Transform hosted artist Sonia Hughes for a week-long residency in Leeds to further develop her new project Lady Marmalade.

Thank you to Music House and Opera North for generously providing space for Sonia, her team and her band of local Leeds women to play instruments, talk, dance and eat together.

⚡️This is the next part of the project after our first call out to form an ‘Old Chicks Rock Band’ for the project, when we hosted Sonia for a residency in 2024.

In 2026 a new cohort were gathered to continue the collaboration.

As well as making music, across the week they thought about justice, rage, desire, grief. Questions such as ‘what does love require?’, ‘what do you need to unleash?’, ‘what happens in the middle of the night?’ were asked.

📸 Tanya Weekes

03/08/2026

📰 Read our Young Curator Harrison’s perspective on his experience as a Transform Young Curator in our 2024-25 cohort.

We recently adopted a new approach to evaluating our Young People’s work, inspired by our friends at Cambridge Junction.

🎤 We collect stories that focus on the personal experiences and reflections which have been significant to participants.

The approach we use is called Most Significant Change – a participatory, story-based evaluation method that avoids leading questions to explore impacts and learning.

🔗 Head to our website to read Harrison’s story: https://transformfestival.org/most-significant-change-story-harrison-young-curator/

14/07/2026

Last month, Unlimited announced that we'd joined their 2026 level one Allies cohort.

Alongside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Fierce Festival, Lakeside Arts, Warwick Arts Centre and WOW - Women of the World, we've committed to working with Unlimited over the next 12 months as part of their mission to increase the level of disabled-led art being programmed, produced and commissioned, across the UK and internationally.

Our Executive Producer Ema Boswood said:

'Unlimited have been an invaluable partner to Transform over a number of years. We’re delighted and proud to now be joining their Allyship scheme, affirming our commitment to developing and championing the exceptional work being created by disabled artists in the UK today.'

Read more about the Unlimited Allies scheme on their website: https://weareunlimited.org.uk/opportunities/allies/

📸 MEXA, Pumpitopera Transatlantica, Transform 23. Photo JMA Photography

02/06/2026

🎉 Transform is delighted to today announce developments in its core team, with the promotion of Ema Boswood to Executive Producer and Hannah Keating to Senior Communications Manager.

They’ll both be working closely with Artistic Director & CEO Amy Letman, who said:

‘Since joining Transform, Ema has become immersed in the cultural landscape of Leeds, and brought inspiring perspectives and energy to the development of our programme, whilst significantly progressing our producing model. In this new role of Executive Producer, Ema will work with me closely to further build Transform’s strategy and vision and will play a leadership role in the delivery of our festivals.

Since joining Transform initially as a freelancer, Hannah quickly became a natural and trusted extension of our team. Placing Hannah in this new senior role is reflective of Transform’s value for audiences and communications as absolutely central to our mission and output. I am excited to see how Hannah’s already remarkable impact on our brand, comms strategies and audience outlook will continue to ensure Transform goes from strength to strength.

I can’t wait to continue working with Ema and Hannah to continue to progress our bold vision and create extraordinary cultural experiences in Leeds.’

These key promotions come as Transform is 18 months away from the delivery of our next festival in October 2027. Further freelance and supportive roles will be recruited for in due course.

In the meantime, we thank both Ema and Hannah for everything you’ve brought to Transform so far – and congratulations on your new roles!

🔗 Head to our website to read the full announcement: https://transformfestival.org/transform-announces-senior-team-developments/

📸 First image: Hannah Keating, Amy Letman, Ema Boswood
📸 JMA Photography

28/04/2026

Last week Transform hosted Eve Stainton for a week-long residency at stage@leeds as part of the artist’s New Dimensions seed commission.

These photos are from a day of early research Eve spent with Gary Clarke Company, Blackhaine and Martin O'Brien.

Through the residency, Eve has been developing a new performance exploring working-class masculinities, manual labour and community building.

Formed in 2023, New Dimensions supports artists to take the next step in their careers and create ambitious new work of scale designed to tour nationally and internationally.

The New Dimensions partners are: Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Battersea Arts Centre - BAC, Take Me Somewhere, Tramway and us Transform.

22/04/2026

It's (somehow!) been 6 months since we shared Transform 25 with you!

Behind the scenes preparations for our 2027 festival are already well underway.

🤝 We're supporting the development of new work through partnership and collaboration
🎟️ Searching out thrilling international performance to present in Leeds
💻 And fundraising to make Transform 2027 a reality

In the meantime, swipe to revisit some glorious moments from last year's edition ➡️

📸 Toussaint To Move, Free
📸 MEXA, The Last Supper
📸 Samir Kennedy & Sean Murray, IT’S GOT LEGS!!!!!!!
📸 Eisa Jocson and Venuri Perera, Magic Maids
📸 Audiences after Toussaint To Move, Free
📸 Basel Zaraa, Dear Laila

📸 JMA Photography

14/04/2026

📢 Deadline approaching 📢

We're looking for an organised and diligent Finance & Administration Manager to join our team.

⬇️ Role info ⬇️

💻 Finance & Administration Manager
🗓️ Part-time, 3 days a week
📍 Hybrid role. 1-2 office-based days per week in Leeds
🧾 Salary £36,000 per annum, pro-rata

📆 Deadline: Mon 20 Apr, midday

Head to our website for the full job pack and details on how to apply.

🔗 Find out more and apply now – link in bio.

07/04/2026

📢 A reminder that we're currently recruiting! 📢

We're looking for an organised and diligent Finance & Administration Manager to join our team.

Role info ⬇️

💻 Finance & Administration Manager
🗓️ Part-time, 3 days a week
📍 Hybrid role. 1-2 office-based days per week in Leeds
🧾 Salary £36,000 per annum, pro-rata

We’re looking for a capable, personable and experienced professional working in finance or administration who thrives on supporting organisations to run smoothly and efficiently.

Proactive and rigorous, you’ll be familiar with developing and leading effective administrative and financial systems.

ℹ️ About us ℹ️

Transform is a biennial festival of powerful international performance, based right here in Leeds. Every two years, we assemble artists from across the globe to present thrilling theatre, dance and performance to diverse audiences in their thousands across the city.

📆 Deadline: Mon 20 Apr, midday

🔗 Find out more and apply now: https://transformfestival.org/opportunities/finance-administration-manager/

Address

Mabgate Mills
Leeds
LS97DZ

Website

http://transformfestival.org/

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