News.
A rip-roaring prehistoric science pop party stomps into Leeds Playhouse next month
17th October 2025
Have you ever wondered what a dinosaur did all day? Or what they actually looked like? What colour were they? Were they really green like they are in the movies?
Audiences of all ages are in for a roar-some treat next month at Leeds Playhouse as famous palaeontologist Dr Jakob Vinther and a band musicians and performers guide them through the multi-coloured world of the dinosaurs. The Colour of Dinosaurs plays in the Courtyard Theatre on 7-8 November.
Packed with funky music, real-life stories and fascinating science, this 60-minute pop gig for the whole family is inspired by the ground-breaking work of Dr Jakob Vinther, a palaeontologist at Bristol University who discovered that melanin pigmentation preserved in the feathers and skin of dinosaurs can help determine their original colour. Now he’s swapping the lab for the stage to tell the story of his discovery with the help of the real star of the show, Dee the Psittacosaurus – who is the most accurate model of a dinosaur ever made!
Lloyd Coleman, composer/co-creator of The Colour of Dinosaurs, explains: “Jakob changed what the world knows about the colour of dinosaurs, and our show dives headfirst into the mind-blowing science behind his big discovery. You can also expect catchy tunes, emotional real-life stories and some incredible fossils… on top of asking why this stuff matters to us as humans. My bandmates and I are so excited to stomp our way into the Playhouse!”
Recommended for 6-12 year olds and their families, The Colour of Dinosaurs brings together an amazing team of neurodivergent and disabled performers to bring the story to life and celebrate everyone’s identities, including disability, cultural identity, and of course, how much they love dinosaurs!
Alongside Dr Vinter, the band of musicians and performers include Dom Coyote, Lloyd Coleman, Victoria Oruwari, Roxana Vilk and Harry Miller. They play themselves, sharing their own experiences and authentic responses to Jakob’s research, and how they see themselves in his dinosaur discoveries.
Executive Producer for co-creator Otic Liz Counsell explains: “At the heart of this show is the belief that curiosity can triumph over fear, that everyone is equal and that all of our brilliant differences should be celebrated and bring us together, not push us apart.
“Each member of the cast explores various aspects of difference and identity, interwoven through the show. For instance, Lloyd has albinism, which is the inability to produce melanin and causes his vision impairment. Victoria experiences synaesthesia, the extraordinary ability to associate music and sounds with colour – especially fascinating as she became blind in childhood. Dom talks and sings movingly about not fully knowing about his heritage and identity, and Harry and Rocky both touch on aspects of their lived experiences too. We were amazed at just how many profound conversations were prompted by Jakob’s study of ancient dinosaur fossils. But the show is really silly and fun too. It’s a kaleidoscope of science, emotions, jokes and cracking tunes.”
The Colour of Dinosaurs is directed by Dom Coyote and associate director Kyla Goodey, with music by Lloyd Coleman and writing by Malaika Kegode, and is based on the research of Dr Jakob Vinther. It is designed by Amy Pitt and Saskia Tomlinson, with lighting design by Chris Swain, sound by Joe D’souza and sensory design consultancy by Annie Davies.
Book your tickets here.