16 to 17 November - European Venture Philanthropy Associate, Turin
1 to 3 December USB Global Philanthropy Forum, Switzerland
Interview Opportunity: Jim Beirne, Chief Executive at Live Theatre is available for interview on request
Live Theatre on Newcastle’s quayside is encouraging people of all political persuasions to join some of the region’s most exciting writers as they tackle key issues of the day in The Big Society on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 November at 8pm.
Fast paced sixth form politics students from St Aidan’s Catholic School in Sunderland dusted off their running shoes this week in preparation for a visit to Live Theatre to see A Walk On Part, the staged adaptation of diaries of the former MP for Sunderland South, Chris Mullin, on Thursday 3 November.
Following its success in May 2011 Live Theatre is delighted to be bringing back A Walk On Part, a "fast-paced and very funny theatrical entertainment” as part of an exciting new collaboration with London’s Soho Theatre.
Families are being invited to get this half term off to a spectacular start by taking a step into the creative world of 9 and 10 year olds from Tyne & Wear at Live Theatre as part of Juice – NewcastleGateshead’s festival for children and young people.
Live Theatre and The Empty Space, North East England’s theatre development agency, is offering two bursaries of £1000 each to artists to be involved in Live Theatre’s New Writing Festival in March 2012.
Live Theatre is on the lookout for young people aged between 16 and 25 years old with a passion for writing to take part in a new five week Introduction to Playwriting course this autumn.
Normal will become extraordinary at Live Theatre as award-winning Bob Karper heads to Newcastle to present his Edinburgh Fringe sell-out solo show That’s Me on the Left, in the Parka on Thursday 22 September at 7.30pm.
With the summer holidays winding to a halt and pupils trying their new uniforms for size you may think that there’s not much to look forward to. But do not fear this term many talented youngsters from across Tyneside will be taking centre stage as part of Live Theatre’s September to December season.
On Thursday 1 September Max Roberts, Artistic Director at Live Theatre, will be hosting a special event in the company’s Studio Theatre to share his thoughts on the fantastic range of work that is coming up.
Digital stories created by people from the North East are to form the basis of a conference at Newcastle’s Live Theatre. The Culture Shock! Conference will take place on Thursday 29 September, and will explore how people working in the museums, youth, community, health and justice sectors can work together using digital storytelling techniques.
Casting has been announced for the forthcoming West End production of Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters, presented by Bill Kenwright. This is the climax of an extraordinary journey, which started at Newcastle’s Live Theatre and continued on to the National, Broadway, and all round the UK.
Youngsters between the age of 11 and 25 years of age will be providing the entertainment this weekend as Live Theatre looks forward to the return of its annual Youth Theatre Festival, this year called Quality Treats.
Young people looking to get a foot on the ladder of an exciting career will take centre stage next month when the curtain rises for enrolment on a new course developed in the North East to plug a national skills gap.
Then there is still time to get your new writing fix this summer with poetry inspired short plays in Short Cuts: Poetic Licence, and the next instalment of Scratch Night all presented as part of Live Lab – experimenting with new work first.
Live Theatre has teamed up with film company Magic If, and they’re on the look out for seven teams of young film makers who are up for a challenge this summer - to devise, shoot and edit a short film, using top secret suggestions and film locations on the Quayside, all in 24 hours.
With the summer upon us and the British weather as changeable as ever Live Theatre is delighted to be able to guarantee lashing of laughter with a new line up of smokin’ hot comedy gigs this June and July.
Presented by Bill Kenwright, following celebrated seasons at the National Theatre and on Broadway, Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters will at last enjoy a West End season, opening at the Duchess Theatre on Wednesday 5 October with press night on the Tuesday 11 October at 7pm.
Newcastle Gateshead is gearing up for ten nights of laughter as it plays host to its annual Comedy Festival - due to launch on Friday 22 July including nine gigs at Live Theatre.
In a production that charms audiences both old and young, The Idle Dream hilariously and poetically tell the story of Al, setting out to find a tropical rainforest in Northumberland in The Station: Fourstones at Live Theatre on Sunday 12 June at 7.30pm.
As Live Theatre’s latest production A Walk On Part nears the end of its second week, audiences are being given the exclusive opportunity to meet the creative team behind the project in two free events. The play sees former MP for Sunderland South, Chris Mullin’s diaries adapted for the stage for the first time.
Exactly one year after the dramatic fall of New Labour, Live Theatre is offering audiences ringside seats to a riveting, witty and moving insider's account of how this unique phenomenon dominated British politics for a decade, before a series of self-inflicted blows finally led to a knock-out at last year's General Election.
Following the recent sell-out success of The Chalet Lines, Donna Eats Shit and Me & Cilla acclaimed writer Lee Mattinson is back at Live Theatre this Easter with his latest hilarious Facebook drama Jonathan Likes This.
Star of the popular TV shows Wild at Heart, DCI Banks and Drop the Dead Donkey Stephen Tompkinson has hailed a new college course, which will equip a new generation of students with the skills needed to succeed as part of a technical and production team.
Originally produced by Newcastle’s acclaimed Live Theatre, and following sell-out seasons at the National Theatre and on Broadway, Bill Kenwright presents the award-winning play THE PITMEN PAINTERS, which embarks on a National tour this spring prior to opening in the West End.
Image: Keith Pattinson
Behind every good suit is a clever and gifted tailor and this is definitely the case in Live Theatre’s latest production Faith & Cold Reading where actor Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, DCI Banks, Ballykissangel and Drop the Dead Donkey) is receiving rave reviews for his role as menacing gangster ‘Freddie the Suit’.
As the production of Faith & Cold Reading enters its third week, award-winning director Jonathan Moore is preparing to share his varied and colourful career in the arts with audiences at Live Theatre during a Meet the Writer & Director event on Saturday 26 February at 5pm.
The bizarre, moving and slightly grubby world of boys on the verge of adulthood has proved intriguing for audiences at Live Theatre with tickets for the latest Live Lab event Boys on the Edge on Thursday 3 March selling out.
Innovative partnership between private and cultural sectors
Chef and restaurateur Terry Laybourne is expanding his 21 Hospitality Group by developing a new pub and food venue in Newcastle in partnership with Live Theatre.
Since 2008 young people living on Tyneside, including refugee and asylum seekers, have had the chance to share their views on life growing up in 21st century Newcastle via a number of unique theatrical projects at Live Theatre.
After spending the festive period donning wigs, lipstick and extravagant costumes for his role as Sarah the Cook in Dick Whittington and his Cat at the Lyric Hammersmith, North Shields born Shaun Prendergast is back on Tyneside for an entirely different theatrical project.
With the festivities over and winter still clinging on, we’re all looking for a reason to smile. So why not start the New Year with lashings of laughter at Live Theatre.
Live Theatre’s January to April 2011 season is jam-packed with quality entertainment providing a host of unique nights out over the coming months.
The North East’s largest independent Motor Group, Benfield has given Newcastle’s Live Theatre an early Christmas present in the form of a cash boost of £100,000 to support the fantastic education and outreach work carried out by the Theatre over the next 5 years.
Award-winning South Shields comedian Sarah Millican will be brightening up the cold winter nights with a six date sell-out run at Newcastle’s Live Theatre as well as performing at a special royal engagement this week.
Thursday 2 December, 8pm
If there’s one thing that is worth braving the cold weather for it is the chance to see renowned accordionist clown Tim Dalling as he takes to the stage to perform The Unhappy King, a one-man show combining his mastery of music with masks, puppetry and shadows at Live Theatre this week.
Following the sell-out success of Girls On The Verge and Therapy & Peter Creme’s Eyes in October, Live Theatre’s popular New Writing Studio Sessions continue with an exploration into anti-social behaviour and a laugh-out-loud, Butlins based comedy this week.
Ever had an idea for a play but weren’t sure how to develop it? Thought about giving writers Lee Hall or Shelagh Stephenson a run for their money? Live Theatre’s exciting new online course www.beaplaywright.com, which launches on Thursday 25 November, is the ideal choice for all budding playwrights.
This weekend Live Theatre will be transformed into a virtual world called Sheerport as it hosts an interactive afternoon of free entertainment, music and drama on Sunday 7 November from 2pm.
Live Theatre will be celebrating the best in emerging writing talent with a New Writing double-bill featuring Therapy by Dick Curran and Peter Creme’s Eyes by Tracey Whitwell from Thursday 28 to Saturday 30 October.
Following the successful opening night of The Pitmen Painters on Broadway (Thursday 30 September) the cast and creative team behind the award-winning show joined Sir Alan and Lady Collins, at the British Consul-General’s Residence in New York.
Live Theatre’s A Play, A Pie & A Pint season will come to a dramatic close next week when Blythe Duff, who plays DS Jackie Reid in the ITV drama Taggart, stars in David Harrower’s (Blackbird) new play Good With People which opens at Live Theatre on Monday 11 October.
Fresh from her success in the ITV drama Joe Maddison’s War local actress Melanie Hill (Bread, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Crocodile Shoes and Stardust) will be making her Live Theatre debut in the world premiere of Inheritance by Mike Packer.
Trays full of tasty Dicksons pies are being wolfed down by hungry tea-time theatre-goers as part of the new A Play, A Pie & A Pint series at Live Theatre. Peckish audiences are being treated to a delicious pie, provided by Dicksons, before being invited to take their seats to enjoy a new by one of the UK’s leading writers.
Anyone looking for a unique way to wind down with friends after work or celebrate the end of the week with a lunchtime treat with a difference should head to Live Theatre for its new A Play, A Pie & A Pint series which blasts off with Marie Jones’ Fly Me To The Moon on 13 September at 6pm.
Shoppers going about their usual Saturday afternoon routines in Newcastle city centre were treated to a vision in yellow as they came face to face with two girls promoting Live Theatre’s latest gripping production The Girl In The Yellow Dress.
Forward Theatre Project, one of Paines Plough’s associate companies, is looking for volunteer local lads and lasses to help them develop a brand new piece of theatre exploring the close sense of community in Newcastle and the concept of local icons.
Leaders of some of the North East’s principal, building based, arts organisations and prominent artists from the region voiced their concerns about the impact of deep or hasty cuts to the arts budget, warning that a hard won sense of place and confidence could be put at risk. Read Live Theatre supporter Lee Hall's thoughts.
South Shield’s lad, Chris Ramsey, who will do anything to get out of a fight, whatever the consequences, is thrilled to be previewing his new Edinburgh Festival show Aggro-phobic at Live Theatre on Thursday 29 July.
It is with enormous sadness that Live Theatre has heard of the untimely death of the playwright Alan Plater. Live Theatre was privileged to have had a long and fruitful association with Alan, who wrote many plays for the company.
King Kong’s son, Rifle the farting rat and Tanny the bull are just some of the colourful and imaginative characters that will be taking the stage by storm at Live Theatre as part of the exciting education initiative First Draft, from Thursday 1 to Saturday 3 July.
James Grieve and George Perrin, the new artistic directors of Paines Plough, London’s leadings new writing theatre, will be heading north as part of their first season at the helm bringing their new show Come to Where I’m From to Live Theatre on Saturday 19 June.
Haven't got a ticket for this year's World Cup? Then join retired footballer-cum-alcoholic-pundit-from Hell, Bob Doolally for his Comedy World Cup Countdown, as he brings his off the wall predictions for South Africa 2010 to Live Theatre.
Nine young actors from Live’s Youth Theatre are celebrating after helping to raise enough funds to perform Playing With My Heart, a story about football, friendship and the Angel of the North, at the 2010 Prague Fringe Festival in June.
It’s all kicking off at Live Theatre this week as a new play exploring the moral complexities of anti-social behaviour will be performed as a rehearsed reading on Thursday 6 May at 8pm. Featuing Trevor Fox (Billy Elliot: The Musical), Michael Hodgson (The Pitmen Painters), Laura Norton (Jump!) and Tracy Gillman (Me & Cilla).
The American artist Winslow Homer arrived in the North East fishing village of Cullercoats in 1881 planning to stay for two weeks. Shelagh Stephenson’s new play A Northern Odyssey, directed by award-winning director Max Roberts (The Pitmen Painters), explores what it was about the landscape and its people that kept him there for nearly two years.
Charlie Hardwick, who plays Val Pollard in Emmerdale and Trevor Fox (Billy Elliot The Musical) will be taking to the stage at Live Theatre to perform a rehearsed reading of Attachments by Julia Darling on Sunday 21 March at 7.30pm, in what will be the final event of the new writing festival Different Stages.
Budding writers and theatre enthusiasts are being invited to take part in a weekend of exciting events and workshops as part of Live Theatre’s new writing festival Different Stages.
Tony award-winning playwright Lee Hall (The Pitmen Painters and Billy Elliot) will be returning to his home town when he officially launches Live Theatre’s new writing festival Different Stages this week.
Live Theatre is delighted to announce that, due to popular demand, a new date has been added to this season’s fixtures for the stage comedy Beating Berlusconi!
Tynemouth-born playwright Shelagh Stephenson, who now lives in London, will be returning to the region when she visits Live Theatre for the rehearsed reading of her latest work A Northern Odyssey on Thursday 4 February.
The Pitmen Painters, written by Tony Award winner Lee Hall, Directed by Max Roberts, starring the acclaimed original cast will open on Broadway in September 2010 at the Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
January to April 2010
Looking for a dramatic start to 2010? Then why not head down to Live Theatre on Newcastle’s quayside this season where four invited theatre companies will be sharing tales of legends, liars and lovers as well as the true story of one football fans dream game.
Need cheering up? With the festivities over and winter officially here, we’re all looking for a reason to smile. Why not start the New Year with lashings of laughter at Live Theatre courtesy of some of the country’s rising comedy talent including Dublin funny-man David O’Doherty and The Ginge, the Geordie and the Geek.
Are you looking for a unique gift or quirky stocking-filler to impress your friends and family with this Christmas? Then why not take advantage of the selection of jaw-aching and toe-tapping events lined up to take place at Live Theatre in January 2010.
Jump! Post-Show Discussion
Thursday 26 November, 9pm
If you’re looking for a relaxing and enjoyable alternative to late night Christmas shopping then why not visit Live Theatre and meet the director and the cast of Lisa McGee’s new play Jump!
Three good time girls will be stepping out in style in their killer heels for the explosive opening night of Live Theatre’s latest production, Jump! by Lisa McGee on Friday 20 November at 7.30pm.
Live Theatre is celebrating after successfully securing an investment of £923,000 (one of the most significant awards of its kind) from the Arts Council’s Sustain fund.
Jump!
To celebrate the count down to opening night of Live Theatre’s latest production Jump! writer Lisa McGee will be at Live Theatre to talk about her influences and experiences writing for stage and screen on Thursday 5 November at 8pm.
Five talented, emerging playwrights will hit Newcastle on Monday 26 October to begin a breathtaking two week race through the city in which they will be asked to explore, interrogate and soak up everything they find to create five short new plays.
Live Theatre is delighted to be hosting two very different new plays by two exciting and talented writers courtesy of London based British East Asian theatre company, Yellow Earth. A cast of five will perform two unique shows back to back for a weekend of east meets west.
JUICE, NewcastleGateshead’s festival for children and young people gets off to a theatrical start on Thursday October 22 with First Draft, six exciting new plays written by 10 year olds from Newcastle.
13.1 by Mike Kenny
Wednesday 16 to Thursday 24 September at Live Theatre
Specially commissioned as part of the BUPA Great North Run Cultural Programme
The cast of Live Theatre’s latest family production will be limbering up on Newcastle’s quayside as they squeeze in some last minute training before 13.1, a new play about the Great North Run by award-winning writer Mike Kenny, which opens on Wednesday 16 September.
Audiences are being encouraged to follow a series of pink footprints that have been left behind by Diane, played by Vicky Elliott and her sister Alice, played by Sonia Beinroth. The competitive duo will be warming up in preparation for run which they are attempting in order to raise money for charity in memory of their Mam.
Live Theatre is kicking off its new season of live entertainment with the popular writers’ event, Short Cuts on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 September at 8pm.
Laughter lovers are being invited to join award-winning comedian’s Daniel Kitson, Jon Richardson, John Gordillo and local prankster Steve Drayton as they step into the spotlight for a series of hilarious gigs, sponsored by Potts, the print company, at Newcastle’s Live Theatre this autumn.
The stories of wives, mothers and girlfriends of military personnel from the North East are soon to be shared with audiences across the UK when Live Theatre’s award-winning production Motherland embarks on a much anticipated UK tour.
Families looking for something different to do this summer need look no further than Live Theatre, on Newcastle’s quayside, where they are invited to enjoy a weekend of theatrical events as part of Summer Mix-Up, Live Theatre’s annual education and participation festival.
The second of Live Theatre’s new writing summer double-bills will take place this week with rehearsed readings of Paddy Campbell’s script Dial-A-Mate and Islanders by Dick Curran on Thursday 2 July at 8pm.
This week footballer John Beresford described the decisions made over the last 12 months by Newcastle United’s current owner Mike Ashley and Managing Director Derek Llambias as ideal material to create the ultimate guide on “How Not to Run a Football Club”.
To find out, visit Live Theatre on Newcastle’s quayside for four nights of jaw-aching comedy this summer.
After 16 seasons in top flight football Newcastle United fans are beginning to come to terms with life in the Championship. You Really Couldn’t Make It Up is a humorous and wry look at the tumultuous events of the last 10 months.
Audiences will have the chance to meet the stars and creative team behind Live Theatre’s latest smash hit show Looking For Buddy during a special post show event on Thursday 11 June.
Hosted by Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Max Roberts members of the public will be able to meet.
Watershed & Crush – New Writing Studio Sessions
Thursday 4 June, 8pm
Live Theatre will be celebrating the best in emerging writing talent at the first of its New Writing Studio Session summer double-bills with two rehearsed readings of Watershed and Crush on Thursday 4 June at 8pm.
Local environmental expert and public speaker Prof. Paul Younger will be sharing his views on the role traditional industries still have to play in creating a sustainable economic future for the region by utilising the natural resources that have, until now, been written off.
Live Theatre is delighted to be hosting the North East premiere of Hand-me-Down, an immersive, intimate and funny one-woman show.
Anyone looking for something funny and entertaining to do this weekend should visit Live Theatre on Newcastle’s quayside where they will able to spend the night laughing along to exciting new material from Live’s very own batch of top young comedy talent.
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Presented by The Octagon Theatre, Bolton & Live Theatre
Tim Healy will be returning to Newcastle’s Live Theatre following a 14 year absence to star in a new play Looking For Buddy, written by one of the country’s most entertaining playwrights Jarrow born Alan Plater.
The Shakespearean tale of young love is being brought to Live Theatre with a lively twist in the new musical production, Up There In Lights.
Audiences are in for a theatrical treat when some of the region’s finest young actors take to the stage at Live Theatre for a rehearsed reading of Jump! on Thursday 2 April.
Live Theatre is delighted to be hosting two unique productions from Yorkshire based touring companies Mind The Gap and The Paper Birds this spring.
Live Theatre and the Theatre Royal Newcastle are delighted to announce that Lee Hall’s critically-acclaimed play, The Pitmen Painters, will be returning to Newcastle for a five day run at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday 29 September as part of a nine week UK tour.
“Say NO to ID Cards”
In today’s society, our wallets and purses bulge with different kinds of cards that play various significant roles in our lives.
Tyneside's very own cult comedian Gavin Webster returns to Live Theatre for three nights only from Thurs 26 – Sat 28th March with a high octane, hard hitting, brand new 90 minute show at his spiritual home on Newcastle's quayside.
Audiences are invited to celebrate the life and work of one of the region's most respected writers, Julia Darling, at Live Theatre this March.
Toon Army fans the world over have been following the recent media circus surrounding Newcastle United in disbelief as their team experiences one of its most turbulent seasons to date.
Live Theatre, Northern Stage and Theatre Royal Newcastle have officially unveiled details of the Free Theatre Initiative that will provide free theatre tickets to young people at all three venues.
Anyone interested in chasing away the winter blues with an evening of rib-tickling entertainment should head straight to Live Theatre, on Newcastle’s quayside, and laugh along to some of the best in stand-up comedy.
Live Theatre is delighted to announce that The Pitmen Painters by Lee Hall, winner of the 2008 Evening Standard Award for ‘Best Play’, will be taking to the road for a 9-week UK tour in autumn 2009.
Three of Newcastle upon Tyne’s principal Theatres; the Theatre Royal, Northern Stage and Live Theatre, have been offered funding as a part of Arts Council England’s national scheme, the Free Theatre Initiative, that will provide free theatre tickets to young people.
Green Support Services company eaga has joined forces with Newcastle’s Live Theatre to work with young people to create short plays inspired by the theme of climate change and environmental issues.
Lee Hall’s play The Pitmen Painters, first performed at Newcastle’s Live Theatre, has been crowned winner in the ‘Best Play’ category at the Evening Standard Awards, this year presented by actor Richard Wilson.
The Pitmen Painters is to be translated into German for a performance at Vienna's Volkstheater in April 2009.
A campaign calling for a public inquiry into the deaths of Privates Sean Benton, Cheryl James, Geoff Gray and James Collinson at Deepcut army barracks has notched up over 1000 signatures since its launch on 17 September 2008.
Live Theatre, Broad Chare, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3DQ. Admin (0191) 261 2694 Box office (0191) 232 1232
Live Theatre is operated by North East Theatre Trust Limited, a registered Charity No. 513771
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