Dave Flynn - An Appreciation

The North East Arts & Cultural Sector has sadly lost one of its most creative practitioners.
Dave Flynn born 15 April 1974 was The Technical Director at Live Theatre having started working for the company as a young technician 23 years ago.
Constantly developing, he became a highly skilled sound engineer and extremely talented theatrical sound designer.
He also oversaw the transformation of Live Theatre’s technical and digital resources sourcing and commissioning the company’s equipment that helped shape Live Theatre as one of the country’s leading new writing theatre producers. Crucial to delivering production standards of the highest order, way beyond the company’s scale and finances.
As a former Artistic Director of the company it was my good fortune to work alongside him where he played an integral role in creating an unprecedented body of work that delighted our audiences here in Newcastle. Many of the shows found a life elsewhere in London and on tour nationally and internationally.
I remember many long and arduous technical rehearsals where on numerous occasions I was simply at a loss as to how we might move the play forward – I would turn to Dave and ask for inspiration.
And always Dave would offer an elegant solution. He optimized the essence of creative ensemble endeavor.
Through sound and music, he was able to create moments of magical theatricality mixing his masterful understanding of technology, an encyclopedic knowledge of music across all genres and an extensive library of sound effects he had sourced or created over many years’.
He could enhance moments of emotional poignancy, he could conjure up a sound to make us laugh as well as providing sudden explosions that could make an audience jump out of their seats. He was an alchemist - a quiet and understated genius.
Dave was generous with his time and mentored a number of younger technicians who were grateful for his guidance as they progressed into the industry.
Dave’s loss has been sudden. He was taken ill during technical rehearsals for Live’s recent Autumn production, Saint Maud’. Two weeks later he posted on social media in his usual understated manner that he had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and was to spend time being the best version of himself and with his children and loved ones.
Those of us who knew him were completely stunned and had no idea that the end would come with such tragic alacrity.
I understand Dave passed away peacefully last Tuesday evening on 10 December at the Marie Curie Hospice in Gosforth listening to Oasis one of his favourite bands.
He leaves behind two beautiful children, Oscar aged 8 and Mila aged 5 who will grow up proud in the knowledge that their Dad was an incredibly gifted creative artist and a brilliant human being.
Finally our thoughts must go out to his loving mother and father Ken and Mary, sister Katherine and partner Lesley and her children.
I hope this appreciation can in some small way convey how fondly he will be remembered by his close friends and colleagues who will long respect his professionalism and talent.
Max Roberts 12 December 2024
Former Artistic Director of Live Theatre Company