Double the difference as Live Theatre joins the Big Give's Christmas Challenge
Live Theatre is excited to be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025, to raise £4000 in just one week to support the theatre’s valuable work with North East writers and theatre makers including the acclaimed Live Writes programme.
From midday on Tuesday 2 to Tuesday 9 December all donations to Live Theatre will be generously matched by Big Give, £1, for £1, doubling the difference and impact like magic!
Alison Nicholson Fundraising and Development Manager at Live Theatre said: “We’re delighted to be participating for the very first time in the Big Give Christmas Challenge with an aim of raising an ambitious total of £4000 in just seven days. Every single pound donated is matched, meaning twice the time, twice the space, twice the support for North East theatre makers. In order to access the £2000 we have in the matching pot, we need to raise £2000 in online donations. We hope everyone will give generously at this special time of year to help us reach our target and enable us to carry on the work we love, moving artists from page to stage.”
Donations will enable a programme of support FREE to all North East theatre makers including: two Live Playwriting Courses; potentially career changing commissions through the North East Playwriting Award; the annual Unearthed Festival, a ten day celebration of new theatre; Live Writes open call scratch nights; year-round free R&D, rehearsal space and hot desks.
A number of our incredible Best Friends of Live Theatre have already pledged and we’ve secured Champion funding from The Reed Foundation. All donations made during the Christmas Challenge week will be added to the pot and help to scale up our activity.
John Dawson, Artist Development Producer at Live Theatre said: “Our mission is simple: year-round clear pathways and paid opportunities for artists to build their futures here. When our voices thrive, the region rises. We write our own futures instead of having them written for us. We speak for ourselves on the biggest stages, our stories travel, young people see the route, communities feel seen and accessible art becomes a common ground that brings us all closer together”.
You can play your part in helping us to keep North East stories ours – loud, funny, tender, angry, joyful and utterly ignorable by donating to us in the Big Give Christmas Challenge from 12noon on Tuesday 2 December. Donations can be made through the Big Give link on Live Theatre’s website or directly via www.biggive.org
