Artist Development

Live Theatre is dedicated to increasing opportunities for emerging theatre artists in the North East of England and across the UK.

From weekend writing courses and script submission opportunities, to bursaries and space for companies to develop new work, Live Theatre offers support and development to artists, writers and companies enabling new and emerging theatre artists to create quality work and shape the future of theatre.

Write Here, Write Now

Playwriting course for young writers, aimed at young people of colour aged 16-25 who live in Tyne & Wear
Introduction to Playwriting Course

Led by Chinonyerem Odimba, this course will explore some of the key aspects of writing a play for the stage.
Open Castings

Open Castings are for professional actors who haven’t previously auditioned for Live Theatre.
Writers for 10 Minutes To...

A short play project where writers submit plays that respond to a specific theme
Open Undercroft Sessions for Independent Theatre Makers

Independent artists can join members of the creative team to talk about what's on and creative opportunities at Live Theatre, and with visiting artists about their work.
Script Submissions

Live Theatre is interested in imaginative and surprising new plays by writers who challenge existing perceptions of the world we live in
Writer in Residence Live Theatre & Northumbria University

Playwright and poet Chinonyerem Odimba is Live Theatre, and Northumbria University's writer-in-residence 2018
Associate Artists

Every year, we select emerging theatre companies to be our Associate Artists
Bursaries

Live Theatre's annual £2000 Bursary to develop a new piece of theatre.
Elevator Festival

Elevator is an annual festival of amazing new theatre drawn from some of the most exciting new theatre talent from the North East and beyond
Slate - Supporting Black Artists

Live Theatre supports Slate, a new international programme supporting Black independent artists