Your Voice Your World: North East - new work, new writers, new voices at Live Theatre
YOUR VOICE YOUR WORLD: NORTH EAST – NEW WORK, NEW WRITERS, NEW VOICES AT LIVE THEATRE
Your Voice Your World: North East at Live Theatre Newcastle from Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 September 2023 showcases bold new work by the playwriting stars of tomorrow. Featuring seven short plays by artists and writers, who have not previously had work performed professionally at Live Theatre, it is a unique opportunity for audiences to experience an eclectic mix of visionary pieces.
It’s Prom Night for 16 year old Luce in Impulse written by Louise Marie Powell. Luce, played by Mia Taylor, is boiling with fury at her sister Chez, played by Jemma Martin. Meanwhile Chez is less than impressed with Luce for legging it from blind date Hayley. Writer Louise is the recipient of the Sid Chaplin Northern Writers’ Award 2023 for her novel-in-progress and her play Grown Up Writin’ was one of the joint winners of the Peter Lathan Prize for New Writing 2022.
Hoping to ride out the storm and keep the life she loves on the family farm, an unwelcome visitor forces Gwen to confront the truth in Sarah Davy’s Where We Belong. Sarah is a writer, facilitator and mentor living in rural Northumberland. Sarah won the Finchale Award for Short Fiction for her short story Shepherd at the 2023 Northern Writers Awards. The cast of Where We Belong are Stephanie Putson and Joe Caffrey.
A coffee shop meet with old friends reveals itself to be a modern day Roman coup in Brutus Rex, a spoken word monologue by Wambui Hardcastle. Wambui was a member of both Northern Stage’s Young Company and Live Theatre’s Youth Theatre and is one of the recipients for the North East Emerging Artist Award 2023/24.
In Too Deep by Beth Ellis finds Chris Connel as Mason and Ben Gettins as Bailey, on the banks of the Tyne, wrestling with their inner turmoils as they’re tasked with burying the body of a man accused of having an affair with their boss’ wife. A Geordie girl born and bred, Beth trained in dance, singing and acting and has worked in pantomime, theatre, short film and commercial.
Layla just wants to have a relaxing Easter break and to pass her A Levels, in Emily Ash’s Shed Loads Of Trouble, but waiting anxiously in her IT Teacher’s shed with a balaclava on her head is not how she saw this going. The characters of Layla and Billy are performed by Jemma Martin and Ben Gettins.
In Ahh Women by Clare Baker, Orla played by Bridget Marumo is at church seeking solace and guidance and engaging in a heartfelt conversation with God about her upcoming date with Sam. Clare, a member of the National Youth Theatre, has taken directorial roles and devised plays for young people and is ballet dancer and choreographer.
Two worlds meet and a friendship is born, strengthened by common ground and enriched by distinctions for Leah who was raised in Newcastle and Zeenat in Afghanistan in Pease Puddin’ Sandwiches by Rachael Black. The characters of Leah and Zeenat are performed by Chloe Millar and Meena Al-Nawrasy. Rachael from Peterlee is a writer, community director and practitioner and her first full length play was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and she co-wrote and performed in several sketch shows with Soho Theatres Comedy Lab.
For fifty years Live Theatre has been the voice of the North East, championing the stories of the region, reflecting the contemporary lived experience and supporting and developing talent. The scripts selected for Your Voice Your World North East were selected from an open call out for submissions earlier this year.
Sarah Davy said: “I am over the moon to be selected for this year's Your Voice Your World: North East. Live Theatre is at the heart of the North East theatre scene and having my work performed there is a dream come true. My play explores the lives of rural working class communities and women over 40, and I can't wait for people to hear these voices.”
Louise Powell commented: “It's been a dream of mine to have my work performed at Live Theatre for several years now, and I'm humbled and amazed that it will come true. It took a lot of courage to write Impulse, which is influenced by my experience of being an asexual, working-class woman, but I know the play is in sensitive, respectful hands. I really hope that Impulse helps to foster a greater understanding of asexuality, and makes those who identify as such feel less alone.”
Clare Baker added: “It is a little bit surreal to be having my writing performed on stage at the incredible Live Theatre! To me, my play seems simple at a first glance, but I believe it is a vulnerable and emotional story that needs to be shared and I am beyond excited to see what was once in my head come to life for a young audience. Live Theatre is renowned for finding and producing new talent and I feel incredibly privileged to be part of the community here in the North East.”
Jack McNamara, Artistic Director at Live Theatre commented: “It’s a huge honour for us at Live Theatre to share the work of writers who have never written for out stage before. This is where the future is. There is a great calibre of artists selected here and I can’t wait to see what they do to our theatre!”
The stage is set for a rollercoaster of a journey. For more information and to book tickets go to www.live.org.uk or call Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.
