Live Writes
“A North East that writes its own story and fights for a more creative future” - Live Theatre vision
What is Live Writes? …it’s a Scratch Night, with a twist.
Live Theatre’s brand new writing showcase and development event with all creative positions filled from Open Calls for North East based Writers, Directors and Actors. A whole host of opportunities for theatre creatives of all experiences to flourish in a safe and supportive space, with live feedback, networking and championing of the amazing artists of our region.
Live Writes is all about the words on the page, for writers to experience their work in progress up on its feet and have a panel of theatre experts share their thoughts to help develop their script and future craft going forwards.
Each Live Writes event will see a handful of writers chosen from an open submission window to have their work performed in a scratch setting in our main theatre space in front of a panel of industry experts and a full house audience. Rehearsals, tech and performances all happen over one wild day, with no set and minimal props and tech.
Directors and Actors for each piece will also be selected from open windows, getting to choose which script they would like to be considered for from the synopses and character breakdowns of the four pieces.
Not only that, our open calls take place 4 times a year, and are only open to artists based in the North East.
These are all paid opportunities with every creative receiving the same day fee of £150. For writers, this is intended as a rights fee to perform your work and not a commission fee.
We can’t wait to see your creativity hit our stage!
Our Dougie By Matthew Mclane
Recently-widowed Carol comes up to the North-East to meet Jerry, a friend of her husband's with whom he lost touch 50 years ago. Jerry didn't think he'd get this opportunity to reconnect with his past, so wants to learn as much about his old friend while he can, but Carol knows rather more about him than he realises.
Supernova By Molly Barnes-Tate
Elliot is no longer waiting. Twenty years after he was abandoned without so much as a goodbye, Ara – an immortal entity, devoted to the creation of the intricate fabric that is the galaxy – is finally returning. Seeing this as an opportunity to seek closure, Elliot meets Ara on a street corner, witnessed by an audience of Ara’s finest work. Soon, their shared past and the ensnared emotions unravel, Elliot’s now-cold feelings about what they once were and what he has done since Ara departed laid bare on the cobbles. Human and celestial alike are forced to confront the connection they once had, and all that Elliot gave up in the desperate hope that the love he once had would eventually return, a hope that has long since faded. ‘Supernova’ is a play that explores the consequences of withholding your heart for another, and what it means once that love burns out.
Medusa By Andrew Thompson
Medusa has snuck into a museum event by pretending to be a waiter so that she can see the exhibition as she can't afford a ticket. She meets Perseus, a successful actor, who, thinking she works here, hands her his drink. She accuses him of snobbery and not understanding or caring about the work or people. To prove her point she takes his wallet and refuses to give it back. Looking through it she learns he is the son of famous parents and they clash over the concept of nepotism. There is however clearly a spark developing between them but when he pushes her to talk more about herself she escapes.
Zuzu's Petals By Jamie McLeish
Nick is selfish. Nick is inconsiderate. Nick is dead. Having spent a lifetime in self-indulgence and excess, Nick’s only saving grace is his love for his 8-year-old Daughter, Alice. But after being hit by a van and losing his life, Nick is greeted by his potty-mouthed guide Angel, who not-so-gently makes him aware that he is dead. Nick is also informed that due to his dissolute life, he is likely to end up in ‘the bad place’, unless he can prove he can perform one selfless act for the benefit of another person, without any hidden agenda or strings attached.
