Live Theatre in Newcastle has always been about creativity and exploration. This autumn the theatre becomes a platform for artists to tell some of their most personal and political stories when productions range from a world premiere by a former Durham prisoner to Live’s very first family show co-written with local school children.
Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me
Live Theatre launches the first national tour of Amy Trigg’s critically acclaimed Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me, presented by Paines Plough, The Women’s Prize for Playwrighting, 45 North and Kiln Theatre. You can expect a super fun, joyous, laugh-out-loud, stand-up style show about dating, learning to love yourself and body positivity. Runs from Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 September before touring the UK.
Your Voice Your Future: North East
This is a showcase platform of writers new to Live Theatre where eight artists will present bold new visons of what the world can be. Running from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 September this will be a unique opportunity to experience visionary new work today by the stars of tomorrow.
heartfelt
Hearts and heartlessness are the subjects of heartfelt presented by radical North East artist gobscure on Wednesday 19 October. This is wildly inventive, disability-led show by a theatre voice that is as complex as it is dazzling.
Poltergeist
Running from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 October there’s a ghostly treat for Halloween as Live Theatre presents a special reading with live music of Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist. A spine-chilling and deeply personal tale of haunting and grief written by legendary writer David Almond (Skellig).
One Off
The flagship show of the season is One Off; an electric piece of writing by Ric Renton, based on his astonishing true story of being incarcerated in HMP Durham. The story follows three young prisoners and their unlikely friendship with a prison night guard and how Ric’s own life was saved by a discovery of language. Bursting with energy and humour this incredible ensemble drama runs from Thursday 10 to Saturday 26 November.
Tomorrow’s Parties
Live will host the UK’s pioneering theatre company Forced Entertainment for the first time, to present their mind-expanding work Tomorrow’s Parties on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 November. This is a playful, poignant and at times delirious look forward to futures both possible and impossible. From utopian and dystopian visions, political nightmares and absurd fantasies, Forced Entertainment deliver a thought-provoking theatrical explosion.
Wintry Tales and Wishes on the Wind
Live is producing a family show this Christmas, Wintry Tales, written by major national playwright Rory Mullarkey in collaboration with school children across the North East. This highly visual, feverishly comic and uniquely interactive family treat will open on Sunday 4 December, perfect for anyone aged 4+ and their families.
Alongside it will be Live Theatre’s alternative Christmas show from Thursday 8 to Sunday 18 December. Wishes on the Wind by Benjamin Storey, fuses Northumbrian identity, folk music and family tradition with a short curtain raiser by Alison Scurfield.
Find out more and book tickets pronto from www.live.org.uk or call Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.
