A new season of entertaining, imaginative and engaging theatre has been launched this week by Live Theatre.
Next summer there is an exciting collaboration with Carnegie Medal-winning author, David Almond (Skellig),to present The Savage (30 June to 23 July), his first full length play for Live Theatre. This creative theatrical reimagining of his critically acclaimed short story has been commissioned to mark the launch of Live Tales, our new creative writing centre for children and young people which is at the heart of the new outdoor performance area and gardens next to the theatre.
Max Roberts, Artistic Director, Live Theatre said:
“It’s great to have a writer of David’s quality and reputation writing for Live Theatre. His enthusiasm and support for Live Tales our Children’s Writing Centre has been enormous and The Savage marks its opening. I’m very much looking forward to bringing his play to fruition moulding David’s rich lyrical writing with music and beautiful settings that will appeal to a wide age range of audiences.”
Next year also sees a welcome return for Alison Carr, with the world premiere of Iris (6 April to 30 April), a heady cocktail of caustic humour and tender pathos and her first full-length show in Live’s main theatre. Alison was the winner of Live Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Bursary for The Soaking of Vera Shrimp.
Gez Casey, Literary Manager said:
“Alison Carr has a distinct and individual voice as a playwright – witty, quirky and engaging. Following her previous work for the company, including The Girls From Poppyfield Close and The Soaking of Vera Shrimp in our Studio Theatre, I’m delighted that audiences will be able to see her first full commission in the Main House.”
Young voices continue to make themselves heard in Write Stuff (4 March), and members of Live’s Youth Theatre perform in The Media Circus (5 & 6 March) and along with young learning disabled actors in Always the Bridesmaid (19 & 20 February),written by award winning playwright Mike Kenny in a collaboration with Headway Arts in Blyth.
See exciting new work performed for the very first time in Live Lab which this season launches two new projects, Live Lab Elevator festival (9 to 13 February) and Live Lab Takeover (21 & 22 May) which present new theatre and work-in-progress showcases. This also includes new work from Northumbria University MA students, as part of the recently announced partnership.
The quayside based Theatre is also looking forward to welcoming some of the country’s most exciting visiting theatre companies.
Among the exciting visiting theatre programme, is Iphigenia in Splott, (11 & 12 March), winner of Best Play in the UK Theatre Awards 2015; as well as Land of our Fathers, (27 to 30 January), compelling account of six Welsh miners trapped down a mine as Margaret Thatcher wins the 1979 general election; and Petrification, (26 to 28 May) the world premiere of a new piece by Zoe Cooper, (Nativities) the past and present collide with dizzying consequences.
The latest addition to the season is Bits of Me Are Falling Apart (24 to 27 February), which sees Adrian Edmondson staring in a new adaption of William Leith’s hilarious and touching bestselling novel, directed by Steve Marmion, Artistic Director of Soho Theatre.
Live Theatre will also host live music from Jumpin’ Hot Club and this season there will be live stand-up from comedian Mark Watson (2 & 3 June) as part of his national tour.
For more information about Live Theatre’s January to June 2016 season or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact the box office on (0191) 232 1232.