Is there life on Mars?
Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 June, 7.30pm
Red is the New Blue
Created and performed by Live Lab Associate Artists Rowan McCabe, Matt Miller and Matilda Neill
Presented as part of Live Theatre’s Live Lab programme
On Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 June at 7.30pm Live Theatre will be presenting Red is the New Blue an out of this world show that has been created as part of Live Theatre’s Live Lab programme, which aims to develop new talent and give theatre makers a forum to try out new material and gain insightful feedback.
Set in 2029 Red is the New Blue follows the antics of three ordinary people who are sent to Mars, by Stargaze Incorporated, for a reality TV show like no other. The crew are left alone, abandoned on Mars forever, and it doesn’t take long before the cracks begin to show. The production has been created and will be performed by three emerging theatre makers who have all been awarded Live Lab Associate Artist status. These are spoken word artists Rowan McCabe, Matt Miller and Matilda Neill (who is also one of the members of Live Theatre’s all female sketch group Your Aunt Fanny).
In January 2015, Live Theatre re-launched its Live Lab programme creating more opportunities for budding writers, theatre makers and audience members to get involved. As part of this re-launch Live Lab announced their new Live Lab Associate Artists scheme. The inaugural Live Lab Associate Artists include the three spoken word artists involved in Red is the New Blue and theatre director Anna Ryder, who recently co-directed Rendezvous with Clive Judd at Live Theatre.
The Live Lab Associate Artists receive mentorship from Live Theatre’s literary team as well as career support and talent development.
As Gez Casey, Live Theatre’s literary manager, explains:
“Following the successful Live Lab re-launch earlier in the year, we’re delighted that the collaborative project with three of our Live Lab Associate Artists is going to premiere in the Studio Theatre this June.”
This is the first time that Rowan, Matt and Matilda have worked together to create a show.
Matt Miller said:
“Red is the New Blue initially took the upcoming Mars One space mission as an impetus and asks questions like ‘Why would anybody want to go to Mars forever?’ and ‘What would happen to those individuals? What about our society? Will our voyeurism be fulfilled?’ as well as ‘What actually is there to do on a spaceship?’ It has poignancy. It has poetry. It has tongue in cheek humour. Cos when you’re going to Mars forever, really, you’ve got to be able to laugh about it, don’t you?”
The show fuses together theatre, spoken word and film elements and offers a funny, moving and thought-provoking night out whilst asking audiences what they would do if they found themselves stuck on Mars forever?
Tickets for Red is the New Blue costs £8 full price or £6 for concessions. To book tickets and to find out more visit www.live.org.uk or contact Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232.
Listings
Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 June, 7.30pm
Red is the New Blue
It’s 2029. Stargaze Incorporated send a crew of ordinary people to Mars for a reality TV show. And leave them there. For the rest of their lives. Forever. If they had known they would argue this much, they might not have bothered.
Red is the New Blue is devised and performed by Live Lab Associate Artists Rowan McCabe, Matilda Neill and Matt Miller. Fusing theatre and spoken word the show questions what happens when people become more isolated than anyone ever has before? What motivates a person to embark on a mission like this? And what happens to the loved ones who are left behind?
DATES: Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 June, 7.30pm
TICKETS: £8 full price, £6 concession
LOCATION: Studio Theatre
DURATION: Approx. 1hr 10mins
SUITABILITY: 16+
About Live Theatre
Live Theatre is recognised as one of the great new writing theatres on the international stage. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne it is also deeply rooted in its local community
Live Theatre produces work as varied and diverse as the audiences it engages with. As well as championing the art of writing for stage by producing and presenting new plays, Live Theatres uses theatre to unlock the potential of young people and finds, nurtures and trains creative talent. Through its creative enterprises it is also developing new models of business sustainability and growth.
Founded in 1973, the theatre was transformed in 2007. The result is a beautifully restored and refurbished complex of five Grade II listed buildings with state-of-the-art facilities in a unique historical setting, including a cabaret style theatre, a studio theatre, renovated rehearsal rooms, a series of dedicated writer’s rooms as well as a thriving café and bar.
Live Theatre is a national leader in developing new strategies for increasing income and assets for the charity. New developmentLive Works joins The Broad Chare pub, online playwriting course www.beaplaywright.com and The Schoolhouse (an office space for creative and digital businesses), as one of Live Theatre’s capital and digital creative enterprises, increasing its future income through additional new unrestricted funds.
For more information see www.live.org.uk
Live Theatre is grateful for the support of Arts Council England and Newcastle City Council and its many other friends and supporters.