Preview: Elevator Festival at Newcastle Live Theatre

New plays from rising talent at Live Theatre’s Elevator Festival

Elevator Festival

Newcastle Live Theatre

Saturday 10^th to Saturday 17^th March 2018

New plays from writers and companies selected by Live Theatre for their exceptional new ideas will be show-cased in Elevator Festival, which returns for its third edition between Saturday 10 to Saturday 17 March 2018.

Picked as ones to watch in the new generation of theatre-makers, the companies were awarded a coveted Live Theatre bursary to develop their plays. Three of the four plays are being shown in front of an audience for the very first time at Elevator Festival.

Graeme Thompson, Creative Producer, Live Theatre said “This is a fantastic opportunity to see an evening of plays by some of the hottest new talent currently making theatre. And to join them for insights into the theatre making process.”

The plays cover topics as diverse infamous Byker one man crime wave in Rat Boy written by Christina Dawson and Lee Mattinson, complete with a banging 90s rave soundtrack, and how one accident can change your perception of everything in Spoon Theory by Rebekah Bowsher. Rat Boy and Spoon Theory are presented as a Double Bill on Tuesday 13, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 March.

Two very different works-in-progress are presented. Paper. Scissors. Stone. by Fringe First-winner Katie Bonna tells the interwoven stories of three generations of women, through glitter-soaked songs inspired the golden age of musical theatre. See Paper. Scissors. Stone. at Elevator Festival on Wednesday 14 March, following its premier at Vault Festival, London.

Nuclear Future by Gameshow is work-in-progress show for our volatile times that looks at nuclear weapons in a new light through video, sound and live performance, on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 March.

Elevator Festival Scratch Night will contain short extracts of very early stage work-in-progress from leading theatre artists from across the region on Thursday 15 March. Work presented includes a semi-autobiographical story and live original music from Live Theatre Associate Artist, and I, Daniel Blake Actor Kema Sikazwe, a look at gender and sexuality by Jonluke McKie and an exploration of being consumed the crowd by GIFT Festival Director Kate Craddock. Audience feedback helps shape future development of the shows.

The artists will also lead workshops and discussions as they give their insights into making new theatre.  Live Theatre’s incoming Artistic Director Joe Douglas will lead a Directors Masterclass on Saturday 10 March in his first event at Live Theatre, with a second workshop added at 2pm due to popular demand. Writer Katie Bonna and Director Hannah Joss share their insights into Making Theatre From Real-Life Stories and how to navigate the moral maze of presenting them on stage in a free workshop on Thursday 15 March.

Audiences at Elevator Festival last year said:

“What a flipping brilliant night of theatre.”

“Brilliant night, loads of talented writers and performers.”

“Loved it, great to see new theatre forming.”

Live Theatre has also launched it’s call out for its 2018 Bursary offering £2,000, support and space to develop innovative new theatre for next year’s Elevator Festival. See www.live.org.uk/bursary for details.

Tickets:

Tickets for plays in Elevator Festival cost between £3 and £8, with some events free, and the Director’s Masterclass £10. Live Theatre has extended availability of its concession priced tickets to include all young people aged 25 and under, proof of age is needed when booking or collecting tickets.

To book tickets and to find out more contact Live Theatre’s box office on (0191) 232 1232 or visit www.live.org.uk/elevator.