Preview: Newcastle Live Theatre Autumn '22

 

Every Voice Must Be Heard: Live Theatre’s thrilling autumn season is made up of deeply personal stories from across society

Live Theatre in Newcastle becomes a platform for artists to tell some of their most personal and political stories this Autumn, with productions ranging from a world premiere by a former Durham prisoner to Live’s very first family show co-written with local school children. Creativity is within all of us and the current programme is testament to that, where people from wide ranging ages and circumstances can find their words come to life on Live Theatre’s iconic stage.  

COMING UP 

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.  

But before that, Live Theatre is honoured to launch 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. This is a super fun, joyous, laugh out loud, stand-up style show about dating, learning to love yourself and body positivity and runs from Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 September before touring the UK.  

Hearts and heartlessness are the subjects of heartfelt presented by radical North East artist gobscure on Wednesday 19 October. A wildly inventive, disability-led show by a theatre voice that is as complex as it is dazzling.  

Later that month, 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). 

OUR FUTURE 

Your Voice Your Future: North East will be 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.  

And in keeping with future thinking Live are thrilled to 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. 

CHRISTMAS TALES 

Live will be producing their first 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. 

Tickets:

Find out more and book tickets pronto from www.live.org.uk or call Box Office on (0191) 232 1232.