Live's season springs into life
A melting pot bubbling with new talent, new writing, acclaimed visitors and intriguing stories is on the stove at Live Theatre. Sam Wonfor gives it a stir
It’s fair to say that when it comes to setting out stalls for the year, Live Theatre has knocked it out of the park (or at least the boxing ring) with its first major offering of 2025.
There’s still time to see Ishy Din’s punch-packing family drama, Champion, which premiered at the Newcastle venue earlier this month and runs until March 8.
Set against the backdrop of Muhammad Ali’s four-day visit to the North East in 1977, the play has been applauded by audiences and critics alike.
Flicking through the new season brochure, it’s clear that Champion is very much round one.
If we stay with productions making their debut a stone’s throw from Newcastle Quayside, the wonderfully-titled Dogs on the Metro is the one shining brightest (or barking loudest?) for starters.
Written by Emilie Robson - the inaugural winner of the North East Playwriting Award - audiences will get to soak up this ‘love letter to friendship, lost youth, naivety and our beloved local transport system’ from May 1 to 17.
Launched in January 2024 to put the ‘North East voice centre stage’, the Playwriting Award was open to writers over 16 who were based in the region.
Emilie was praised by judges for her sharp writing, which delivers the story of Jen and Dean over a series of days, months and years as they travel back and forth on the Metro network, reflecting on and comparing their conflicting perceptions of the pivotal events which shaped their lives.
Picking up the baton for new North East writing after the last performance of Dogs on the Metro - and new for 2025 - is the Unearthed Festival.
Billed as ‘a celebration of North East creativity and bold new theatre for a better world’, there will be 11 days filled with new talent, collaborations, workshops and on-stage performances.
Read more: Curated Culture 25.02.25 - our regular what’s on signpost
Live’s artistic director, Jack McNamara said: “From the debut performance of North East actor Daniel Zareie in Champion to Emilie Robson’s award winning premiere of Dogs on The Metro, this first six months at Live Theatre is all about stunning new talent from our region.
“This is cemented by our new Unearthed Festival which will be packed to the brim with new work and artist opportunities to be announced very soon.”
Casting the net wider to see what’s coming from outside Live’s own creative stable, there’s much to savour.
Before the final bell rings for Champion, Open Clasp Theatre Company will kick off a regional tour of Rupture from March 5-8.
Co-created with mothers in prison, the hour-long show tells of a woman called Destiny (played by Narisha Lawson) who escapes onto the prison roof and gets an insight into her situation along with a view beyond the razor wire.
Audiences, say Open Clasp, “will discover for themselves how deep the threads of systematic and societal failures on women in prison go and watch as Destiny decides to take back control”.
The rest of March sees a parade of visiting theatre companies bringing a feast of shows to Live including gig theatre night, Bangers from SH Productions (March 11-13); gripping thriller The Moth from Elysium Theatre Company (March 14-15); babirye bukilwa’s ‘visceral and moving’… blackbird hour (March 18-20); and Unruly, a piece of disabled women-led theatre by Vici Wreford Sinnot (March 22).
April 2 will see Tiata Fahodzi theatre present Everywhere: Triple Bill, a trio of new 30-minute plays by British-African writers all created to instigate conversations and curiosity.
A week later, we’re betting the welcome return of the inspiring and very excellent Penguin - presented by Hamzeh Al Hussein and Amy Golding - (April 9-12) will have audiences on their feet once again as it recounts Hamzeh’s extraordinary true story with humour and beauty.
May’s month-long celebration of new North East talent (see above) is followed by another crowd of incoming productions including the funny and poignant, Buff (June 5); dark comedy, Rum which takes a look at mental health in the building trade (June 6-7); and The Bench -a tale of ‘love, loss and football’ by BBC legend, Jeff Brown (June 11-14).
A dramatic poetry reading of Anna Barker’s Book of Crow - featuring live music from The Shining Levels is booked in for June 17. Meanwhile gifted actress and Whose Line Is It Anyway? regular, Josie Lawrence will create a new play as it happens in What Next? (June 20-21) and Bet ‘n’ Lev Theatre reimagine a queer history of legends in Remythed.
June will be rounded off in style courtesy of House of Love who are bringing their cabaret Plot Twist: A Night At The Movies - featuring performances direct from Newcastle’s LGBTQ+ scene - to Live on June 26. There will also be a celebration of trans-led theatre, hosted in collaboration with Northumbria University and Curious Arts.
Turning to the July pages of the brochure (we’re enjoying an analogue day), you’ll find a cosmic drag and cabaret inspired by Doctor Who, (The Gallifrey Cabaret, July 4-5); Awkward Productions’ award-winning celebration of the people’s princess – Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story (July 9-12); a laugh-laden (yes, really) dive into the realities of gang culture in 90s Glasgow in When We Were Young (July 15-16); and It’s The Economy, Stupid! - a true story of a family caught up in the 90’s recession (July 17).
Last but not least on the spring/summer bill is top drawer comedian, activist and actor, Mark Thomas who will play a recovering addict entering the brave new world of a liberal prison experiment in Ordinary Decent Criminal, (July 23-26).
“It’s a hard time for our sector and an ugly time for us all on a global level,” says Jack.
“It feels more important than ever to pack our programme with the glorious diverse voices that make our world the vibrant and kind place we want it to be.
“We are as thrilled to bring back Hamzeh Al Hussien’s hit show Penguin as we are to host the Trans Performance Now Festival. These are voices and experiences that matter and Live’s stage will always be theirs to call home.”
To find out more about Live’s new season and book tickets, visit the website at www.live.org.uk or call the box office on 0191 232 1232.