First Live Theatre and Northumbria University joint
Writer in Residence announced as Paddy Campbell
Live Theatre and Northumbria University are delighted to announce its first
partnership Writer in Residence, launching a three year collaborative Writer
Residency programme that will run from 2015 to 2018.
Paddy Campbell, writer
of Live Theatre successes Wet House and Day of the Flymo, and a Northumbria University graduate will be the inaugural
partnership Writer in Residence, from May 2015 to May 2016, developing new work
and collaborating with students and staff at Northumbria University to enhance research and teaching.
The appointment was
announced to press at Live Theatre during the opening night of Rendezvous, which celebrated the life
and work of novelist, poet and playwright Julia Darling. Julia was writer in
residence at Live Theatre from 2001 to 2003, and this year marks the tenth
anniversary of her death.
Max Roberts, Artistic
Director, Live Theatre, said: “At a time where when Live Theatre is
remembering the legacy of Julia Darling, one of its writers in residence who
did so much to encourage other writers, it is appropriate that Paddy, who has
come through Live Theatre’s writing development programme, is the first
partnership Writer in Residence between Live Theatre and Northumbria
University.”
Lucy Winskell OBE, Pro
Vice-Chancellor (Business and Engagement), said: “I’m thrilled that the
first Northumbria University and Live Theatre Writer in Residence will be one
of our graduates, the playwright Paddy Campbell. Paddy’s recent plays at
Live Theatre have demonstrated his tremendous talent and I’m extremely excited
to see what he produces next while working closely with staff and students at
the University. This three-year collaboration will build on the University’s
partnership with Live Theatre and our joint commitment to enhancing arts and
culture in the region and beyond.”
Lucy added: “By
working in partnership with internationally acclaimed arts organisations like Live Theatre, Northumbria will continue to invest in emerging
creative talent to boost the economic, social and cultural development of the
region and create new ways to inspire and engage students at the University.”
Paddy Campbell said: “I
feel greatly privileged to have been given this opportunity. Live Theatre has
supported my writing from the very start and I'm thrilled to have the chance to
develop new plays for the company during my residency. I moved to Newcastle fifteen years ago to study at Northumbria University and had such a good time I decided to
stay. I'm hugely grateful to Northumbria for their partnership in this
residency and look forward to working with them during the next year.”
Paddy’s most recent
play Day of the Flymo which follows a brother and sister as they come
into contact with the care system will return to Live Theatre from Thursday 12
to Saturday 21 November. The play and had a sell-out run at Live Theatre in
April 2015 and was awarded 4 stars by The
Guardian.
Another previous writer in
residence who has had a long and fruitful relationship with Live Theatre is Lee
Hall whose work includes Billy Elliot and The Pitmen Painters.
Lee’s latest play, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour has its English
premiere at Live Theatre from 1 to 24 October.
Over the next three
years the joint Writer Residency Programme will contribute to Northumbria’s ongoing partnerships with the
cultural sector that nurture and support emerging creative talent across the
North.
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