Live Lab Elevator at Newcastle Live Theatre

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Celebrate the best new theatre from the North East and beyond in an unmissable weeklong event at Newcastle’s Live Theatre

 
Live Lab Elevator

Newcastle Live Theatre

Tuesday 9^th - Saturday 13^th February 2016

From Tuesday 9^th to Saturday 13^th February celebrate the best new theatre from the North East and beyond with Live Lab Elevator an unmissable weeklong event at Newcastle’s Live Theatre.

Specially curated to bring you the most exciting voices from the theatre world, four original productions are put alongside a host of events including workshops, discussions and the 2016 Live Lab Launch Party.

As Live Theatre’s Creative Producer Graeme Thompson explains: “This new Live Lab event is an opportunity to platform new theatre and engage with artists on a much larger scale then we have before. As part of Elevator we are presenting four outstanding must see productions alongside discussions and workshops hosted by leading UK industry professionals. We hope this will become an annual destination event shining a light on the fantastic work being created within this region and beyond.”

On Wednesday 10^th and Friday 12^th February a Double Bill of plays will be presented in Live Theatre’s Main Theatre. The Double Bill includes the return of Live Lab’s 2015 sell out show Red is the New Blue created by Live Lab Associate Artists Rowan McCabe, Matt Miller and Matilda Neill.

Set in 2029 Red is the New Blue follows the antics of three ordinary people who are sent to Mars for a reality TV show like no other. Alone and abandoned in space it doesn’t take long before the cracks begin to show as the crew become more isolated than anyone ever has before. This revised version of the show includes new film, music, spoken word and a bold new set created by local set designer Luke W. Robson.

The Double Bill also features a heart-achingly funny one woman show by Jenny Lee about the inescapable role technology plays in our lives called Heartbeats and Algorithms. This timely show was a hit at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and explores the seductive and inescapable world of information and the impact computers have on people’s lives. Jenny is also currently a member of Live Theatre’s online playwriting course www.beaplaywright.com.

On Thursday 11 February a Work-In-Progress Double Bill of fanSHEN’s new show Lists for the End of the World and Amy Golding’s latest show preggers will be presented in Live Theatre’s Main Theatre.

Remade for each location List for the End of the World explores what lives look like when they are broken down into lists. Using material contributed by people who live locally, Lists... is a show in which the ordinary and the extraordinary, the profound and the ridiculous sit playfully side by side. fanSHEN were the winners of the Live Lab and The Empty Space Bursary in 2015.

As fanSHEN’s Creative Director Rachel Briscoe explains: “Lists for the End of the World will be a show entirely made up of anonymously sourced lists, offering audiences a sideways perspective on how we choose to live and what’s important. Within it (we hope!) the ordinary and the extraordinary, the profound and the ridiculous will sit playfully side by side. We’re remaking the show for each new location using material contributed by people who live locally… so we’re making a bespoke version for Live Lab Elevator with lists that we’ll source in Newcastle.”

On the same evening as Lists... a work-in-progress of Amy Golding’s latest show preggers will be presented. Written and performed by Amy, and directed by Laura Lindow and Rachel Glover, preggers is about what it means to become a mother now and what it meant for women of previous generations. Playful and political, the show explores the central and universal themes of motherhood and family.

In addition to the double bills there are a whole host of additional events and workshops curated as part of Live Lab Elevator. fanSHEN are kicking things off on Tuesday 9 February at 2pm with a Devised Theatre Workshop in which they will explore the different processes of creating devised theatre with participants. The workshop is free and is suitable for budding theatre makers and professionals (14+).

Also on Tuesday 9 February is a free Playwriting in the North panel discussion, hosted by Live Theatre’s Literary Manager Gez Casey, in the Main Theatre at 7.30pm. Participants will join a panel of industry professional from across the North as they discuss the opportunities for writers in the North and the best way for playwrights to get their work recognised. The panel includes Laura Lomas (who is currently the Channel 4 Playwright in Residence at Clean Break Theatre Company), playwright and Game of Thrones actor Luke Barnes (who wrote Beats North in 2013 for Newcastle based theatre company Curious Monkey), Alex Chisholm (Co-Artistic Director of Freedom Studios in Bradford and former Literary Manager at West Yorkshire Playhouse) and writer, director and dramaturg Janys Chambers (Literary Associate at Bolton Octagon).

From 1pm on Saturday 13 February two of the UK’s leading theatre directors, Rachel O’Riorden (Artistic Director of the Sherman Theatre) and Joe Murphy (who directed Live Theatre’s 2014 production of Incognito and who is the Artistic Director of nabokov), present a Director’s Masterclass for budding theatre directors. In this session participants will explore how a director works with text, forms ideas and translates those concepts onto the stage. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn the secrets of bringing new plays to life. Rachel and Joe will be joined later by Live Theatre’s Artistic Director Max Roberts in a question and answer session about their work processes.

To celebrate Live Lab Elevator and the 2016 Live Lab programme the week will culminate with the Live Lab 2016 Launch Party on Saturday 13 February at 7.30pm. The event will include bite-sized performances and the announcement of the next Live Lab Associate Artists. Plus, details about the Live Lab 2016 Bursary will be shared. It will be a chance for writers, theatre makers and audiences to informally share ideas about Live Lab and theatre in the North East. It will be followed by a lively party in Live Theatre’s Atrium Bar and Undercroft. Be the first to see this brand new work and be part of the conversation that shapes its future.

Tickets:
Tickets for Live Lab Elevator cost £10 - £8 full price or £10-£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.