A very warm LIVE welcome!
‘Radical’ having its origins in the word ‘root’ makes it the perfect description of a region as deep rooted and impassioned as the North East.
We begin our season on a truly radical footing with legend Shelagh Stephenson’s absurdist comedy Astell & Woolf about Newcastle’s first feminist. Looking at a very different kind of radical action, Alison Carr’s mesmerising new play All At Sea is inspired by the infamous ‘canoe’ couple and asks how far we are willing to go for what we want. A major announcement this year is our world premiere of a brand-new play of Peter Flannery’s Our Friends in the North 1979-84, marking 30 years of the iconic TV series, putting Live Theatre centre stage at Newcastle Theatre Royal. And on the subject of deep roots, the season closes with Rory Mullarkey’s new play The Most Famous Tree In The World, about the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree and its lasting emotional resonance in our region and beyond.
Our Unearthed Festival, with a feminist spin this year, celebrates exciting up and coming talents,
whilst Live Writes gives writers a chance to share their ideas hot off the press. We also have amazing visiting shows by Awkward Productions The Fit Prince, Unicorn Theatre’s mind-blowing Toto Kerblammo!, and the seen-around-theworld sensation Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Arse For England
Throughout the year we celebrate the best new writing from Richard Bean’s Smack Family Robinson, Lenny Henry’s August in England to the American masterpiece Topdog/ Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks.
Finally our Live Tales creative writing programme turns ten this year! So expect plenty of events for children and families, culminating in the return of our hit wintry play Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas? Keep an eye out too for our free Youth Theatre who fill our building with talent each week and showcase their ideas on our stage each year.
A Live Theatre season is always a living thing, so expect more announcements throughout the year, unmissable events and extremely special guests. Subscribing to our e-news, or joining as a Friend, is the best way to never miss out.
LIVE TALES TURNS TEN!
This year we’re celebrating as our children’s fun and fantastic story and playwriting programme Live Tales, reaches its 10th birthday!
The world of Live Tales allows children to embrace creativity as worlds are built, characters come to life and ideas spark excitement. An invaluable opportunity for exploring original thinking, discovering voices and building confidence.
Throughout 2026 there will be a series of special family friendly events and activities to enjoy, culminating in a heartwarming Christmas Wintry Tale.
Ages 5-11
SPRINGY TALES
Tue 7, Wed 8, Tue 14 & Wed 15 Apr
A fun interactive storytelling adventure where imaginations hop free.
SPOOKY TALES
Wed 28, Thu 29 & Fri 30 Oct
A spine-tingling workshop with costumes, props, puppets, gasps and a little magic.
Supported by SPACE Architects
Banish boredom this Summer! Children with a flair for the dramatic can get creative, meet new friends, challenge themselves and see new ideas spring to life.
Ages 7-10 & 11-15
Mon 20 –Fri 24 Jul
Mon 27 –Fri 31 Jul A PLAY IN A WEEK STORY MAKERS & STORY WRITERS
Text Live 5 to 70460 or scan the QR code
To find out more go to:
www.live.org.uk/support
ASTELL & WOOLF
WRITTEN BY SHELAGH S TEPHENSON
DIRECTED BY KAREN TRAYNOR
An outrageously original new comedy from North East legend Shelagh Stephenson (A Northern Odyssey, Harriet Martineau Dreams of Dancing).
A waiting room in the afterlife. Two radical women bide their time. One is the feminist Mary Astell. Forgotten, consigned to oblivion, her ankle tied with a rope. The other is celebrated novelist Virginia Woolf from London. Very much not forgotten and free to roam as she pleases. Between them, armed with sharp tongues and several bottles of sherry, they confront life, God, art, the patriarchy and gradually find their route towards salvation.
Packed with jokes, mind-blowing ideas and fierce feminist fire. IT’S NO JOKE BEING
LIVE THEATRE & STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE in association with LAURELS present
Written by ALISON CARR
Inspired by the notorious ‘Canoe Man’ case, this fictionalised new play takes a deep dive into the extremes of human behaviour by award-winning North East playwright Alison Carr (Iris).
With a sky-high mortgage and spiralling debt, where else can married couple Colin and Deborah turn? The answer for them was in the North Sea.
Having faked his death in a pretend canoeing accident, Colin’s’ widow’ Deborah undertakes the complex plan to secure their insurance claim, deal with family grief and even maintain something of a functioning marriage. But little do they know that the real drama is yet to come….
Supported by
Thu 15 - Sat 24 Oct 2026
Live Theatre at Newcastle Theatre Royal
LIVE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL and EASTLAKE PRODUCTIONS present
Marking 30 years since its iconic TV broadcast, Our Friends In The North is coming home! Newcastle 1979. The world is changing. Four friends fight to hold their lives together.
A thrilling new play dramatising the effect of the Thatcher years on
the lives of Mary, Tosker, Nicky, Geordie and their families. Smear campaigns, police corruption, forbidden love and the fight for justice, the stories that captivated our hearts on screen now land on the stage in an epic, state-of-the nation production made in the city that inspired it.
Written by JACK MCNAMARA & PETER FLANNERY
This production will take place at Newcastle Theatre Royal. For tickets go to www.theatreroyal.co.uk
Thu 6 – Sat 29 May 2027
LIVE THEATRE presents
THE MOST FAMOUS TREE IN THE WORLD
By RORY MULLARKEY
The felling of the famous Sycamore Gap tree leaves a gap not only in the landscape but in our sense of ourselves as a nation. An image torn out of history, a hole cut in the future.
A father and son, separated for years, meet at the site of the felling. They share memories over a can of
beer. But are they here for a nostalgic picnic or for something else entirely?
With the tension of a thriller and the beauty of a rolling landscape, Rory Mullarkey’s new play delves into the heart of a story that gripped the nation, asking how do we truly process loss and find hope on the horizon.
The world of Live Tales allows children to embrace creativity as worlds are built, characters come to life and ideas spark excitement. An invaluable opportunity for exploring original thinking, discovering voices and building confidence.
Throughout 2026 there will be a series of special family friendly events and activities to enjoy, culminating in a heartwarming Christmas Wintry Tale.
Ages 5-11
SPRINGY TALES
Tue 7, Wed 8, Tue 14 & Wed 15 Apr
A fun interactive storytelling adventure where imaginations hop free.
SPOOKY TALES
Wed 28, Thu 29 & Fri 30 Oct
A spine-tingling workshop with costumes, props, puppets, gasps and a little magic.
Supported by SPACE Architects
Banish Children dramatic new and Ages
Mon
Fri 24
Mon
Fri 31
TEXT
www.live.org.uk/support
The world of Live Tales allows children to embrace creativity as worlds are built, characters come to life and ideas spark excitement. An invaluable opportunity for exploring original thinking, discovering voices and building confidence.
Throughout 2026 there will be a series of special family friendly events and activities to enjoy, culminating in a heartwarming Christmas Wintry Tale.
Ages 5-11
SPRINGY TALES
Tue 7, Wed 8, Tue 14 & Wed 15 Apr
A fun interactive storytelling adventure where imaginations hop free.
SPOOKY TALES
Wed 28, Thu 29 & Fri 30 Oct
A spine-tingling workshop with costumes, props, puppets, gasps and a little magic.
Supported by SPACE Architects
Banish Children dramatic new and Ages
Mon
Fri 24
Mon
Fri 31
TEXT
www.live.org.uk/support
The world of Live Tales allows children to embrace creativity as worlds are built, characters come to life and ideas spark excitement. An invaluable opportunity for exploring original thinking, discovering voices and building confidence.
Throughout 2026 there will be a series of special family friendly events and activities to enjoy, culminating in a heartwarming Christmas Wintry Tale.
Ages 5-11
SPRINGY TALES
Tue 7, Wed 8, Tue 14 & Wed 15 Apr
A fun interactive storytelling adventure where imaginations hop free.
SPOOKY TALES
Wed 28, Thu 29 & Fri 30 Oct
A spine-tingling workshop with costumes, props, puppets, gasps and a little magic.
Supported by SPACE Architects
Banish Children dramatic new and Ages
Mon
Fri 24
Mon
Fri 31
HELP THEATRE
TEXT
www.live.org.uk/support
The world of Live Tales allows children to embrace creativity as worlds are built, characters come to life and ideas spark excitement. An invaluable opportunity for exploring original thinking, discovering voices and building confidence.
Throughout 2026 there will be a series of special family friendly events and activities to enjoy, culminating in a heartwarming Christmas Wintry Tale.
Ages 5-11
SPRINGY TALES
Tue 7, Wed 8, Tue 14 & Wed 15 Apr
A fun interactive storytelling adventure where imaginations hop free.
SPOOKY TALES
Wed 28, Thu 29 & Fri 30 Oct
A spine-tingling workshop with costumes, props, puppets, gasps and a little magic.
Supported by SPACE Architects
Banish Children dramatic new and Ages
Mon
Fri 24
Mon
Fri 31
HELP THEATRE
TEXT
www.live.org.uk/support
All At Sea is inspired by the infamous ‘canoe’ couple and asks how far we are willing to go for what we want. A major announcement this year is our world premiere of a brand-new play of Peter Flannery’s Our Friends in the North 1979-84 , marking 30 years of the iconic TV series, putting Live Theatre centre stage at Newcastle Theatre Royal. And on the subject of deep roots, the season closes with Rory Mullarkey’s new play
Book now
Keep an eye out too for our free Youth Theatre who fill our building with talent each week and showcase their ideas on our stage each year. A Live Theatre season is always a living thing, so expect more announcements throughout the year, unmissable events and extremely special guests. Subscribing to our e-news, or joining as a Friend, is the best way to never miss out. See you on the Quayside!
Finally our Live Tales creative writing programme turns ten this year! So expect plenty of events for children and families, culminating in the return of our hit wintry play Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas?
North East. We begin our season on a truly radical footing with legend Shelagh Stephenson’s absurdist comedy Astell & Woolf about Newcastle’s first feminist. Looking at a very different kind of radical action, Alison Carr’s mesmerising new play
The Most Famous Tree In The World , about the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree and its lasting emotional resonance in our region and beyond. Our Unearthed Festival , with a feminist spin this year, celebrates exciting up and coming talents, from Richard Bean’s Smack Family Robinson , Lenny Henry’s August in England to the American masterpiece Topdog/ Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks.
