Northumbria University and Live Theatre Partnership

Live Theatre is recognised as one of the great new writing theatres on the international stage. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne it is also deeply rooted in its local community.

Live Theatre produces work as varied and diverse as the audiences it engages with. As well as championing the art of writing for stage by producing and presenting new plays, Live Theatre uses theatre to unlock the potential of young people and finds, nurtures and trains creative talent. Through its creative enterprises Live Theatre develops new models of business sustainability and growth. 

The Northumbria University and Live Theatre Partnership develops new approaches that connects the University with professional theatre practitioners with a commitment to enhancing arts and culture in the region and beyond. Through our partnership, students benefit from opportunities to work with a range of theatre professionals including directors, production and technical staff, developing new creative work and feeding into education programmes

The Writer in Residence programme is the cornerstone of the exciting and innovative partnership enhancing teaching and learning, inspiring new research, and connecting academic research with the world of professional theatre. The First Joint Writer in Residence was Paddy Campbell, writer of Live Theatre successes Wet House and Day of the Flymo, and a Northumbria University graduate. Following in Paddy's footsteps was Lindsay Rodden, Former Literary Associate at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, who contributed to the teaching of Northumbria Performing Arts courses as well as undertaking collaborative research and working with the literary department at Live Theatre.

This year, the Joint Writer in Residence is Chinonyerem Odimba who will work with Northumbria University final year students on the Drama Showcase. Chino's play, Princess & The Hustler, is the second national tour born from Revolution Mix, an Eclipse movement that is spearheading the largest ever delivery of new Black British stories