Curtain call for new writers

Sep 13 2003
By David Whetstone
The Journal

A North-East theatre company has earned another accolade, enhancing its reputation as a powerhouse of new writing. Live Theatre, based at Newcastle Quayside, shares the 2003 Peggy Ramsay Project Award with Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The award is made by the Peggy Ramsay Foundation, named after the British play agent who left money to benefit writers. Worth £16,000, it will help Live Theatre to make six new commissions, including first full-length plays from North-East writers Margaret Wilkinson, Barrie Darke and Karen Laws. It will also facilitate a commission from Noel Greig, from outside the region, to write a play for the Live Youth Theatre.

Sarah McPhail, Live's marketing and development manager, said: "Prizes like this can help us to work with more writers and give more of them the chance of a commission."

Live Theatre's next big project is Keepers Of The Flame, a new play for the Royal Shakespeare Company to be premiered on November 4 in Newcastle. Written by Sean O'Brien, who lives in Forest Hall, it features a poet reflecting on his youth in politically turbulent pre-war Britain. Sarah said it was "99pc certain" distinguished actor Alan Howard would be cast as the poet, Richard Jameson.

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