Capital case study: Live Theatre Newcastle - Arts Council England

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Capital case study: Live Theatre Newcastle Project background and history Live Theatre is the longest established professional theatre company in north east England. Since its foundation in 1973 it has become one of the leading new writing theatres in the country. In the 1980s, Live Theatre was the first cultural organisation to establish itself in the Newcastle Gateshead quayside, long before the area became a symbol of cultural renaissance. In 2008, Live Theatre opened its newly redeveloped premises, incorporating the last of the historic quayside buildings remaining to be refurbished. The development of the theatre building from an operational base in a semi-derelict warehouse to an exciting modern performance venue was achieved phase by phase, taking advantage of whatever capital funding became available. It demonstrates the way in which many arts organisations in the UK work – gradually improving and extending their premises as money becomes available. Live Theatre’s latest and most significant capital project was completed in September 2008 with a package of grants from a range of national and regional bodies with remits 1 Contents 2 Executive summary 3 Project background and history 4 The company 5 Vital statistics 6 Rationale for the project to cover the arts, historic buildings, city regeneration, economic development, education, and social integration. All these interests are drawn together in the project. Live Theatre has its roots firmly planted in Newcastle and the surrounding areas. In its early days, the company toured to non-traditional venues such as pubs and social clubs. Its output was developed for and about the working people of the north east of England. After nearly ten years of a peripatetic style of operation, the company acquired a 125-year lease on a small group of buildings on the quayside (27 Broad Chare and 7/8 Trinity Chare) which included an 18th-century bonded warehouse and adjacent almshouses. Like much of the surrounding area at the time, the buildings were dilapidated and neglected. Live Theatre set about converting the premises into a base for the company and a small cabaret style venue. In 1985/86 a grant from the Arts Council enabled enough work to be done to open the performance space to the 7 Planning and project development 8 Design 9 Construction and delivery 10 The new theatre 11 Wider lessons 12 Credits public. The rest of this initial project was completed a decade later with capital funding of £400,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (1994/95). That same year, premises next door to the theatre (at 25b Broad Chare) became available and Live Theatre was able to secure a grant of £1,049,650 from the recently launched National Lottery programme to acquire the lease. The aim was to join the two buildings together, converting 25b Broad Chare to create a box office, café and bar facilities, and lettable office space as well as creating disability access to the main venue. Work on the most recent capital project was started in 2006. A further building was acquired (29, Broad Chare) and a £5.5 million programme of new-build, conversion and improvements across the portfolio of properties provided the radically enhanced facilities that Live Theatre now enjoys.
Capital case study: Live Theatre Newcastle The company Live Theatre aims to create and present work that is challenging, popular and of relevance to all. It is committed to establishing relationships with new writers and to the development of new drama, transforming ideas into performance of the highest quality for the stage and for radio, film and television. Its mission ‘New plays, New audiences’ is reflected in the following objectives: • to create, present, and promote new plays informed by our sense of place • to develop the skills of writers, performers, and theatre practitioners at all stages in their careers • to develop arts education and participation for children, young people and adults • to involve all kinds of audiences in all our endeavours • to create sustainable income streams to deliver resources and new programmes 1 Contents 2 Executive summary 3 Project background and history 4 The company 5 Vital statistics 6 Rationale for the project Live Theatre is operated by North East Theatre Trust Limited, a non-profit distributing company and a registered charity. The board draws its membership from Newcastle and the northern region and includes people with professional expertise in finance, marketing and law; those working in education, academia; and the media; as well as established actors and writers. In the financial year ended 2005 (the last full year before the refurbishment work began), the company had a turnover in excess of £1.2 million with about two-thirds of its income coming from revenue grants from Arts Council England and from Newcastle City Council. It is anticipated that the turnover will increase significantly and that a higher proportion of the costs will be raised from seat sales and from its commercial activities. 7 Planning and project development 8 Design 9 Construction and delivery 10 The new theatre 11 Wider lessons 12 Credits
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Capital case study: Live Theatre Newcastle - Arts Council England

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