A CEO with passion, inspiration and experience sought for Live Theatre

Published: 13 February 2020
Reporter: Peter Lathan

Jim Beirne pictured in the bar of Live Theatre

Newcastle’s Live Theatre is seeking a CEO with passion, inspiration and experience as Jim Beirne MBE moves on after 20 years.

Beirne joined Live in 2000 and has had overall responsibility for the leadership and vision for the company. He has been the driving force behind three capital developments: pub The Broad Chare, a partnership with 21 Hospitality Group; Live Works on the Quayside which generates commercial revenue streams, and Live Garden, a new public park and performance space, which it manages and programmes, and Live Tales, a children and young people’s writing centre in a refurbished Grade II listed almshouse. In addition, there is The Schoolhouse, a Georgian building, originally a school for mariners' children, which has been converted into a hub for creative and digital businesses.

“I am very proud of the achievements of the team at Live Theatre,” Beirne said. “It is one of the few theatres outside London celebrated for and dedicated to presenting new stories with a social and political focus, regionally, nationally and internationally. The engagement work with hundreds of children and young people is exceptional and helps embed us in our corner of the city. Live Theatre is also recognised as being one of the most forward-thinking award winning cultural businesses, through its entrepreneurial approach to income diversification. This makes the work challenging, a privilege and a lot of fun!”

The search for his replacement has now begun.

The new Chief Executive should have should have “a talent for leadership, a passion for engagement, a proven ability in enterprise, and the experience to drive forward the organisation’s award-winning work.”

The salary will be no less than £60,000 and the deadline for applications is 5:00 on Friday 13 March 2020. Full details of how to apply are contained in the application pack which can be obtained from the Vacancies page on the web site.

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