Live Theatre has revealed its new digital programme, Live Wired, new work created and produced for online viewing.
Since closing its doors in March 2020 and cancelling its planned programme because of the pandemic, Live Theatre has used the time to reflect on its creative and learning programme and practices whilst continuing its dedication to promoting and championing lesser heard and diverse voices.
Being fully committed to investment and developing theatre projects, Live extended the time period for open call-outs for writers for 10 Minutes To…, bursary applications and unsolicited full-length script submissions and the first to be launched is 10 Minutes To… Call Home.
Over 300 scripts were submitted and the quality of writing was extremely high. It took much deliberation but eventually the final nine were selected. Although lockdown restrictions are gradually being lifted, it is still impossible to welcome audiences to the theatre at normal capacity levels so 10 Minutes To… will be presented in a new way—the selected scripts will be rehearsed and performed behind closed doors and recorded to be shared across digital platforms. The plays will have the performance and production quality that theatregoers have come to expect from Live.
“Being able to re-open Live Theatre’s creative activity with the 10 Minutes to… project is really exciting,” said Graeme Thompson, Creative Producer. “Of course, it will be different. This time we are filming as opposed to performing live but there is always such a buzz when we do this show and we are certain we can recreate it this time round. We have nine brilliant scripts from a range of writers, some new to Live and some we know. For some this will be their first piece of writing put on stage. Because of the opportunities that 10 Minutes to… provides, it’s such an important and vital part of what we do at Live Theatre. Also, it just feels fantastic to be getting some new theatre back out to our audiences.”
The creative teams behind 10 Minutes To… will be rehearsing, performing and recording at Live Theatre over the next few weeks and the performances will be screened free to view across digital channels from 29 September.