Newcastle's Live Theatre is to present Between the Lines..., six plays by young teenagers, in December. Written by 13- and 14-year-olds from the city's Benfield High School, the plays will be performed by professional actors and a member of Live's youth theatre.
The plays are part of Write Stuff, a year-long writing programme between Live Theatre and Benfield School, and include tales of living room war games, sibling rivalry, extreme sports for pensioners and celebrity revenge. The plays include Cold Tea by Emma Cockburn, You’re My Inspiration by Ellen Davidson, Ready for Service by Callum Dyer, High Level Decisions by Meg Henry Cross, Wire Murder by Robyn Merrilees, and Hunter by Molly Toward, all now aged 14.
Phil Hoffmann, Drama Worker at Live Theatre said, "From thriller to comedy, love story to action adventure, these plays by the six young writers are varied and insightful."
Mandy Tudor, Head of English at the school, added, "This has been a fantastic collaboration. The pupils involved found the whole experience inspiring, thought-provoking and enjoyable. It has been an unforgettable project which has also improved the quality of their creative writing skills in the classroom."
The actors include Stephen Gregory (Short Cuts, The Heights), Chris Foley (I’m Just Saying), Jane Holman (Close the Coalhouse Door), Eva Quinn (Short Cuts, Bunker Blues), Natalie Jamieson (Michaela’s Mistake), Adam Donaldson (First Draft) and Youth Theatre Member Emma Crowley Bennett (Your Aunt Fanny, Jonathan Likes This).
Between the Lines... is at Live Theatre on Friday 13 to Sunday 15 December.