The Live Theatre Company was founded in Tyneside in 1973 by local actors, including Tim Healy (star of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet). The company aims to attract new audiences for its accessible work as well as its friendly and informal theatre space.
The company originally toured its work regionally to non-traditional theatre settings, such as community halls and working men's clubs. The company was creating plays and stories that were relevant to the northeast community and sought to break down barriers by presenting this work to ordinary working class people within their own communities.
The company has been based in Newcastle Quayside since 1982, expanding over the years to occupy the current premises which combine converted warehouses and almshouses to create a unique building which houses a theatre auditorium, café bar, rehearsal spaces and administrative offices.
Live will shortly take over the lease of a new warehouse building on Broad Chare, immediately adjacent to the current theatre. A £4.1million capital development programme is currently being undertaken and it is hoped that improved art making and visitor facilities will be available in 2005/6.
Jan Kott, theatre critic, teacher, author of The Theatre of Essence, once told me he finds American theatre too commercial, its non-commercial theatre too amateurish, and "both in need of a little bit of ritual." Kott, formerly of Poland, now of Santa Monica, should see Aquitania.
Program notes say Legawiec (Le GAHV yetz) is the son of composer/violinist Walter Legawiec, has a B.F.A. in design and illustration from Washington University in St. Louis, did post-graduate work in theatre at Cornell and Rutgers universities, and studied at the American Mime Theatre.
While other artistic directors struggle with their theatrical seasons, Legawiec and his Ziggurat Theatre are content to create performances inspired by world myths.
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