Live Theatre celebrates arrival of new tenants

Graham Bell, director of NECT and Jim Beirne, chief executive of Live Theatre Live Theatre is delighted to welcome the North of England Civic Trust (NECT) as its first tenant of the recently restored 260-year-old grade 2* listed building, The Schoolhouse.  The company, who have spent almost 50 years actively conserving and regenerating local landmarks and nationally important heritage, will be taking the second floor of the three storey building from which they will continue to provide independent expert advice to all those who need it. The income generated from renting the property will be channelled back into Live Theatre’s core activity: creating world class plays, supporting and nurturing new talent and unlocking the potential of young people through theatre. Graham Bell, director of NECT said: “The North of England Civic Trust believes that good design in the built environment is essential to preserving and improving local settings and landscapes so it is fitting that we have decided to make this beautifully restored Schoolhouse our new home. “As an architect I was involved in the original conversion of the bonded warehouses and almshouses in 1983 to create the distinctive venue that is Live Theatre. Our arrival in The Schoolhouse thirty years on completes the circle and we are now looking forward to working with our new landlord Live Theatre over the coming years.” Jim Beirne, Chief Executive, Live Theatre, added: “We are delighted to welcome Graham and his team to The Schoolhouse and are excited about the prospect of having such a highly regarded charity on our premises.  The redevelopment of The Schoolhouse has allowed us to create contemporary offices in a unique historical setting providing companies like NECT with the ideal location for their business.” The Schoolhouse creative hub is the third in a series of creative enterprises for Live Theatre following the launch of www.beaplaywright.com in 2010 and the opening of The Broad Chare gastro pub with Terry Laybourne in 2011. This initiative is another opportunity for Live Theatre to generate a new, sustainable income that can be invested back into the company’s core activity. NECT, formerly located at Blackfriars, have also hosted a series of art installations, concerts, open-air performances of Shakespeare as well as taking part in Heritage Open Days. The redevelopment of The Schoolhouse was led by Live Theatre and supported by funding through European Regional Development Funds 2007-2013 and Arts Council England. For more information on office opportunities in The Schoolhouse please visit www.live.org.uk/theschoolhouse.