In with the new, Live Theatre on Newcastle's Quayside is about to open its doors to new work which audiences can see in the making

LIVE Theatre relaunches its Live Lab programme with more opportunities for budding writers, comedians, theatre makers and audience members to get involved this year. From Sunday to Friday January 30, audiences are invited to celebrate the the event with a week of new work.

“Live Lab is an innovative and vital part of Live Theatre's talent development programme offering a forum for theatre practitioners to try out new material and gain insightful feedback, opening a dialogue between the people who watch work and those that make it,” says Gez Casey, Live Theatre’s literary manager.

Sunday's opening night features 10 Minutes to... an evening of new plays by new voices. Five North-East based playwrights, matched with five local directors, are given the opportunity to create a ten-minute play that responds to a particular theme. The theme is Take Off!

The plays, which are rehearsed in one adrenalin-fuelled weekend, include Trolley Boy written by Dave Raynor and directed by Anna Ryder; The Flight by Nina Berry and directed by Melanie Rashbrooke; Fold. Throw. Repeat by Rebekah Bowsher and directed by Morag IIles; Coming Home Party by Josh Coats and directed by Sebastien Fumoleau and After School Cake Club by Ali Pritchard and directed by Lewis Grey.

On January 29, audiences are invited to see new work in progress in the first Scratch Night of the year. This insight includes award-winning poet Kate Fox showcasing a project she is developing for the BBC, a piece from theatre maker Greg Wohead featuring unrehearsed performers using pre-recorded audio and headphones and Newcastle-based theatre collective Precious Cargo. They will also be joined by Eggman Theatre, who will present a selection of scenes from its show Baggage, which is about discovering and embracing your identity.

The re-launch will culminate, on January 30, with a launch party for audience members, writers and theatre makers to share ideas about the future.

To book tickets and to find out more about what is in store visit live.org.uk/livelab or contact Live Theatre’s box office on 0191-232-1232.