ALTERNATIVE to pantomime, The Terminal Velocity of Snowflakes, written by Nina Berry, opens at Newcastle's Live Theatre on Thursday, December 8, offering a touching look at what it means to grow up, fall in love and how the tiniest, most seemingly insignificant detail may or may not change eternity.

Co-directed by Max Roberts and Graeme Thompson, the play runs until December 17, in the theatre’s intimate Studio Theatre with Dean Bone from Gateshead and Heather Carroll from Newcastle in the roles of Charlie and Rosie, two people in many places.

The production started life as a 20-minute play performed as part of Live Lab’s Christmas Adventures in December last year.

Max Roberts artistic director at Live Theatre, says: “This is the first full-length play by Nina Berry, an interesting emerging writer from Newcastle with real talent. Her writing is distinctive, witty and contemporary and her play will provide a delightful alternative Christmas entertainment.”

Gez Casey literary manager at Live Theatre adds: “Since completing Live Theatre’s Introduction to Playwriting Course in 2013, Nina has developed her playwriting skills with us through a series of commissions for Live Lab, the talent development strand at Live Theatre, our Youth Theatre as well as collaborative productions such as Rendezvous, commemorating the memory of former writer-in-residence Julia Darling, for which she wrote Words With Love, a critically acclaimed two-hander also starring Dean Bone. Nina’s progression as a playwright epitomises the opportunities made available by Live Lab and the company hope to continue to support her work as it grows in ambition and scale.”

Playwright Nina Berry says: “Live Theatre is where my love of theatre first manifested itself, it’s also where I have been given the opportunity to grow as a writer with the ongoing support of Graeme Thompson, Gez Casey and Max Roberts and it’s an honour to be working with them on The Terminal Velocity of Snowflakes. Seeing my first full-length play come to life at Live Theatre, a place that I hold so close to my heart has been an ambition of mine since I first began writing and I am incredibly excited for rehearsals to commence.”

Berry is currently a Live Lab Associate artist and her previous short play Words with Love was part of Rendezvous (2015). She is a graduate of Live Theatre’s Introduction to Playwriting Course and Live Writers Group.

Design is by Luke Robson, original Music by Anguaji Music, lighting Design Nick Rogerson and sound Craig Spence.

* Tickets £10, £8 concessions are already going fast. Box Office: live.org.uk or 0191-232-1232. runs approx 1hr 10mins, suitability 14+

* Tuesday, December 13: Meet the Team, join Nina Berry, directors Graeme Thompson and Max Roberts and the cast as they talk about the process of bringing The Terminal Velocity of Snowflakes to the stage.

Free, booking essential. Studio Theatre, approx 40mins after the show. 4+

TICKETS: Free, booking essential