A UNIVERSITY and a widely-admired North East theatre company are joining forces in a bid to enhance cultural opportunities in the region.

Northumbria University and Live Theatre, birthplace of The Pitmen Painters and other hit plays, have launched a new partnership which reflects Live’s status as a cultural centre of excellence.

Live Theatre, based in recently expanded and refurbished premises on Newcastle Quayside, has been a force in North East theatre for 40 years.

It has also made waves further afield with productions such as Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters which has been performed at the National Theatre and on Broadway and is about to embark on a second UK-wide tour.

Live Theatre has become recognised principally as a springboard for talented new writers and actors, some of them drawn from performing arts and other creative courses in the region.

Northumbria University already has close formal relations with Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

Its staff includes a Baltic professorship of fine art and its students work closely with professional artists based at Baltic’s Newcastle offshoot, Baltic 39.

Prof Andrew Wathey, the university vice chancellor and chief executive, said: “As a leading centre for energising creative practice and academic study, Northumbria University is committed to supporting the creative and cultural sector in the region.

“By working in partnership with like-minded organisations, Northumbria seeks to retain home-grown talent and boost economic, social and cultural development in the city and beyond.”

In doing so, he added, the university would be able to support new and unique learning opportunities and cultural offerings. Prof Wathey said Northumbria University was committed to partnerships.

“We believe connecting the right people with the right partners for the right reasons will deliver the right outcomes every time. This is particularly true during these challenging times which demand increasing levels of resourcefulness and innovation in order to make a real difference to our people, organisations and communities.”

Live’s chief executive Jim Beirne said the company had had a fruitful relationship with Northumbria over several years, working with performing arts and creative writing students.

“We are passionate about developing talent and we know that passion is shared by Northumbria University,” he added.

Mr Beirne said he looked forward to working with all areas of the university, fostering enterprise and giving students a unique vocational insight into the workings of the theatre business.

The partnership will be ratified today with representatives of both organisations attending a performance of the play White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, part of Live Theatre’s 40th anniversary programme.