Honour for cultural ambassador

Jim Beirne, the Chief Executive of Live Theatre, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters in recognition of his achievements in the arts.

A music graduate, he took on the role of Performing Arts Director at Liverpool’s Bluecoat Arts Centre and spent three years there before joining Yorkshire Arts – later to become part of Arts Council England – as Music Officer.

Gradually Jim assumed more responsibility at Yorkshire Arts and as Director of Performing Arts increasingly worked with major repertory theatres and opera companies such as West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, Sheffield Theatres, Hull Truck Theatre and Opera North, also working with them on their major capital projects. During this time Jim also served on the boards of the Leeds College of Music and Opera North.

After thirteen years in Yorkshire Jim was looking for a new challenge and saw the new role of Chief Executive at Live Theatre.  He arrived in 2000 at a point when the company was facing significant financial challenges.  The Arts Council was keen to offer support, provided that change was made. This gave Jim the opportunity to lead a new vision and direction for the organisation.

Jim led a fund-raising campaign to buy the near-by listed buildings which allowed the creation of a theatre, writers’ rooms, a gallery, studio, rehearsal rooms and new restaurants.

Live Theatre opened in 2007 with a production called The Pitmen Painters which was an immediate success and showed across Europe before moving to Broadway.

Live Theatre currently has two shows in London – The Pitmen Painters in the West End and A Walk on Part at Soho Theatre.  Both shows are receiving rave reviews to sell-out audiences.  

A key element of Live Theatre’s mission is to work with children and young people from some of the most deprived areas in the region.

Vice-Chancellor  and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, Professor Andrew Wathey, said: “Jim Beirne has played a key role in the cultural life of Newcastle. Live Theatre is now a vibrant hub filled with the creativity of writers, actors, directors and film-makers.

“His efforts have helped Newcastle maintain its cultural standing while nurturing the seeds of talent and providing opportunities for thousands of young people from the region.”

Jim said: “I’m pleased that someone from the cultural sector is being honoured with this award. It’s because I work with a great team at Live Theatre that I have received this award.”