Published on 27, February, 2025
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University of Sunderland Visiting Professor and former artistic director of Live Theatre Newcastle Max Roberts shares his hope that north-east writer Peter Straughan wins the Oscar for his adapted screenplay Conclave this Sunday.
He said: “It was great to see Peter back at Live Theatre recently where he was a special guest and keynote speaker at the New Writing North and North East Screen Conference.
“Standing on the stage where his early plays were first produced, Peter spoke fondly of his time at Live where he was ‘Writer in Residence’ throughout 1999/2000 and very much involved in the creative life of the company and the region.
“He wrote two outstanding new plays that were to catapult his writing into the kind of profile and award-winning reputation he now enjoys having recently won a Golden Globe, two BAFTA’s and (fingers crossed) an Oscar for his superb, adapted screenplay for the smash hit movie Conclave.
“I was fortunate enough to be the director who commissioned and directed those fledgling plays and got to know him as a friend and collaborative colleague.”
In partnership with Live Theatre headed by Max, the University offers students opportunities to meet industry experts on campus to help break into the booming north-east film and theatre industry.
Max added: “All of us up here in the north-east should keep our fingers crossed for the 97th Oscar ceremony on the 2nd March when Gateshead’s very own Peter Straughan who dreamt of escape as a young lad will be sitting in the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles to see if he can land the third and final big one.
“So best of luck Peter - and to all those aspiring writers, actors and artists from the north-east - your story is evidence that dreams and aspirations can come true.”