Barrie Rutter
Encyclopedia
Barrie Rutter is an English
actor and the founder and Artistic Director of the Northern Broadsides
theatre company based in Halifax
, West Yorkshire
, England
.
He was born in Hull
, East Riding of Yorkshire
, England
and after leaving school (Greatfield High School, Newton Hall) studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
. In the 1970s he worked with the National Youth Theatre
(where Peter Terson
wrote a role for him in The Apprentices) and the Royal Shakespeare Company
. In the 1980s he performed in three adaptations by poet Tony Harrison
, The Mysteries, The Oresteia, and The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus. When Trackers was performed at Salt's Mill
, Saltaire
"He was deeply affected by the raw emotion of speaking to a northern audience in a northern voice in a classical play".
Rutter founded Northern Broadsides
in 1992, and the company continues to perform both at its Halifax
base and on tour. He continues to play major parts in many of its productions.
In 2000 he was received the title 'Creative Briton 2000', with a cheque for £100,000. He was nominated for it by, amongst others, John Prescott
, then Deputy Prime Minister
, who said "Barrie's northern accent, fast action, factory floor Shakespeare is as far from elitism as can be, though it has never, never dumbed Shakespeare down." In 2003 he received the Sam Wanamaker Award
jointly with Stephen Unwin
for their work promoting Shakespeare in the regions.
In 2005 he received the honorary degree
of Doctor of Letters from the University of Bradford
.
He has appeared in many films and television programmes, including Queenie's Castle and a regular role in the early 1980s ITV sitcom Astronauts
and as armed robber Oakes in the movie version of the BBC sitcom Porridge
. More recently he appeared in 5 episodes of the television series Fat Friends
in 2004-05, playing Douglas Simpson.
In 2009 Rutter directed Lenny Henry
in a production of Othello
. He said of the decision to cast the comedian, "knives might be out at me or at Lenny. I don't care. This has come about from a completely genuine desire to do a piece of theatrical work. Bloody hell, how long has the Donmar had Hollywood stars going there for £200? He's six foot five. He's beautifully black. And he's Othello."
After setting up the run of Othello in London, Barrie was invited to direct King Richard III at for 'Vanemuine
' Theatre Company in Tartu
, Estonia
. Though he suffered a heart attack, with his usual gusto he completed the rehearsals for the first night at the Samadateater in Tartu on October 17, 2009. In the late summer of 2010, Barrie also became patron for the newly opened ALRA North.
Barrie's former wife Carol Rutter is Professor of English at the University of Warwick and Director of the CAPITAL Centre. They have two daughters.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actor and the founder and Artistic Director of the Northern Broadsides
Northern Broadsides
Northern Broadsides is a theatre company formed in 1992 and based at Dean Clough Mill in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. The founder and artistic director is Barrie Rutter. The company performs in Halifax and on tour, a mix of Shakespeare and other productions. Music is specially written for...
theatre company based in Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He was born in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and after leaving school (Greatfield High School, Newton Hall) studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
. In the 1970s he worked with the National Youth Theatre
National Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
(where Peter Terson
Peter Terson
Peter Terson is a British playwright whose plays have been produced for stage, television and radio. His early work in the 1960s focused on growing up in the dead-end working-class culture of industrial England. He was born as Peter Patterson. He was a schoolteacher for 10 years before writing...
wrote a role for him in The Apprentices) and the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
. In the 1980s he performed in three adaptations by poet Tony Harrison
Tony Harrison
Tony Harrison is an English poet and playwright. He is noted for controversial works such as the poem V and Fram, as well as his versions of ancient Greek tragedies, including the Oresteia and Hecuba...
, The Mysteries, The Oresteia, and The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus. When Trackers was performed at Salt's Mill
Salts Mill
Salt's Mill is an art gallery, shopping and restaurant complex located in Saltaire, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It is inside a former mill, built by Sir Titus Salt. The 1853 gallery takes its name from the date of the building in which it is housed...
, Saltaire
Saltaire
Saltaire is a Victorian model village within the City of Bradford Metropolitan District, West Yorkshire, England, by the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...
"He was deeply affected by the raw emotion of speaking to a northern audience in a northern voice in a classical play".
Rutter founded Northern Broadsides
Northern Broadsides
Northern Broadsides is a theatre company formed in 1992 and based at Dean Clough Mill in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. The founder and artistic director is Barrie Rutter. The company performs in Halifax and on tour, a mix of Shakespeare and other productions. Music is specially written for...
in 1992, and the company continues to perform both at its Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
base and on tour. He continues to play major parts in many of its productions.
In 2000 he was received the title 'Creative Briton 2000', with a cheque for £100,000. He was nominated for it by, amongst others, John Prescott
John Prescott
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott is a British politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007. Born in Prestatyn, Wales, he represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament from 1970 to 2010...
, then Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a senior member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a permanent position, existing only at the discretion of the Prime Minister, who may appoint to other offices...
, who said "Barrie's northern accent, fast action, factory floor Shakespeare is as far from elitism as can be, though it has never, never dumbed Shakespeare down." In 2003 he received the Sam Wanamaker Award
Sam Wanamaker Award
The Sam Wanamaker Award or Sam Wanamaker Prize is an award established in 1994 for pioneering work in Shakespearean theatre. It is awarded by Shakespeare's Globe and named after Sam Wanamaker.-Winners:...
jointly with Stephen Unwin
Stephen Unwin (director)
Stephen Unwin is an English theatre director. He completed his studies at the University of Cambridge in 1981, and has since directed over 50 professional productions and 12 operas. He was initially Assistant Director at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh until 1988...
for their work promoting Shakespeare in the regions.
In 2005 he received the honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Doctor of Letters from the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
.
He has appeared in many films and television programmes, including Queenie's Castle and a regular role in the early 1980s ITV sitcom Astronauts
Astronauts (TV series)
Astronauts was a British sitcom that aired on ITV in 1981. It was written by Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie, two of The Goodies. Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, who wrote Porridge, were script editors. It was made for the ITV network by ATV, which became Central midway through the production...
and as armed robber Oakes in the movie version of the BBC sitcom Porridge
Porridge (TV series)
Porridge is a British situation comedy broadcast on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977, running for three series, two Christmas specials and a feature film. Written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, it stars Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale as two inmates at the fictional HMP Slade in Cumberland...
. More recently he appeared in 5 episodes of the television series Fat Friends
Fat Friends
Fat Friends is an ITV drama , following a group of overweight people, their laughter and pain and addresses the absurdities of dieting in our modern age. The drama looks at people and how they relate to one another and use body weight as an excuse for all sorts of failings in their relationships,...
in 2004-05, playing Douglas Simpson.
In 2009 Rutter directed Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry
Lenworth George "Lenny" Henry, is a British actor, writer, comedian and occasional television presenter.- Early life :...
in a production of Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
. He said of the decision to cast the comedian, "knives might be out at me or at Lenny. I don't care. This has come about from a completely genuine desire to do a piece of theatrical work. Bloody hell, how long has the Donmar had Hollywood stars going there for £200? He's six foot five. He's beautifully black. And he's Othello."
After setting up the run of Othello in London, Barrie was invited to direct King Richard III at for 'Vanemuine
Vanemuine
Vanemuine, a literal translation from is a theatre in Tartu, Estonia. It is the first Estonian language theatre, founded as the Vanemuine Society on June 24, 1865 following the idea of Johann Voldemar Jannsen. In 1869 Vanemuine Society organised the first song festival in Estonia...
' Theatre Company in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. Though he suffered a heart attack, with his usual gusto he completed the rehearsals for the first night at the Samadateater in Tartu on October 17, 2009. In the late summer of 2010, Barrie also became patron for the newly opened ALRA North.
Barrie's former wife Carol Rutter is Professor of English at the University of Warwick and Director of the CAPITAL Centre. They have two daughters.