Northern Broadsides Theatre Company

The Northern Broadsides theatre company produces works by William Shakespeare, as well timeless classical texts by other playwrights. One of the theatre company's unique qualities is its celebration of authentic Northern accents. The company encourages Northern actors to perform in their own voices, creating a unique experience and feel to the company's productions. Recent Shakespeare plays performed by Northern Broadsides include Love's Labour's Lost, Hamlet, Othello and Romeo & Juliet. Plays and theatrical adaptations by other playwrights have included George Orwell's 1984 and Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.

History

The Northern Broadsides theatre company was founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Barrie Rutter. The touring company is based in Halifax, having performed across the United Kingdom. As a touring theatre company, Northern Broadsides often partners with local theatres on productions. The theatre company has also performed in the United States, Brazil, India, and countries throughout Europe. Although it remains focused on the works of Shakespeare, Northern Broadsides has expanded in recent years to perform contemporary pieces.

Each year, Northern Broadsides performs at a variety of venues across the United Kingdom. Recent performances have been held at the Truck Theatre in Hull, the Oxford Playhouse, The Dukes in Lancaster, the New Vic in Newcastle under Lyme, The Rose in Kingston upon Thames, the Palace Theatre in Watford, the West Yorkshire Playhouse, and The Lowry in Salford. Northern Broadsides has also performed in several venues in major cities, including the Liverpool Playhouse, St. James Theatre in London, and the York Theatre Royal.

Many of Northern Broadsides' productions are sell-outs in Halifax. One of the company's most successful productions was the 2006 project, War of the Roses. The production blended Shakespeare's Henry IV, Edward II and Richard III. In 1998, the company produced one of the few 20th century professional performances of Samson Agonistes. Northern Broadsides also produced Alcestis in 2000, which was final play written by Ted Hughes.

Venue

The home of Northern Broadsides is the historic Dean Clough in Halifax. Dean Clough features a collection of industrial buildings constructed between the 1840s and 1860s. The buildings once housed the operations and factories of Crossley's Carpets, having closed in 1983. The site has since been redeveloped and now includes several art galleries, including the Crossley Gallery. The mill also has office space for several companies and a variety of restaurants. It is also home of the distinctive Viaduct Theatre.

The mills at Dean Clough were once located near a brook that spanned a stone viaduct, which has influenced the naming of the theatre. The area beneath the cavernous E-mill building is the site of a Viaduct Theatre's 300-seat auditorium. In addition to performances by Northern Broadsides, the venue is used for concerts, conferences and other special events. The theatre is also the base for a second theatre company, IOU Theatre. It is also served by the Viaduct Café.

Location

The Viaduct at Dean Clough, the base for Northern Broadsides, is located in Halifax in West Yorkshire. The theatre is situated north of the town centre, which is where visitors will find the main bus and rail stations for Halifax. Dean Clough is accessible by road from Keighley via the A629 and Bradford via the A647. The theatre is also reachable from Junction 26 of the M62, sitting west of the motorway via the A58. Secure parking for approximately 1,300 vehicles is available at Dean Clough

Contact Information

Northern Broadsides can be contacted on 01422 369 704 or by email at rutter@northern-broadsides.co.uk. The address for Northern Broadsides is:
Northern Broadsides
Room 139 E Mill
Dean Clough
Halifax
HX3 5AX

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