Barrie Rutter is an English actor and theatre director, best known as the founder and Artistic Director of the theatre company Northern Broadsides.
Rutter was born in 1944 in Wombwell, West Riding of Yorkshire. He began acting at an early age, with his first role being in a production of The Merchant of Venice at The Wombwell Little Theatre. He later went on to study at RADA, where he graduated in 1968.
After graduating, Rutter began working in repertory theatre in Darlington, where he also worked as a director for the first time. He soon moved to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, where he was Resident Director and Associate Artist for six years.
In 1992, Rutter founded Northern Broadsides, a theatre company dedicated to producing and touring plays in the North of England. He has been its Artistic Director ever since, and has directed over thirty productions for the company.
Rutter has also had a successful career on television and in film, appearing in shows such as Coronation Street, Last of the Summer Wine, and Emmerdale, as well as taking on roles in films such as Calendar Girls and The Damned United.
In 2009, Rutter was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford, in recognition of his contribution to British theatre.
Rutter has been an ambassador for the Arts Council of England, and has been a judge on the panel for The Sunday Times Theatre Awards. He is also a patron of several northern theatre companies, and a trustee of the Northern Ballet.
Rutter is a passionate advocate for regional theatre, and has been instrumental in helping to develop theatre in the North of England. He has also been influential in developing new writing, and is a strong supporter of young talent.
Barrie Rutter is an important figure in British theatre, and is widely respected for his contribution to the arts in the North of England.
