Barrie Rutter Stars in Northern Broadsides' RUTHERFORD & SONS, Beginning Tonight

Northern Broadsides presents Githa Sowerby's Rutherford & Son.

Directed by Sir Jonathan Miller with text edited by Blake Morrison, Rutherford & Son will star the company's Artistic Director Barrie Rutter in the lead role of John Rutherford. Barrie Rutter is currently appearing as Jarvis Huntley-Pike in Trevor Nunn's production of Chorus of Disapproval at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

He will be joined in the cast by Wendi Peters (Cilla Battersby Brown in Coronation Street and most recently onstage in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Arts Theatre) ; Nicholas Shaw (A Provincial Life, National Theatre of Wales and John Fisher in Land Girls, BBC); Kate Antony (Pam Hobsworth in Coronation Street); Andrew Grose (Rainman, English Theatre Frankfurt) as Richard Rutherford ; Sara Poyzer (Othello, Northern Broadsides); Catherine Kinsella(We are Three Sisters, Northern Broadsides) and Richard Standing (Swallows & Amazons, Bristol Old Vic).

The production is designed by Isabella Bywater, who has worked regulary with Sir Jonathan Miller, as well as productions for Nicholas Hytner, Deborah Warner and Lucy Bailey. Lighting will be designed by Guy Hoare (Othello, Northern Broadsides).

Set in early 1912, Rutherford & Son tells the story of iron-fisted John Rutherford as he battles the scheming rebellion of his younger son and his daughter's scandalous love-affair, while fighting to prevent the legacy of the family glassworks from shattering. Tackling timeless issues of family dynamics both at home and in business, this remarkable drama is as relevant today as it was when it was first performed.

Rutherford & Son will open at the Viaduct Theatre, Halifax from tonight, 8-16 February and will then visit Dukes, Lancaster, Oxford Playhouse; Hull Truck Theatre; New Vic Theatre, Stoke; Rose Theatre, Kingston; Watford Palace Theatre; West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds; Theatre Royal, Winchester; Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough; The Lowry, Salford Quays; and Liverpool Playhouse. Press night will be on Wednesday 13 February at the Viaduct Theatre, Halifax.

For more info visit www.northern-broadsides.co.uk.