Photo by Ant Robling
Executive Director and Joint CEO Ruth Cooke talks about Northern Broadsides’ return to touring, its deepening community work, and future plans for the company.
I first saw Northern Broadsides perform in my home theatre, Hull Truck Theatre, many (many) years ago, and this was before I realised that not all Shakespeare was spoken with a Yorkshire accent – so I thought it was totally normal.
It was only as I saw more work outside of Yorkshire that I realised what an extraordinary thing Northern Broadsides were doing in taking classic plays and performing them in a Northern voice. I count myself as a loyal Broadsides audience member, as well as one of its employees, and remain committed to delivering that honest, authentic performance style that I and other Broadsides audiences have always loved and responded to.
Touring theatre has changed a lot in recent years, and I wanted to give a bit more insight into what goes into bringing our work around the country – and how we’re building towards the future.
The reality of funding
Arts Council England’s regular funding grant supports our core costs (e.g. staff and administration) and allows us to plan ahead as a company. However, their funding has stayed the same for 16 years, and no longer covers mounting and putting on a tour. All of our youth and community engagement work is funded from elsewhere. We’ve worked hard to build support from trusts, foundations and donors, but there’s still more to do if we’re going to keep bringing ambitious theatre to communities across the country.
If you’re interested in reading more, see the Arts Council’s State of Touring Report which explores some of these challenges.
Back on the road with Crime and Punishment
We’ve recently completed a tour of a new adaptation of Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, visiting five smaller-than-usual theatres. We were really excited to be back on the road, meeting with audiences and venues old and new. If you came along, we hope you enjoyed the more intimate experience!
With limited time, budget and resources, we needed to think differently — creating something smaller in scale while still holding on to our creative ambition. Laurie [Sansom, Artistic Director] did an incredible job of adapting a sweeping Russian novel into a 2-hour play for three actors and it offered some exciting creative options, such as the self-contained lighting design that is operated almost entirely by the cast, and the way the smaller-scale format brought audiences closer to the story, creating a more immediate and immersive experience.
For example, since the closure of the Viaduct Theatre, previously our regular Halifax home, we have partnered with the Victoria Theatre, who were generous and open in their willingness to work with us and transform their stage into a studio theatre for Crime and Punishment.
We also enjoyed a new education partnership with Leeds City College – two of their students were Trainee Assistant Stage Managers during rehearsals, others supported the get in and fit up when we arrived, and we ran a workshop and private show for the students.
Being a touring company without a fixed venue gives us the freedom to adapt and evolve – and this tour has been an important step. We wanted to appeal to our loyal audience members and attract new people to try our work for the first time – that’s crucial for our future.
Photos of Crime and Punishment by Andrew Billington
Looking ahead
We’re currently working towards returning to touring to our larger, more regular venues through new funding opportunities, with exciting plans underway to bring Shakespeare back to our repertoire in the near future. We also want to reach some areas where people don’t always get the chance to see quality drama on their doorstep.
Community is key
This ambitious plan sits alongside our commitment to making a difference in our community. There’s an incredible wealth of creativity across our region, but access to the arts isn’t always equal. We are passionate about making sure that everybody, no matter your background, can be creative and consider a career in the arts.
In 2024, we launched Broadsides’ first ever Youth Theatre in Park Ward, Halifax. It’s quickly become a vital part of the company – a group of around 30 young people aged 8-18 now meet weekly, building confidence, developing skills, and shaping their own creative work. It’s been one of the most important and rewarding things that I’ve ever been part of.
Alongside this, we’re working on Life in a Northern Town, a partnership with Blackpool Grand and The Customs House in South Shields. This project supports young writers from across the North to develop new plays rooted in their own lived experiences – helping ensure that northern voices continue to shape the stories we see on stage.
In these turbulent times, achieving balance will be crucial. We’re honouring our roots whilst evolving and moving forward despite challenging conditions. We can’t do that without you and we’re so grateful to have you behind us. Beyond buying tickets, every extra donation, every friends membership and every legacy will invest in our future.
Photos of Park Youth Theatre & Life in a Northern Town by Ant Robling
