Barrie Rutter

Infobox actor


name = Barrie Rutter
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birthname = Barrie Rutter
birthdate = birth date and age|1946|12|12|df=yes
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yearsactive = 1969 - present
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Barrie Rutter (born 12 December 1946) 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 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. [cite web
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title =About us - Barrie
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publisher =Northern Broadsides
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url =http://www.northern-broadsides.co.uk/PAGES/ABOUT_US/aboutus_barrie.htm
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accessdate =2007-10-02 ]

In 2000 he was received the title 'Creative Briton 2000', with a cheque for £100,000. [cite web
last =
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title =Theatre pioneer receives welcome broadside
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publisher =BBC News
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url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/811818.stm
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accessdate =2007-10-02 ] 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." [cite web
last =
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title =Top prize for 'factory floor Shakespeare'
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publisher =BBC News
date =2000-07-28
url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/810139.stm
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accessdate =2007-10-02 ] In 2003 he received the Sam Wanamaker Award jointly with Stephen Unwin for their work promoting Shakespeare in the regions. [cite web|url=http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/information/samwanamakeraward/|title=The Sam Wanamaker Award|work=Shakespeare's Globe|accessdate=2008-05-22] In 2005 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Bradford. [cite web
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title =Honorary Graduations at the University of Bradford - July 2005
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publisher =University of Bradford
date = 2005
url = http://www.bradford.ac.uk/admin/pr/pressreleases/2005/hon-grads-july-2005.php
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accessdate =2007-10-02 ]

He has appeared in many films and television programmes, including a regular role in the early 1980's 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. [cite web
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title =Barrie Rutter at IMDB
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publisher =IMDB
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url = http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0752149/
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accessdate =2007-10-02 ]

In 2008 Rutter will direct Lenny Henry in a production of Othello. [cite web
last =
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title =Lenny just a jealous guy... and it's no joke
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publisher =Yorkshire Evening Post
date =2008-04-10
url = http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Lenny-just-a-jealous-guy.4559128.jp
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accessdate =2008-04-10 ] He says 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." [cite web
last =Brown
first =Mark
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title =A new Moor for West Yorkshire
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publisher =The Guardian
date =2008-02-10
url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2008/oct/02/lenny.henry.othello
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accessdate =2008-02-10 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/otherresources/interviews/BarrieRutter.htm Interview with The British Theatre Guide]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7650432.stm Interview alongside Lenny Henry on BBC News]

Persondata
NAME=Rutter, Barrie
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Theatre director and actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 12 December 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH=Hull, England