One strike started a blaze

In 1995 at Ryles Park High School in Macclesfield, two young people bonded over a passion for theatre and musicals.

This friendship has lasted out over 25 years and 2019 found them both living back in their home town at the same time. Whilst they had both gone their separate ways, professionally and geographically during the last two decades, they had been brought back together and both in search of that old spark that had excited them all that time.

What they both agreed was that they had both found that the theatre industry could be quite exclusive and that, as Northern actors, writers and directors, there was limited opportunity for them. They also agreed that there was definitely a gap in the market for a theatre company developed purely to grow Northern talent, especially new graduates.

In 2020 Northern Rep Theatre was launched.

May 2020 will see their flagship workshop production of a brand new play written by Macclesfield native Laura Genders. ‘Bysmal Boys is a drama with comedic undertones which focusses of the lives of Blue Watch, Macclesfield during the national Fire Brigade strike of 1977 and explores the effects of the strike on their relationships with their friends, families and each other.

It is directed by Tuirenn Hurstfield, the other half of this dramatic duo, who grew up in Macclesfield and has worked as an industry professional for the last 20 years. This is the second new theatre piece that Tuirenn will be directing this year, the other being a production of Bosie written by and performed by local actor, Rik Barnett.

‘Bysmal Boys is cast entirely by actors from the region, many of whom can be seen on stage with other community theatre companies. It will be performed on Friday 1^st & Saturday 2^ndMay 2020 and tickets are available at bysmalboys.eventbrite.co.uk. Tickets are being issued on a Pay What You Can basis where the audience are not asked to buy them but to donate what they think that the ticket is worth, based on their experience of the play. The aim is to eventually take ‘Bysmal Boys on a professional tour.