Jonathan Miller to direct Northern Broadsides' Barrie Rutter in King Lear

Jonathan Miller is linking up again with Northern Broadsides next year to direct King Lear starring Barrie Rutter.

The production opens at the company's home the Viaduct Theatre in Halifax from 27 February to 7 March 2015 and then tours the UK until mid-June (dates below).

Miller said: "Although Shakespeare set Lear in pre-Christian England I have always staged the play in the year when it was written. Here is a play in which a monarch who has always 'slenderly known himself' has irresponsibly divided his kingdom in the same year that James I united the kingdoms of England and Scotland.

"Having worked with Barrie on Rutherford & Son I feel confident that this particular production will bring forward justly unrecognised aspects of this remarkable drama."

The production will be designed by Isabella Bywater, who works regularly with Miller, with lighting by Guy Hoare. It marks the second time that Northern Broadsides have staged King Lear, the last time being in 1999 with the company's artistic director Rutter again in the title role.

King Lear will tour to Hull Truck Theatre (10-14 Mar) , Theatre Royal Bath (17-21 Mar), Everyman Theatre Cheltenham (24-28 Mar), West Yorkshire Playhouse (8-18 Apr), Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (21-25 Apr), Liverpool Playhouse (28 Apr-2 May), The Lowry, Salford Quays (5-9 May), York International Shakespeare Festival (12-16 May), Rose Theatre, Kingston (19-23 May) and New Vic Theatre, Stoke (27 May-13 June).