THE “untold story” of a Bradford theatre school that launched the careers of some of the biggest theatre stars of their time will be performed at a Bradford theatre.

The Northern School was set up in Little Germany the 1950s by actress and theatre director Esme Church, and next month Bradford Playhouse will host an interactive performance looking back at the school’s history.

Running from October 4 to October 8 The Northern School, by Bent Architects, has been funded by the Arts Council and will be performed by a professional and community cast and features a live rock ‘n’ roll band, dance and film.

Esme Church, who became artistic director at the Bradford Civic Playhouse in the 1940s, founded The Northern School in Chapel Street, and used the theatre’s facilities to teach the city’s budding young actors of the time. Over the years, the school developed a reputation as one of the most accomplished in the area.

Former pupils of the school who have gone on to achieve acclaim in the acting world include Tom Bell, Dorothy Heathcote, Bryan Mosley, Edward Petherbridge, Robert Stephens and Billie Whitelaw.

Set in the place where the school was based, the theatre company plan to take over the whole building in a site specific performance. Audiences will be able to explore the Bradford Playhouse theatre backstage and behind the scenes, discovering performances and happenings across the site.

It will look at the changing attitudes of young students at a time where the focus of theatre and acting was moving towards the lives of regular, working class people.

Mick Martin, Bradford-born and based writer and director, says: “We aim to create something more than a play.

“It has elements of a film and a nightclub all rolled into one. We want it to be a theatrical adventure right through the building.”

Jude Wright, Bradford-based director, said: “We wanted to do something which was absolutely about Bradford, which celebrates our rich past and our growing confidence in our cultural future. The show will be eclectic and fun - a really fantastic night out and unlike anything you’ve seen before.”

The story tells of a group of young hopefuls who join the Northern School hoping to take to the stage. But the 60’s are looming, and the British New Wave is ready to explode. Unbeknown to Miss Church, they no longer want to look and sound like the old school - Laurence Olivier and Vivienne Leigh. They want to see and hear about their own lives with all the dramas.

The play looks at this seismic clash of culture and what happens when the students rebel against their classical training.

The production is supported by the Arts Council, Bradford Council, the University of Bradford’s Theatre in the Mill, The National Media Museum and Bradford College.

In partnership with the Media Museum, free screenings of films which inspired the production will also take place at community venues across the district, as part of the company’s outreach work. These will be at Karmand Centre tomorrow (14) at 2pm and Keighley Central Hall on Friday at 7pm.

The show will run at the Playhouse from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday.

Tickets cost are £12 and are available from the Bradford Playhouse website: bradfordplayhouse.org.uk or by calling 01274 800415.