About HangFire

Founded in 2017, HangFire was created with a simple desire: to see more classic theatre touring at the small to mid-scale. We want to create entertaining, accessible productions that maintain the integrity of the original piece but are able to adapt to a range of different venues and audiences.

Based in Co. Durham, we are proud to contribute to the cultural community in the region. We love to collaborate with local creatives to continue our ongoing commitment to showcase the best in North East talent, both locally and on a national platform.

HangFire’s first production was JM Barrie’s one-act play The Twelve Pound Look, which sold out it’s entire run and was described in one review as “a show not to be missed”. The production was revived the following year, when the company was asked by Durham County Council to remount the play to mark the centenary of the  1918 Representation of the People Act.

In 2019, we staged our adaptation of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House which was awarded Best Classic / Revival from NE Theatre Blogger Chris on Theatre. In the same year, we staged our adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest for the first time, which was so well received capacity for the run had to be extended several times.

In 2022, HangFire reached an exciting milestone by embarking on its first ever tour, taking our production of Earnest to venues and audiences around the country. The production will return in 2024. Full details can be found here.

Rory Stuart

Artistic Director

Rory is a Producer and Director based in Co. Durham.

After completing his studies in Performance, Production and Management at QMU Edinburgh, he started his career in a variety of roles at the Edinburgh Fringe, most notably producing Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf at The Gilded Balloon for Mixed Bag Productions. 

For 10 years, he worked at the Gala Theatre in Durham, mostly in the Programming team. During his time there, he was assistant producer on several in-house productions as well as lead producer on the successful Christmas productions Mrs Claus’ Kitchen (2017), Once Upon a Christmas (2018) and One More Sleep (2019). 

For HangFire, he has adapted and directed The Twelve Pound Look (2017 & 2018), A Doll’s House (2019) and The Importance of Being Earnest (2019). 

He is currently Assistant Producer for Northern Stage, as part of the Stage One National Placement scheme (https://stageone.uk.com/placements/national-placements).