History
1999
Reform Theatre Company was formed by actor/director Keith Hukin in 1998, with a deal struck with the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield to produce two John Godber plays, Weekend Breaks and April in Paris. In 1999 Weekend Breaks opens at the Pomegranate Theatre on the 12th October with the cast of Roger Butcher, Lynn Eckroyd and Keith Hukin, then goes on a four week northern tour.
2002
After a break Reform return with Godber’s Up 'N ' Under, performed at the Pomegranate Theatre for a week, which is followed by a five week national tour of Jim Cartwright’s Two starring Jo Swain of The Full Monty fame, and Reform finally get to play their home city of Sheffield at the Lantern Theatre. Godber’s September in the Rain goes on tour that autumn for an eight week run and the production gets part-funded by The Arts Council to play regional venues.
2003
The spring tour of Jump to Cow Heaven by Gill Adams, takes Reform in a different direction telling the true story of The Kray’s gang member Frankie the Mad Axe Man. A busy year follows, coming back to their northern roots with a run of September in the Rain at the Pomegranate Theatre, another national tour of Weekend Breaks and an Arts Council funded development of Sheffield writer David Bown’s Stand, which leads to two nights performance at the Lantern Theatre, Sheffield.
2004
The year begins with further funding from Arts Council England and a national tour of David Bown’s Stand with a cast of Dave Walker, Susan Mitchell, Keith Hukin and Jo Swain, who appeared in the first professional production of Stand for Hull Truck Theatre. Reform start the tour at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, the first time of playing there and with a sell-out week to begin the tour. Further tours of September in the Rain and Kissing Sid James finish the year off to rave reviews and growing audiences.
2005
A new production of April in Paris starts the year off and a re-cast second tour of Stand follows, with Ava Burton and and the show taking in York Theatre Royal on its travels. Summer brings another development project of David Bown’s Loaded, with two nights public performance. Then to finish the year comes John Godber’s Bouncers, the largest Reform tour so far playing seventy performances and to thirteen and a half thousand people, with Godber himself visiting the show in Doncaster.
2006
Reform secures its first major funding from Arts Council England for work through the year. Robert Farquhar’s God’s Official goes on a spring tour finishing on a sell-out night at the Lantern Theatre, Sheffield. Gordon Steel agrees for his first ever play, Dead Fish, to be re-set against the Sheffield steel industry of the 80’s, which culminates in a summer preview. Autumn brings the long awaited tour of David Bown’s second play Loaded, which is followed by another tour of September in the Rain.
2007
The year starts with the national tour of Dead Fish, that receives rave reviews and finishes with a sell-out week at the Crucible Theatre in May/June 2007. With the success of Gordon’s work, Reform embark on his second play Like a Virgin, in autumn 2007, opening new venues for the company and forging a reputation as a very exciting, high quality theatre company.
2008
The partnership with Gordon Steel carries on with a national tour of Albert Nobbs followed by yet another sell-out week of Godber’s September in the Rain at the Crucible Theatre. Back by popular demand Bouncer’s goes on a three month tour at the end of the year.
2009
Reform celebrate 10 years of touring with John Godber's Happy Jack. Roger Butcher-who was in the first Reform tour-returning to play Jack and Annie Sawle playing Liz.
2010
A year long development and re-write of Thick as Thieves, with writer Mark Whiteley and actors Matt Booth and Kivan Dene, that results in a national tour of 44 performances. Another re-mount of the classic September in the Rain plays a week at Harrogate Theatre.
2011
The year kicks off with Studs by Gordon Steel and Reform go back to developing one show and touring three plays a year. A showing of Godber's Weekend Breaks and the premiere of Nick Lanes Housebound to finish the year off.