Miller, whose credits stretch from being an original member of the Beyond the Fringe comedy troupe alongside Alan Bennett and the late Peter Cook and Dudley Moore to directing for English National Opera and Glyndebourne, has also directed King Lear at Lincoln Center with Christopher Plummer and Long Day's Journey into Night with Jack Lemmon (West End and Broadway).

In a press statement, Miller commented, "I am absolutely thrilled and excited to be asked to direct Rutherford & Son for Northern Broadsides next year. It is also a huge delight to be once again working with Barrie Rutter, who I last worked together with at the RSC in the late eighties. Earlier this year Barrie invited me up to Halifax to visit Northern Broadsides’ home at the Viaduct Theatre in Halifax and I was totally overcome with the venue's wonderful intimate performance space which is such an exciting challenge and delight for both a director and actor."

Rutter, who is the company's founder and artistic director, will play the role of John Rutherford in the production. He commented, "Jonathan's delight in the play and our home venue at Dean Clough, a former mill, is very fitting for the robust domestic and industrial battle that is at the heart of Rutherford & Son. He will be the company’s first guest director – a welcome and exhilarating influence."

The play, which is described as being about class, capitalism and gender, is set in early 1890s industrial Yorkshire and tells the story of iron-fisted John Rutherford as he battles the scheming rebellion of his younger son and his daughter’s scandalous love-affair, while fighting to prevent the legacy of the family glassworks from shattering.

Further details of the cast and tour dates are still to be announced. For more information visit www.northern-broadsides.co.uk.