The Victoria Theatre: The First Season

This page has details about the first season of the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, in which Alan Ayckbourn was significantly involved. Play-titles with hyperlinks donate plays Alan was involved with and from which further details can be found.
The Victoria Theatre opened on Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent, on 9 October 1962. The box office opened for business on 1 October with tickets priced at 3/6 (6/- with concessions). Seats were not numbered, so parties were recommended to arrive early to ensure they could sit together. The venue had a coffee bar open before and after every performance.

The first season predominantly featured productions which has been initially produced at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, during the summer 1962 season. Original productions were introduced towards the latter part of the year and during 1963. The company's Artistic Director was Peter Cheeseman and Alan Ayckbourn was director, playwright and actor - and certainly viewed by Peter as his informal deputy.

The First Season (October 1962 - March 1963)

Play

Playwright

William Norfolk
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
Harold Pinter
William Norfolk
George Bernard Shaw
Harold Pinter
David Campton
William Norfolk
George Bernard Shaw
Harold Pinter
David Campton
George Bernard Shaw
William Norfolk
N. Richard Nash
Harold Pinter
William Norfolk
David Campton
N. Richard Nash
Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Plater
Alan Plater
Harold Pinter
David Campton
Jean Anouilh
N. Richard Nash
Alan Plater

Director

Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Alan Ayckbourn
Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Alan Ayckbourn
Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Alan Ayckbourn
Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Arnold Beck
Alan Ayckbourn
Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Arnold Beck
Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn
Peter Cheeseman
Peter Cheeseman
Arnold Beck
Alan Ayckbourn

Dates

9 - 13 October 1962
15 - 20 October

22 - 24 October
25 - 27 October
29 - 31 October
1 - 3 November
5 - 10 November
12 - 14 November
15 - 17 November
19 - 21 November
22 - 24 November
26 - 28 November
29 November - 1 December
3 - 8 December
10 - 12 December
13 - 15 December
17 - 19 December
20 - 22 December
26 December - 19 January
21 - 26 January 1963

28 January - 2 February
4 - 9 February
11 - 16 February
18 - 23 February
25 February - 2 March
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd © Haydonning Ltd. Please do not reproduce without permission.