Alan Ayckbourn: The National Theatre

Alan Ayckbourn has had a strong relationship with the National Theatre and was a Company Director between 1986 and 1988. The National Theatre is the most important venue Alan Ayckbourn is associated with outside of his home theatre in Scarborough.

This page contains some frequently asked questions regarding Alan Ayckbourn and the National Theatre. If you have any other questions, please contact the website here.

Alan Ayckbourn & The National Theatre: Frequently Asked Questions

1) When did Alan Ayckbourn first work with the National Theatre?
2) Which Ayckbourn plays have been produced at the National Theatre?
3) When did Alan Ayckbourn take a sabbatical from the Stephen Joseph Theatre to join the National Theatre?
4) What was Alan Ayckbourn’s connection to the Stephen Joseph Theatre during this period?
5) What plays did Alan Ayckbourn direct at the National Theatre during his sabbatical?
6) Is it true Alan Ayckbourn considered not returning to Scarborough following his sabbatical tab the National Theatre?

1) When did Alan Ayckbourn first work with the National Theatre?
Alan Ayckbourn's first production with the National Theatre was Bedroom Farce which premiered on 16 March 1977.

2) Which Ayckbourn plays have been produced at the National Theatre?
The following Ayckbourn plays have been produced at the National Theatre: Bedroom Farce; Sisterly Feelings; Way Upstream; A Chorus Of Disapproval; A Small Family Business (originally in 1987 and revived in 2014); Invisible Friends; Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays; House & Garden; Season's Greetings. The revues Me, Myself And I and Mere Soup Songs have also been produced at the National Theatre.
Of these productions, all were directed by Alan Ayckbourn with the exception of Season's Greetings in 2010 and A Small Family Business in 2014.

3) When did Alan Ayckbourn take a sabbatical from the Stephen Joseph Theatre to join the National Theatre?
Alan’s sabbatical from the Stephen Joseph Theatre Theatre was from 1986 to 1988. During this period he became a company director at the National Theatre and had his own acting company within the complex.

4) What was Alan Ayckbourn’s connection with the Stephen Joseph Theatre during this period?
Alan remained the Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round and this position was listed in programmes during the period. Robin Herford was also appointed Artistic Director and managed the day-to-day running of the theatre and seasonal programming decisions. During the one full year he was away (1987), Alan still wrote and directed Henceforward… for Scarborough.

5) What plays did Alan Ayckbourn direct for the National Theatre during this sabbatical?
The National Theatre's Artistic Director Peter Hall originally arranged for Alan to direct three plays in each of the National Theatre’s auditoria. This was later extended to four plays. The plays were Tons Of Money (Lyttelton), A View From The Bridge (Cottesloe), A Small Family Business (Olivier) and ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore (Olivier). A View From The Bridge would also transfer to the West End - at the Aldwych Theatre - which meant Alan had to recast A Small Family Business during the latter part of its run. He also presented his revue Mere Soup Songs as a late night revue in the Lyttelton buffet restaurant.

6) Is it true Alan Ayckbourn considered not returning to Scarborough following his sabbatical tab the National Theatre?
No. This was originally reported by Michael Coveney in the Financial Times during November 1986, but appears to have been reported on the basis of rumour and gossip rather than actual facts. Alan had made it clear in interviews prior to leaving that he would return to Scarborough in 1988, a point given extra weight as he remained Artistic Director throughout his sabbatical period. The fact that Alan had also committed himself in 1986 to writing and directing a new play in Scarborough, Henceforward..., for the 1987 season also suggests he was committed to Scarborough.
Possibly as a riposte to Coveney's statement, Alan made it clear in the February 1987 issue of Plays International his full intentions: "I have every intention of returning to Scarborough in 1988 and indeed we are already beginning to think of what will be in the repertoire there then."
The final nail in the coffin of this myth is that Alan also announced he would direct his new play Man Of The Moment for the 1988 Scarborough season while he was still at the National Theatre in 1987. Without any substantive evidence to prove otherwise, the 'news' was probably based on gossip, rumour and the fact the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round's relationship with Scarborough Council was going through a rocky patch at the time. To this day, there has been no credible or reliable source given for Michael Coveney's original story.

All research by Simon Murgatroyd. Please do not reproduce without permission of the copyright holder.