Alan Ayckbourn: Actor

The Birds And The Well-Wishers (1962)

Production Details

Play:
Author:

First performance:
Final performance:
Venue:
Staging:

Director:
The Birds And The Well-Wishers
William Norfolk

9 October 1962
15 December 1962
Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
Round

Peter Cheeseman
Character
Mrs Trigger
Vi
Maisie
Fred
Bob
Stage Manager
Actor
Heather Stoney
Caroline Smith
Elizabeth Bell
Alan Ayckbourn
Stanley Page
Arnold Beck

Quotes & Notes

1962 marked a period of change for Alan Ayckbourn. For the first half of the year, he was based with the Studio Theatre Company in Scarborough, working predominantly as an actor (although he was now also writing and directing) at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre. At the end of the summer season, Studio Theatre Ltd - which had been based at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre since its founding in 1955 - moved to the UK's first permanent theatre-in-the-round venue at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent; Scarborough was home to the first theatre-in-the-round company. Alan moved with the company to Stoke-on-Trent and was employed as an actor, director and writer; whilst it has been suggested Alan was the Associate Director of the venue alongside the Artistic Director Peter Cheeseman, Alan has said this was never the case as far as he was aware! While Theatre in. The Round at the Library Theatre did continue in Scarborough, Alan would not return on a permanent basis until he took over as Artistic Director in 1972, although he would still work closely with the theatre during the interim years.

The Birds And The Well-Wishers was originally produced at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, during the summer of 1962. It was then revived later in the year at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent with a slightly altered cast.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.