Alan Ayckbourn: Actor

O'Flaherty V.C. (1962)

Production Details

Play:
Author:

First performance:
Final performance:
Venue:
Staging:

Director:
O'Flaherty V.C.
George Bernard Shaw

15 October 1962
20 October 1962
Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
Round

Peter Cheeseman
Character
Private O'Flaherty V.C.
General Sir Madigan
Mrs O'Flaherty
Teresa Driscoll
Actor
Alan Ayckbourn
David Halliwell
Heather Stoney
Elizabeth Bell

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.

O'Flaherty V.C. was presented as a double bill with Bernard Shaw's The Man Of Destiny. It was originally produced at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, before being revived later in the year at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from 15 October with a slightly altered cast.

Review extract from the Evening Sentinel (16 October 1962)
"[O'Flaherty V.C.] is a major achievement for Alan Ayckbourn in the title role. He brings a touching quality to the part of the newly-returned war-hero whose view of things have been sharply re-focussed by his recent experiences."
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.