Alan Ayckbourn: Actor
The Rainmaker (1962)
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The Rainmaker
N. Richard Nash
3 December 1962
23 February 1963
Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
Round
Arnold Beck
N. Richard Nash
3 December 1962
23 February 1963
Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
Round
Arnold Beck
Character
Noah Curry
H.C. Curry
Jim Curry
Lizzie Curry
File
Sheriff Thomas
Bill Starbuck
Noah Curry
H.C. Curry
Jim Curry
Lizzie Curry
File
Sheriff Thomas
Bill Starbuck
Actor
David Wehner
Stanley Page
David Halliwell
Elizabeth Bell
Peter King
Arnold Beck
Alan Ayckbourn
David Wehner
Stanley Page
David Halliwell
Elizabeth Bell
Peter King
Arnold Beck
Alan Ayckbourn
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 Rainmaker was originally produced at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, before being revived in the year at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent with a slightly altered cast.
Review extract from The Guardian (4 December 1962)
"At first Alan Ayckbourn seems something of a lightweight in the part of the rainmaker - but he disciplines himself gradually to the lizard-like stillness and sudden movement that is the characteristic of all confidence tricksters."
Information for this page has been provided by The Michael T Mooney Archive.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.