Alan Ayckbourn: Withdrawn Plays

The 'withdrawn plays' are entirely operate to the 'Grey Plays' or 'early plays' (which are all considered withdrawn and unavailable) in that they are part of the acknowledged full-length play canon, having been produced professionally at least once. They have then subsequently been withdrawn by the playwright.

As a result, all of these works are unpublished, although they can be read in situ as part of the Ayckbourn Archive at the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York or at the British Library. In-depth details about all these plays can be found in the relevant Plays section via the index or by clicking on the titles below.

This list was clarified by Alan Ayckbourn during 2020 and is now considered definitive - none of these plays are available to produce.

Withdrawn Plays

○ The Square Cat (1959): Alan Ayckbourn's first professionally produced and commissioned play. Withdrawn as the playwright considers it part of his early learning curve as a writer.
○ Love After All (1959): Alan Ayckbourn's second play, professionally produced in two different versions. Both versions are withdrawn as the playwright considers them part of his early learning curve as a writer.
○ Dad's Tale (1960): Alan Ayckbourn's third play and first children's play. Withdrawn as the playwright considers it part of his early learning curve as a writer.
○ Standing Room Only (1961): The first play to credited to Alan Ayckbourn rather than the pseudonym Roland Allen. Withdrawn as the playwright considers it part of his early learning curve as a writer.
○ Christmas V Mastermind (1962): Alan Ayckbourn's second play for children. Withdrawn as the playwright considers it part of his early learning curve as a writer.
○ The Sparrow (1967): Alan Ayckbourn's eight play - the successor to Relatively Speaking. Only professionally produced once and now withdrawn as the playwright considers it part of his early learning curve as a writer.
○ Jeeves (1975): Alan Ayckbourn and Andrew Lloyd Webber's first collaboration on a musical. Officially withdrawn in and later revised to the available to produce musical By Jeeves.
○ The Musical Jigsaw Play (1994): A musical collaboration between Alan Ayckbourn and John Pattison for children. Only produced professionally once with all interest discouraged, the playwright officially considered it withdrawn during 2020.
○ Virtual Reality (2000): Alan Ayckbourn's penultimate play of the 20th century and one which he expressed dis-satisfaction almost immediately. As a result, it was withdrawn immediately following its 2001 UK tour by the Stephen Joseph Theatre.

All research in this section is by Simon Murgatroyd and should be credited if reproduced.