Ayckbourn Chronology: 1959

Notable Events

During 1959, Alan Ayckbourn…

○ wrote his first professionally produced play, The Square Cat, which opened at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, on 30 July. It was written under the pseudonym Roland Allen and directed by Stephen Joseph.

○ took the lead role in The Square Cat, which was largely written to showcase his talents as an actor and featured him in a dual role of pop star Jerry Wattis and mild-mannered Arthur Brummage.

○ played Stanley in Harold Pinter's self-directed second production of The Birthday Party, which toured with Studio Theatre Ltd to Birmingham and Leicester. The experience had a profound and influential effect on his future career and writing.

○ married the actress Christine Roland at Chelsea Old Church on 9 May.

○ and Christine had their first son, Steven.

○ was called up for National Service assessment, scoring 1/100; a ploy to avoid National Service flawed only by the fact his academic record was outstanding! He would be called for - a short-lived - National Service in 1960.

○ was commissioned to write a second play, Love After All, for the 1959 winter season at the Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, following the success of The Square Cat. National Service prevented him taking the lead role as he had hoped.

World Premieres

○ The Square Cat
30 July: Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
○ Love After All
21 December: Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough

Professional Acting

○ The Birthday Party (Stanley)
Studio Theatre Ltd tour
○ Bell, Book & Candle (Nicholas Holroyd) *
○ Easter (Elis) *
○ Frankenstein (Henri) *
○ The Square Cat (Jerry Wattis / Arthur Brummage) *
* Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough

All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd and copyright of Haydonning Ltd. Please do not reproduce without permission of the copyright holder.