Ayckbourn Chronology: 1962

Notable Events

During 1962, Alan Ayckbourn…

○ left Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, to join the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, as actor, director and writer. The Victoria was founded that year by Stephen Joseph as the UK's first professional theatre-in-the-round venue (Scarborough was home to the first professional theatre-in-the-round company).

○ acted in one of own plays for final time, playing the villain in Christmas V Mastermind a play in which his future wife, Heather Stoney, also acted

○ was incorrectly credited as the co-director of the world premiere of his play Christmas V Mastermind with Peter Cheeseman in the production's programme; he not only disputes contributing to directing the play but has no memory of any involvement other than acting!

○ wrote the short one act play, Countdown, for the multi-author collection If Love Decay…; this will eventually be retitled Mixed Doubles.

World Premieres

○ Follow The Lover ('Grey' play)
March: The Library Theatre, Scarborough
○ Countdown (One Act play)
16 September: Colchester Repertory Club
○ Christmas V Mastermind
26 December: The Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

Professional Directing

○ A Thief In Time
Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
○ The Caretaker
Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough

Professional Acting

○ A Doll's House (Torvald)
Municipal Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme
○ Hamlet (Claudius)
Municipal Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme
○ Death At The New Year (Narrator / Stepfather) *
○ O'Flaherty VC (Private O'Flaherty) * / **
○ Usher (Roderick Usher) * / **
○ The Birds And The Well-Wishers (Fred) * / **
○ The Rainmaker (Bill Starbuck) *
○ The Caretaker (Aston)
The Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
○ Christmas V Mastermind (The Crimson Gollywog)
The Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

* Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
** Also performed at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

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