Ayckbourn Chronology: 2006
Notable Events
During 2006, Alan Ayckbourn…
○ suffered a stroke on 21 February (a week before it is reported by the media), but is directing again by September.
○ saw Tim Luscombe step in to direct his intended revival of Intimate Exchanges at the Stephen Joseph Theatre at short notice due to his stroke.
○ directed If I Were You at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in September; he had finished writing the play just days prior to his stroke.
○ saw Alain Resnais adapt Private Fears In Public Places into the film Coeurs (retitled Private Fears In Public Places in most other territories). It would win the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
○ had his and Denis King's musical Whenever broadcast on BBC Radio.
○ saw Orvin - Champion Of Champions published by Faber with Comic Potential and Drowning On Dry Land published by Samuel French.
○ suffered a stroke on 21 February (a week before it is reported by the media), but is directing again by September.
○ saw Tim Luscombe step in to direct his intended revival of Intimate Exchanges at the Stephen Joseph Theatre at short notice due to his stroke.
○ directed If I Were You at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in September; he had finished writing the play just days prior to his stroke.
○ saw Alain Resnais adapt Private Fears In Public Places into the film Coeurs (retitled Private Fears In Public Places in most other territories). It would win the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
○ had his and Denis King's musical Whenever broadcast on BBC Radio.
○ saw Orvin - Champion Of Champions published by Faber with Comic Potential and Drowning On Dry Land published by Samuel French.
World Premieres
○ If I Were You17 October: Stephen Joseph Theatre
Notable Ayckbourn productions
○ Improbable Fiction (Tour)18 January: UK tour produced by Stephen Joseph Theatre
○ Intimate Exchanges (Revival)
2 May: Stephen Joseph Theatre
○ Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays (Revival)
6 December: Stephen Joseph Theatre
Professional Directing
○ If I Were You *○ Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays *
○ Improbable Fiction
UK tour
* Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Plays In Other Media
○ Private Fears In Public PlacesFilm: September, world premiere
○ Whenever
Radio: 26 August, BBC Radio 4
Quotes
“As a writer, there’s a sense you belong on the shop floor. It’s important to have that experience: look at Shakespeare.”(The Times, 2 January 2006)
"The success of Private Fears In Public Places [in New York] was a sort of vindication, like a life's work unwasted. You slog away doing what you hope is good work up in the North-East but you never really know. But to be put up against that level of competition, in that sort of cauldron of critical mayhem which I have experienced over time."
(The Independent, 6 January 2006)
"I often describe myself as a big open tape-recorder that just keeps on rolling,"
(Oxford Mail, 3 February 2006)
"It doesn't get any easier. People say I just knock them out but it takes a long time to even have an idea."
(Oxford Mail, 3 February 2006)
"I think the West End has become pretty unsympathetic to the new play. I looked at the paper the other day and London was just like Broadway has become: musicals, musicals. And plays with imported movie stars who can't be heard beyond row four."
(The Guardian, 4 October 2006)
On 21 February, Alan Ayckbourn suffered a stroke and much of what he said subsequent to this during 2006 pertains to the stroke and its after effects.
"I am just worried that my energy levels won't hold up, although I am fairly lively. I am feeling mildly guilty as I had a great summer sitting in the sun, swimming, cycling - it's been quite nice."
(Scarborough Evening News, 3 August 2006)
"It was a very strange feeling, wondering why can't I move my fingers on that hand, or my toes on that foot? What sends messages though from my brain to my hands and feet?"
(Sunday Telegraph, 27 August 2006)
"My left hand is now consigned to the shift-key, so my letters are a bit like communications with e.e. cummings at present."
(Sunday Telegraph, 27 August 2006)
"During that first night of the stroke. There was one poor nurse I think I almost reduced to tears. I was holding her hand and saying, 'I can't be here. There are all these things I have to do.' And she said, 'Well, you won't be able to.'"
(The Guardian, 4 October 2006)
"Extraordinary things happen with strokes. When your arm first returns, it's a bit uncontrollable, a bit Dr Strangelove."
(The Guardian, 4 October 2006)
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd and copyright of Haydonning Ltd. Please do not reproduce without permission of the copyright holder.