David Copperfield (1961)

Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Joan Macalpine
Yes

Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
Concert Room, Scarborough Library
Round

11 December 1961
11 December 1961
23 December 1961

Alan Ayckbourn
Character
David
Dr Chillip / Mr Dick /
Mr Micawber
Betsy Trotwood / Jane Murdstone / Julia
Clara / Dora Spenlow
Mr Murdstone / Mr Spenlow / Tradesman
Traddles / Uriah Heap
Actor
David Jarrett
Stanley Page

Rosamund Dickson

Patricia England
Richard Gill

Peter King

Why is this play significant?

A fine example of Stephen Joseph recruiting writers from within the company itself. Joan was a stage manager - allegedly hired as she was the only person strong enough to pull the hand-brake on the notoriously unreliable theatre van - who Stephen encouraged to write. This was her first of several works to be produced at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.

Notes

○ David Copperfield was Joan Macalpine’s first play to be professionally produced.
○ Further illustrating Stephen Joseph’s desire to encourage talent within the Scarborough company, Joan had initially been employed by Studio Theatre Ltd as a stage-manager before she turned her hand to writing and, later, directing.
○ This was an adaptation of Charles Dickens' famed novel.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.