Under Milk Wood (1971)

Author:
New Play:

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First performance:
Opening night:
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Music:
Dylan Thomas
No

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

14 June 1971
14 June 1971
21 July 1971

Caroline Smith
Tina Bicat
Daniel Jones
Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Asst. Stage Manager:
Jenny Smith
David Millard
Gerson Grant
Character
All actors played various roles
Actor
Roger Kemp
Tim Meats
Christopher Godwin
Gerson Grant
Jenny Austen
Gil Osborne
Eve Shickle
Tina Bicat

Why is this play significant?

It marked the debut of Christopher Godwin with the Scarborough company who would become a long-standing member of the repertory company and would originate some of Alan Ayckbourn's most famous characters from the period such as Norman in The Norman Conquests. It was also produced as part of Caroline Smith's year-long tenure as Director of Productions - the first and, as of writing, only woman to have run the Scarborough company.

Notes

○ Under Milk Wood marked the first performance of the actor Christopher Godwin with the company. Christopher is one of the company’s most prolific actors and was responsible for creating a number of classic Ayckbourn roles such as Norman in The Norman Conquests. He was part of the acting company between 1971 and 1977 and subsequently returned to act with the company in 1996 and 2015.
○ The 1971 season was overseen by Caroline Smith as the Director Of Productions (Artistic Director). She directed all but one of the plays and was the final person to be seasonally appointed to this role before Alan Ayckbourn was appointed Artistic Director in 1972 through to 2009. She remains - as of writing - the company's only female Artistic Director.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.