Carmilla (1972)

Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Costumes:
Music:
David Campton
Yes

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

19 June 1972
19 June 1972
6 September 1972

Alan Ayckbourn
Tina Bicat
Barrie Davenport
Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Asst. Stage Manager:
Asst. Stage Manager:
Jennifer Smith
David Millard
David Hayward
Sue Rogers
Character
Captain Field
Ivan
Laura
Madame Perrodon
Colonel Smithson
Carmilla
Dr Spielsberg
Actor
Ray Jewers
David Hayward
Philippa Urquhart
Matyelok Gibbs
Piers Rogers
Jennifer Piercey
Christopher Godwin

Why is this play significant?

David Compton was Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre's first resident playwright and was the only writer to be produced during every year during Stephen Joseph's tenure as Artistic Director of the company. Sadly, for such a key figure in the history of theatre in the round in Scarborough, Carmilla marked the final production of a Campton play by the company. Campton was one of the company's great successes and had a prolific and popular playwriting career and is still performed today.

Notes

○ Carmilla was the final world premiere production of a play David Campton with the theatre in the round company.
○ Although the play is credited as having its world premiere at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, the company actually performed it for a week prior to 19 June 1972 at the newly opened Sheffield Crucible before transferring to Scarborough; it's premiere is still considered to be at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre though.
○ Carmilla is a new adaptation of Sheridan le Fanu's famed vampire novel.
○ David Campton was the first writer-in-residence at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, and a significant figure in the theatre from its creation in 1955 until Stephen Joseph's death in 1967.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.