A View From The Brink (1960)
A View From The Brink was the name given to an evening of three short plays by David Campton: Out Of The Flying Pan, Soldier From The Wars Returning and Mutatis Mutandis.
Author:
New Play:
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Staging:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
David Campton
Yes
Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
Concert Room, Scarborough Library
Round
4 August 1960
4 August 1960
10 September 1960
Yes
Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
Concert Room, Scarborough Library
Round
4 August 1960
4 August 1960
10 September 1960
Director:
Stephen Joseph
Actors
Alan Ayckbourn
David Campton
Derrick Gilbert
David Glover
Faynia Jeffrey
Hazel Ann Lee
Alan Ayckbourn
David Campton
Derrick Gilbert
David Glover
Faynia Jeffrey
Hazel Ann Lee
Why is this play significant?
David Campton's anthologies A View From The Brink and Four Minute Warning (1961) are notable in that they brought Campton to the national eye, drawing favourable comparisons with the likes of Harold Pinter and leading Campton to be labelled as a foremost proponent of the 'Theatre of Menace' genre.Notes
○ A View From The Brink consisted of three plays by David Campton: Out Of The Flying Pan, Soldier From The Wars Returning and Mutatis Mutandis.
○ A View From The Brink was originally advertised as closing on 7 September but with extensive changes to the season once it had gone underway - largely to remove 'Prentice Pillar from the schedule, its run was extended to 10 September.
○ A View From The Brink and Four Minute Warning both received positive press with comparison to other writers of the 'comedy of menace' genre such as Harold Pinter.
○ Soldier From The Wars Returning featured Alan Ayckbourn as a one-armed, one-legged and one-eyed barman. The playwright joked that he and Campton used to challenge each other to write "the ultimately unplayable, unrewarding - acting role - preferably as humiliating and physically uncomfortable as possible." Alan conceded Campton easily beat him with the roles he created for him!
○ A View From The Brink was presented without an interval.
○ David Campton was a participant in one of Stephen Joseph's playwriting courses held at the Central School Of Speech And Drama, London, prior to the Library Theatre opening. He would become Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre's first writer-in-residence.
○ During the 1960 summer season, Martin Carthy was an assistant stage manage for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre; the same Martin Carthy who would go on to become one of the pre-eminent folk British musicians of his generation.
○ A View From The Brink was originally advertised as closing on 7 September but with extensive changes to the season once it had gone underway - largely to remove 'Prentice Pillar from the schedule, its run was extended to 10 September.
○ A View From The Brink and Four Minute Warning both received positive press with comparison to other writers of the 'comedy of menace' genre such as Harold Pinter.
○ Soldier From The Wars Returning featured Alan Ayckbourn as a one-armed, one-legged and one-eyed barman. The playwright joked that he and Campton used to challenge each other to write "the ultimately unplayable, unrewarding - acting role - preferably as humiliating and physically uncomfortable as possible." Alan conceded Campton easily beat him with the roles he created for him!
○ A View From The Brink was presented without an interval.
○ David Campton was a participant in one of Stephen Joseph's playwriting courses held at the Central School Of Speech And Drama, London, prior to the Library Theatre opening. He would become Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre's first writer-in-residence.
○ During the 1960 summer season, Martin Carthy was an assistant stage manage for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre; the same Martin Carthy who would go on to become one of the pre-eminent folk British musicians of his generation.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.