Circle Of Love (1955)

Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Eleanor D Glaser
Yes

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

14 July 1955
14 July 1955
10 August 1955
Director:

Stage Manager:
Asst. Stage Manager:
Stephen Joseph

Margaret Tabor
James Wootton
Character
Paul Rimmer
Diana Rimmer
Denis Rimmer
Nona Nesbitt
Jamie Brewer
Grant Brewer
Anna Marshall
Actor
Ralph Nossek
Helen Towers
Morris Perry
Kara Aldridge
Joan Cibber
John Sherlock
Shirley Jacobs

Why is this play significant?

This is the first play to be presented at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre. For this inaugural play which launched the UK's first professional theatre in the round company, Stephen Joseph chose a new play by a new female playwright, Eleanor D Glaser. It is a remarkable decision for this time, the country's first professional company dedicated to new writing performing in an unfamiliar theatre form opening with an unknown play by an unknown female playwright. Equally of significance is the fact that of the four plays in the company's inaugural season, each was new and three were written by female playwrights.

Notes

○ The play which opened Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, on 14 July 1955.
○ The playwright, Eleanor D Glaser, was a participant in one of Stephen Joseph's playwriting courses held at the Central School Of Speech And Drama, London, and the play was derived from her work on this course.
○ The script was believed lost until 2005 when the University Of Warwick revealed it held Eleanor D Glaser's archive including an original script for Circle Of Love; a copy of this was kindly arranged to be returned to Scarborough to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.
○ Eleanor D Glaser was one of three female writers to have new worked produced during the Library Theatre's inaugural season of four plays alongside Ruth Dixon and Joan Winch.
○ Circle Of Love was performed without an interval.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.