Alas, Poor Fred (1959)
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:
James Saunders
Yes
Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
Concert Room, Scarborough Library
Round
25 June 1959
25 June 1959
12 September 1959
Yes
Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
Concert Room, Scarborough Library
Round
25 June 1959
25 June 1959
12 September 1959
Director:
Stage Manager:
Asst. Stage Manager:
Asst. Stage Manager:
Stage Manager:
Asst. Stage Manager:
Asst. Stage Manager:
Rodney Wood
Ann Hughesdon
Rosemary Green
Don Brown
Ann Hughesdon
Rosemary Green
Don Brown
Character
Mr Pringle
Mrs Pringle
Mr Pringle
Mrs Pringle
Actor
William Elmhirst
Dona Martyn
William Elmhirst
Dona Martyn
Why is this play significant?
Both the play Alas, Poor Fred and the playwright James Saunders are one of the earliest genuine successes to come from Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre. Alas, Poor Fred is recognised as Saunders' first performed work as a professional playwright and the play - an early example of the theatre of the absurd tradition - went onto to become a firm favourite with both professional and amateur companies and has been revived consistently to the present day.Notes
○ James Saunders (1925-2004) was a teacher who wrote plays in his spare time when he came into contact with Stephen Joseph. He encouraged him to write and staged the world premieres of his first two professional works at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre (Alas, Poor Fred in 1959 and The Ark in 1960). He became a full-time playwright in 1964 and won the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright in 1963. He would work on stage in television and on radio but it his early work - with pieces such as Alas, Poor Fred - which is considered significant, placing Saunders as a significant exponent of Theatre of the Absurd in the UK.
○ This production marked the professional debut of James Saunders as a playwright and there is no record of any professional performance of his work earlier than Alas, Poor Fred at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.
○ Alas, Poor Fred is believed to be the first play which was also published by Studio Theatre Ltd. The performed 'cut' play text (see below) was one of several new works published by Stephen Joseph's company and is by the far most significant.
○ James Saunders was a prolific playwright and is regarded as one of the early leading British exponents of 'Theatre Of The Absurd'.
○ Alas, Poor Fred is one of the earliest examples of a Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre world premiere making the leap into other media. On 7 September 1960, BBC Radio (Third Programme) broadcast a radio adaptation of the play produced by Alfred Bradley and Michael Bakewell and starring Maurice Denham and Rosamund Greenwood.
○ Alas, Poor Fred was presented in a double bill with Halfway To Heaven.
○ Alas, Poor Fred was presented without an interval.
Judging by the manuscript - and other similar examples - Stephen Joseph brutally edited the play, removing half of its content. This 'cut' version was premiered at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre on 25 June 1959, directed by Rodney Wood, before being published by Studio Theatre Ltd. This version would become the established text and the basis of all future performances as well as the published play text by Samuel French Ltd.
On 30 June 2023, the original work was finally made public when Paul Elsam directed the world premiere of the 'uncut' version of the script at the Old Parcels Office Artspace in Scarborough with Dan Henley and Rae Yaldren from Third Element Theatre.
○ This production marked the professional debut of James Saunders as a playwright and there is no record of any professional performance of his work earlier than Alas, Poor Fred at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.
○ Alas, Poor Fred is believed to be the first play which was also published by Studio Theatre Ltd. The performed 'cut' play text (see below) was one of several new works published by Stephen Joseph's company and is by the far most significant.
○ James Saunders was a prolific playwright and is regarded as one of the early leading British exponents of 'Theatre Of The Absurd'.
○ Alas, Poor Fred is one of the earliest examples of a Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre world premiere making the leap into other media. On 7 September 1960, BBC Radio (Third Programme) broadcast a radio adaptation of the play produced by Alfred Bradley and Michael Bakewell and starring Maurice Denham and Rosamund Greenwood.
○ Alas, Poor Fred was presented in a double bill with Halfway To Heaven.
○ Alas, Poor Fred was presented without an interval.
The 'Uncut' Version
Research by Dr Paul Elsam - an expert on and biographer of Stephen Joseph - led to the discovery of the original manuscript of Alas, Poor Fred whilst researching his book Stephen Joseph: Theatre Pioneer and Provocateur. It appears this was the original version submitted to Stephen Joseph and which was approximately twice as long as the version which has been performed and published since 1959.Judging by the manuscript - and other similar examples - Stephen Joseph brutally edited the play, removing half of its content. This 'cut' version was premiered at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre on 25 June 1959, directed by Rodney Wood, before being published by Studio Theatre Ltd. This version would become the established text and the basis of all future performances as well as the published play text by Samuel French Ltd.
On 30 June 2023, the original work was finally made public when Paul Elsam directed the world premiere of the 'uncut' version of the script at the Old Parcels Office Artspace in Scarborough with Dan Henley and Rae Yaldren from Third Element Theatre.
Images
Extract from the programme for Alas, Poor Fred for its world premiere at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, in 1959. It was performed in a double-bill with Halfway To Heaven by Hilda Valentine.
Copyright: Studio Theatre Ltd
Holdings: Private Collection
Do not reproduce images without permission of the copyright holder.
Copyright: Studio Theatre Ltd
Holdings: Private Collection
Do not reproduce images without permission of the copyright holder.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.