Way Upstream (1981)
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Director:
Lighting:
Design:
Music:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Director:
Lighting:
Design:
Music:
Alan Ayckbourn
Yes
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round
Main house (Round)
Round
2 October 1981
2 October 1981
16 January 1982
Alan Ayckbourn
Francis Lynch
Edward Lipscomb
Paul Todd
Yes
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round
Main house (Round)
Round
2 October 1981
2 October 1981
16 January 1982
Alan Ayckbourn
Francis Lynch
Edward Lipscomb
Paul Todd
Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Isobel Nimmo
Eric Lumsden
Sue Merry
Eric Lumsden
Sue Merry
Character
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Actor
Robin Bowerman
Carole Boyd
Robin Herford
Lavinia Bertram
Susan Uebel
Graeme Eton
Gillian Bevan
Robin Bowerman
Carole Boyd
Robin Herford
Lavinia Bertram
Susan Uebel
Graeme Eton
Gillian Bevan
Why is this play significant?
The play in which Alan Ayckbourn turned the theatre in the round stage into a panel with a moving riverboat on it! Arguably the most technically ambitious of any play staged by theatre in the round in Scarborough, Way Upstream involved the stage area being flooded to a depth of several feet and for a cabin cruiser to be installed capable of moving using a series of winches. The play also featured a rain storm which was notorious for intruding onto the front row! The theatre in the round production then toured to Houston, North America with great success.Notes
○ Way Upstream was written for the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round and, famously, needs the stage to be flooded to represent a canal with a cabin cruiser able to ‘float’ and move within the water. It also notably requires a torrential downpour at one point and water deep enough that a fight in the canal can be achieved realistically.
○ While Way Upstream is notorious for its London premiere at the National Theatre where the water tank split and flooded the venue, it is often forgotten the original production with just the facilities of a small regional theatre managed to produce the play - complete with water and rainfall - without any major issues or missed performances; the same production which was later toured - again without incident - across the Atlantic to the Alley Theatre, Houston, and produced in repertory with a revival of Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends; a production which was unique to the tour and not seen in Scarborough.
○ It was initially intended that, following its tour to Houston, Way Upstream would be revived during 1982 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round. However, for several reasons it proved impractical and much of the 1982 season was instead given over to Intimate Exchanges.
○ While Way Upstream is notorious for its London premiere at the National Theatre where the water tank split and flooded the venue, it is often forgotten the original production with just the facilities of a small regional theatre managed to produce the play - complete with water and rainfall - without any major issues or missed performances; the same production which was later toured - again without incident - across the Atlantic to the Alley Theatre, Houston, and produced in repertory with a revival of Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends; a production which was unique to the tour and not seen in Scarborough.
○ It was initially intended that, following its tour to Houston, Way Upstream would be revived during 1982 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round. However, for several reasons it proved impractical and much of the 1982 season was instead given over to Intimate Exchanges.
Links
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.