Intimate Exchanges (1982)

Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Alan Ayckbourn
Yes

Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round
Main house (Round)
Round

3 June 1982
3 June 1982
1 October 1983
Director:
Lighting:
Design:
Music:

Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Alan Ayckbourn
Francis Lynch
Edward Lipscomb
Paul Todd

Isobel Nimmo
Eric Lumsden
Anneke Harrison
Jeff Golding
Character
Celia
Rowena
Sylvie
Josephine, Celia's mother
Irene Pridworthy
Miles, Rowena's husband
Toby, Celia's husband
Lionel
Joe, Lionel's father
Reg Schooner
Actor
Lavinia Bertram
Lavinia Bertram
Lavinia Bertram
Lavinia Bertram
Lavinia Bertram
Robin Herford
Robin Herford
Robin Herford
Robin Herford
Robin Herford

Why is this play significant?

One of the most ambitious and challenging plays to be every produced by theatre in the round in Scarborough. A play with 16 possible permutations with each scene culminating in a choice of two scenes. A common first scene continually branches out to 16 different endings. In total, the play has 31 scenes, 16 hours of dialoguer and 10 characters - all performed by just two actors. The various permutations of the play were introduced over the course of a year before culminating in the 'Grand Marathon' where all 16 versions were performed over two weeks.

Notes

○ Intimate Exchanges is Alan Ayckbourn's epic play-cycle consisting of 10 roles played by two actors with 31 scenes covering 16 hours of dialogue.
○ The play begins with a common first scene (hence why it is considered just one play as opposed to eight plays) with a choice of scenes at the end of each scene. This leads to eight major permutations of the play, each with an alternative coda (in essence, there are 16 possible endings).
○ Intimate Exchanges' choices were not written to be arbitrary or random, but to be decided in advance (not least because the staging can vary enormously from one variation to the next).
○ Intimate Exchanges was essentially in repertory from 3 June 1982 to 1 October 1983, introducing each of the eight major variations along the way and bringing them into repertory. Although the theatre's play-list cites Intimate Exchanges in 1983 as well as 1982, this was not a separate production or revival, but the play continuing in repertory and listed in 1983 to illustrate it plays a substantial role in the year's programme. For the record, Intimate Exchanges' 1982 run ended on 4 December with the 1983 run beginning on 4 January.

Links

All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.