Neville's Island (1992)
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Tim Firth
Yes
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round
Main house (Round)
Round
10 June 1992
15 June 1992
9 September 1992
Yes
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round
Main house (Round)
Round
10 June 1992
15 June 1992
9 September 1992
Director:
Lighting:
Design:
Music:
Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Lighting:
Design:
Music:
Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Connal Orton
Jackie Staines
Michael Vale
John Pattison
Philip Rees
Clare Smout
Georgina Huxstep
Jackie Staines
Michael Vale
John Pattison
Philip Rees
Clare Smout
Georgina Huxstep
Character
Neville
Gordon
Angus
Roy
Neville
Gordon
Angus
Roy
Actor
Adrian McLoughlin
Russell Dixon
Claude Close
Kenneth Price
Adrian McLoughlin
Russell Dixon
Claude Close
Kenneth Price
Why is this play significant?
Tim Firth's breakout first full-length play which would go onto enormous success on stage and was also adapted for television. Regarded as one of the most famous non-Ayckbourn works to have originated in Scarborough. Tim is also the only contemporary playwright other than Alan Ayckbourn and David Campton to have two plays produced in the same season; in this case Neville's Island and his one act play A Bigger Slice of the Pie.Notes
○ Neville's Island was the first full-length play by Tim Firth to be presented at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round. It transferred to the West End in 1994 and was also adapted for television in 1998.
○ Aside from Alan Ayckbourn, Tim Firth is the only playwright to have a new play premiered in both the main house and studio at the Stephen Joseph Theatre during the same season. He achieved this with the premieres of Neville's Island and A Bigger Slice Of The Pie during the 1992 summer season.
○ Neville's Island features water on set for the shoreline of the island. To necessitate the appearance the characters had swum to the island and were soaked through, a backstage bath was installed into which the fully clothed actors would soak themselves before wading through the shallow pool which led onto the stage.
○ The setting of Neville's Island is actually a real island in the Lake District and the locations which are mentioned within the play correspond to real places. It is - theoretically - possible to really get marooned on Neville's Island.
○ Neville's Island was a significant hit for the playwright and one of the most successful non-Ayckbourn plays to originate from the Stephen Joseph Theatre. It transferred to the West End, was adapted for television and has been repeatedly revived in the years since including in 2015 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre.
○ Aside from Alan Ayckbourn, Tim Firth is the only playwright to have a new play premiered in both the main house and studio at the Stephen Joseph Theatre during the same season. He achieved this with the premieres of Neville's Island and A Bigger Slice Of The Pie during the 1992 summer season.
○ Neville's Island features water on set for the shoreline of the island. To necessitate the appearance the characters had swum to the island and were soaked through, a backstage bath was installed into which the fully clothed actors would soak themselves before wading through the shallow pool which led onto the stage.
○ The setting of Neville's Island is actually a real island in the Lake District and the locations which are mentioned within the play correspond to real places. It is - theoretically - possible to really get marooned on Neville's Island.
○ Neville's Island was a significant hit for the playwright and one of the most successful non-Ayckbourn plays to originate from the Stephen Joseph Theatre. It transferred to the West End, was adapted for television and has been repeatedly revived in the years since including in 2015 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.