The Complete Plays: A Sense Of Loss (1958)

Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:
A Sense of Loss
J.W. James
Yes

The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
7 August 1958
7 August 1958
10 September 1958
Company Details
Director:
Assistant Director:

Stage Manager:
Stage Director:
Stephen Joseph
Rodney Wood

Alan Ayckbourn
John Smith
Character
Johnny
Lona
Frank
Jean
Actor
Robert Fyfe
Pauline Devaney
David Sutton
Christine Roland
Why is this play significant?
The playwright J.W. James is a good early example of Stephen Joseph's attitude to new writing. He had an open submissions policy at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre and welcomed all scripts, to which he appeared to have both read and responded to the vast majority. J.W. James submitted several early scripts to Stephen, which were all rejected - often with quite frank appraisals. However, Stephen offered advice too and when the playwright submitted a work Stephen was happy with, he produced it. Here is the foundations of the new writing and literary tradition for theatre in the round in Scarborough.
Notes
○ A Sense Of Loss was the only new play of the summer 1958 season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough. It was written by J.W. James, whose adaptation of Marivaux's Love & Chance was also presented during the 1958 summer season.
○ J.W. James had submitted his work previously to Stephen Joseph without success, but Stephen had offered advice and encouragement which led to an eventual production. Whilst Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre did not have a recognised Literary Department, it essentially existed in the shape of its Artistic Director, Stephen Joseph, who was constantly encouraging writers and reading new work.
○ A Sense Of Loss was presented without an interval.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust