The Complete Plays: 1956 Overview
This page contains details about the 1956 summer season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough. For details about individual plays, click on the play titles below.All information on this page has been researched and compiled by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. from programmes, brochures and newspaper articles.
Summer 1956
All plays were performed in-the-round in the Concert Room at Scarborough Library. The season ran from 12 July to 7 September 1956. The plays were performed in rep with a change of programme on Thursdays.Advertised Programme
○ Father Matthew
○ Double Bill *
○ Wuthering Heights
○ Idol In The Sky
○ Father Matthew
○ Double Bill
○ Wuthering Heights
○ Idol In The Sky
○ Double Bill *
○ Wuthering Heights
○ Idol In The Sky
○ Father Matthew
○ Double Bill
○ Wuthering Heights
○ Idol In The Sky
12 - 18 July
19 - 25 July
26 July - 1 August
2 - 8 August
9 - 15 August
16 - 22 August
23 - 29 August
30 August - 7 September
19 - 25 July
26 July - 1 August
2 - 8 August
9 - 15 August
16 - 22 August
23 - 29 August
30 August - 7 September
Actual Programme / Alterations
The 'Double-Bill' advertised in the original programme was altered prior to production to a triple bill consisting of The Disguises Of Arlecchino, Call The Selkie Home and Office Of Information; the latter added to the evening as Stephen Joseph felt it was running too short.
Creatives
Stephen Joseph (Artistic Director)Harry Hancock (Director)
David de Keyser (Director)
Clifford Williams (Director / Writer)
David Campton (Writer)
Jurneman 'Joan' Winch (Writer)
Eleanor D Glaser (Writer)
Actors
Peter BridgmontBetty Cardno
Joan Cibber
Walter Hall
Actors
Harry HancockShirley Jacobs
John Rees
Margaret Rubel
Other Staff
Margaret Tabor (Stage Manager)Irene Fisher (ASM / Assistant)
Charles Lewsen (ASM)
James Wootton (ASM)
Paddy Earnshaw (Box Office)
Veronica Pemberton-Billing (Catering)
1956 Production Notes
○ Father Matthew actually had its first performance in London on 8 July 1956. The company performed it as part of Stephen Joseph's weekly Studio Theatre Club performances at the Mahatma Gandhi Assembly Hall in Fitzroy Square, London. However, this is regarded as a preview performance with the play's actual opening considered as during the same week at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough.
○ The triple bill of The Disguises Of Arlecchino, Office Of Information and Call The Selkie Home were presented as Three One Act Plays. The evening was originally advertised as a double-bill with Office Of Information being a late addition to the programme; the latter marked the British premiere of Tardieu's play.
○ Wuthering Heights was the first adaptation of an existing work to be presented at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre - Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights. In 1960, Wuthering Heights would be revived with Alan Ayckbourn playing the role of Heathcliff.
○ Although Idol In The Sky is credited to David Campton in the programme, notes in the Stephen Joseph Papers held at the University Of Manchester indicate the play was originally written by Stephen Joseph under the title What Would Mildred Have Said. The archive notes the play was re-arranged by David Campton for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.
○ Performances were Mondays to Saturdays at 8pm with a 2.30pm Wednesday matinee. Productions had no intervals and programmes were provided for free.
○ Throughout the season - probably on Tuesdays - the company continued to perform matinees once a week at Wallis's Holiday Camp, Cayton Bay, continuing the arrangement from 1955. The holiday camp performances ended after the 1956 summer season.
○ The triple bill of The Disguises Of Arlecchino, Office Of Information and Call The Selkie Home were presented as Three One Act Plays. The evening was originally advertised as a double-bill with Office Of Information being a late addition to the programme; the latter marked the British premiere of Tardieu's play.
○ Wuthering Heights was the first adaptation of an existing work to be presented at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre - Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights. In 1960, Wuthering Heights would be revived with Alan Ayckbourn playing the role of Heathcliff.
○ Although Idol In The Sky is credited to David Campton in the programme, notes in the Stephen Joseph Papers held at the University Of Manchester indicate the play was originally written by Stephen Joseph under the title What Would Mildred Have Said. The archive notes the play was re-arranged by David Campton for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.
○ Performances were Mondays to Saturdays at 8pm with a 2.30pm Wednesday matinee. Productions had no intervals and programmes were provided for free.
○ Throughout the season - probably on Tuesdays - the company continued to perform matinees once a week at Wallis's Holiday Camp, Cayton Bay, continuing the arrangement from 1955. The holiday camp performances ended after the 1956 summer season.
All information for this page has been researched and compiled by Simon Murgatroyd and should not be reproduced without permission. Any approved reproduction of information from this page should always credit 'A Round Town (www.theatre-in-the-round.co.uk).