The Complete Plays: The Disguises Of Arlecchino (1956)
Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
The Disguises of Arlecchino
Clifford Williams
Yes
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
Clifford Williams
Yes
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
19 July 1956
19 July 1956
22 August 1956
19 July 1956
22 August 1956
Company Details
Director:
Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Clifford Williams
Margaret Tabor
James Wootton
Margaret Tabor
James Wootton
Character
Pantalone, a miser
Arlecchino, his servant
Clarice, an ugly widow
Columbina, her maid
Pantalone, a miser
Arlecchino, his servant
Clarice, an ugly widow
Columbina, her maid
Actor
Harry Hancock
Peter Bridgmont
Margaret Rubel
Shirley Jacobs
Harry Hancock
Peter Bridgmont
Margaret Rubel
Shirley Jacobs
Notes
○ The Disguises Of Arlecchino was presented as part of an evening called Three One Act Plays. It also featured the plays Office Of Information by Jean Tardieu and Call The Selkie Home by Eleanor D Glaser.
○ The evening was originally advertised as a double-bill with Office Of Information being a late addition due to Stephen Joseph considering the evening was running too short.
○ The Disguises of Arlecchino was the first new play to be premiered at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre by Clifford Williams; it is also believed to be the only play he wrote. He would later go on to direct the world premieres of Alan Ayckbourn's second and third plays, Love After All and Dad's Tale at the same venue. Later, he would be regarded as a highly significant director not least at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where his work is seen as hugely influential to the company.
○ The Disguises of Arlecchino was inspired by the Italian Commedia dell'Arte tradition.
○ The play is believed to have never been performed professionally again until 2025 when Dr Paul Elsam - a biographer of Stephen Joseph - revived and directed the play with the Lost and Found Collective on 3 October at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. It starred Gus Sa Pessoa, David Lomond, Hannah Grace and Dan Henley. 2025 marked the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph opening Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre in 1955.
○ The evening was originally advertised as a double-bill with Office Of Information being a late addition due to Stephen Joseph considering the evening was running too short.
○ The Disguises of Arlecchino was the first new play to be premiered at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre by Clifford Williams; it is also believed to be the only play he wrote. He would later go on to direct the world premieres of Alan Ayckbourn's second and third plays, Love After All and Dad's Tale at the same venue. Later, he would be regarded as a highly significant director not least at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where his work is seen as hugely influential to the company.
○ The Disguises of Arlecchino was inspired by the Italian Commedia dell'Arte tradition.
○ The play is believed to have never been performed professionally again until 2025 when Dr Paul Elsam - a biographer of Stephen Joseph - revived and directed the play with the Lost and Found Collective on 3 October at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. It starred Gus Sa Pessoa, David Lomond, Hannah Grace and Dan Henley. 2025 marked the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph opening Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre in 1955.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust