The Complete Plays: Idol In The Sky (1956)

Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Idol in the Sky
David Campton
Yes

The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
2 August 1956
2 August 1956
7 September 1956
Company Details
Director:

Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Stephen Joseph

Margaret Tabor
James Wootton
Character
Joyce Hewitt
Alan
Fossie
Wing Commander Dorning
Leonard Hewitt
Christine
Hubert Raeburn-Smith
Actor
Margaret Rubel
John Rees
Betty Cardno
Harry Hancock
Peter Bridgmont
Shirley Jacobs
Walter Hall
Why is this play significant?
Intriguingly, although Idol in the Sky is credited to the company's first resident playwright David Campton, it was originally written by the company's founder Stephen Joseph as What Would Mildred Have Said? according to Stephen Joseph's archive in the John Ryland's Library at the University of Manchester. David Campton then re-arranged the play and it was presented as a new play by David during the 1956 season. Despite the fact that Stephen is known to have written several plays at least, this is the only play which Stephen Joseph wrote - or had a hand in - which was produced by the Scarborough company.
Notes
○ Originating as a play written by Stephen Joseph before being adapted by David Campton, this remains the only play produced in Theatre at the Round at the Library Theatre that Stephen Joseph had a hand in writing.
○ David Campton was the Library Theatre's first writer-in-residence and met Stephen Joseph as a participant in one of his playwriting courses held at the Central School Of Speech And Drama, London, prior to Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre opening in 1955.
○ Idol In The Sky was performed without an interval.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust