Complete Plays: The Ornamental Hermit (1957)
Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
The Ornamental Hermit
Catherine Prynne
Yes
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
Catherine Prynne
Yes
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
1 August 1957
1 August 1957
6 September 1957
1 August 1957
6 September 1957
Company Details
Director:
Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Rodney Wood
Alan Ayckbourn
Anne Taylor
Alan Ayckbourn
Anne Taylor
Character
Bensted
Michael Bridges
Violet
Emma Totteridge
Sue
Lewis Finbow
Jack Bensted
Bensted
Michael Bridges
Violet
Emma Totteridge
Sue
Lewis Finbow
Jack Bensted
Actor
Frank Mills
Clive Goodwin
Anne Taylor
Betty Cardno
Shirley Jacobs
Malcolm Rogers
Alan Ayckbourn
Frank Mills
Clive Goodwin
Anne Taylor
Betty Cardno
Shirley Jacobs
Malcolm Rogers
Alan Ayckbourn
Notes
○ The Ornamental Hermit was one of two new plays presented during the 1957 summer season alongside Ruth Dixon's Honey In The Stone.
○ After three seasons, the Studio Theatre Company had presented nine world premieres. Seven of which were written by women, this gender-neutral commitment to premiering new work was essentially unheard during this male-dominated period of writing in British theatre and something which Stephen Joseph is not given enough credit for.
○ The director, Rodney Wood, joined the company that year as Theatre Manager and was also responsible for employing Alan Ayckbourn. He was another of Stephen Joseph's protégés and would plays an important part in the company's early history including taking on the role of Director of Productions during 1967 and 1968.
○ The Ornamental Hermit was presented during Alan Ayckbourn's inaugural season with Studio Theatre Ltd in which he was employed as an Acting Stage Manager (a stage manager with limited acting responsibilities).
○ The Ornamental Hermit was performed without an interval.
○ After three seasons, the Studio Theatre Company had presented nine world premieres. Seven of which were written by women, this gender-neutral commitment to premiering new work was essentially unheard during this male-dominated period of writing in British theatre and something which Stephen Joseph is not given enough credit for.
○ The director, Rodney Wood, joined the company that year as Theatre Manager and was also responsible for employing Alan Ayckbourn. He was another of Stephen Joseph's protégés and would plays an important part in the company's early history including taking on the role of Director of Productions during 1967 and 1968.
○ The Ornamental Hermit was presented during Alan Ayckbourn's inaugural season with Studio Theatre Ltd in which he was employed as an Acting Stage Manager (a stage manager with limited acting responsibilities).
○ The Ornamental Hermit was performed without an interval.
Links
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust