The Complete Plays: Standing Room Only (1961)

Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Standing Room Only
Roland Allen (Alan Ayckbourn)
Yes

The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
13 July 1961
13 July 1961
8 September 1961
Company Details
Director:
Costumes:
Music:

Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Stephen Joseph
Christine Roland
Philip Clifford

Terry Lane
Philip Clifford
Character
Neeta
Nemo
Cora
Pa
John
Actor
Rosamund Dickson
David Jarrett
Hazel Burt
Stanley Page
Alan Ayckbourn
Why is this play significant?
Alan Ayckbourn's fourth play was his final play to be premiered under his pseudonym Roland Allen and - following its revival in 1962 - the first of his plays to be credited to Alan Ayckbourn. It's the first Ayckbourn play of genuine note and was optioned for both the West End and for television; sadly, neither of which were produced.
Notes
○ Standing Room Only was the final play by Alan Ayckbourn to be produced under his pseudonym of Roland Allen. When the play was revived in 1962 at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, it was credited to Alan Ayckbourn.
○ So popular was Standing Room Only that although advertised as ending in repertory on 9 August, it was brought back for two performances on 7 & 8 September in place of Two For The Seesaw which closed three days earlier than originally advertised.
○ Set in the far future of… 2010, this marked Alan's first foray into speculative fiction which, subsequent to Henceforward… in 1987 would become a significant thread in his playwriting.
Links
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust