The Complete Plays: Usher (1962)
Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Usher
David Campton (writing as Jocelyn Graves)
Yes
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
David Campton (writing as Jocelyn Graves)
Yes
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
Original Work:
Author:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Author:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
The Fall of the House of Usher
Edgar Allan Poe
28 June 1962
28 June 1962
29 August 1962
Edgar Allan Poe
28 June 1962
28 June 1962
29 August 1962
Company Details
Director:
Stage Manager:
Stage Manager:
Stage Manager:
Stage Manager:
David Campton
Arnold Beck
David Wehner
Arnold Beck
David Wehner
Character
Roderick Usher
Madeline Usher
Edwin Allen
Lucy
Doctor
Oliver
Finn
Roderick Usher
Madeline Usher
Edwin Allen
Lucy
Doctor
Oliver
Finn
Actor
Alan Ayckbourn
Elizabeth Bell
Peter King
Marie Adams
Stanley Page
Arnold Beck
Richard Gill
Alan Ayckbourn
Elizabeth Bell
Peter King
Marie Adams
Stanley Page
Arnold Beck
Richard Gill
Notes
○ Usher marked the directorial debut of David Campton, the company's first writer-in-residence.
○ Usher was credited to in the summer brochure and the programme to Jocelyn Graves - undoubtedly a pseudonym for Campton. The play would subsequently be produced and published bearing Campton's name as author. The reason for this is likely to be because he also directed the piece. At the time, it was rare - and even frowned upon - for a writer to direct their own plays and, possibly, Campton made the decision to give the impression he was only directing the play.
○ David Campton played an integral part in the first decade of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre and was the theatre manager for the majority of the period. He is the only playwright to have had a play produced by the company every year for the first decade.
○ This is an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's story The Fall Of The House Of Usher.
○ Usher was credited to in the summer brochure and the programme to Jocelyn Graves - undoubtedly a pseudonym for Campton. The play would subsequently be produced and published bearing Campton's name as author. The reason for this is likely to be because he also directed the piece. At the time, it was rare - and even frowned upon - for a writer to direct their own plays and, possibly, Campton made the decision to give the impression he was only directing the play.
○ David Campton played an integral part in the first decade of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre and was the theatre manager for the majority of the period. He is the only playwright to have had a play produced by the company every year for the first decade.
○ This is an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's story The Fall Of The House Of Usher.
Links
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust