The Plays: Year-by-Year (1970)

This page contains productions details for all plays produced by Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, during 1970. All information on this page has been researched and compiled by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. from programmes, brochures and newspaper articles.

Summer 1970

All plays were performed in-the-round in the Concert Room at Scarborough Library. The season ran from 15 June to 12 September 1970.

Wife-Swapping: Italian Style

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Leon Katz
No

15 June 1970
15 June 1970
12 August 1970

Alan Ayckbourn
Character
Arlecchino
Coviello
Flamina
Pantalone
Zanni
Franceschina
Leandro
Cintia
Actor
Robert Peck
Piers Rogers
Elisabeth Sladen
Joe Dunlop
Ronald Herdman
Stephanie Turner
Richard Derrington
Jane Douglas

The American Dream

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Edward Albee
No

18 June 1970
18 June 1970
29 July 1970

Caroline Smith
Character
Mommy
Daddy
Grandma
Mrs Barker
Young Man
Actor
Eve Shickle
Ronald Herdman
Heather Stoney
Stephanie Turner
Piers Rogers
Note: The American Dream was performed in a double-bill with The Sandbox.

The Sandbox

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Edward Albee
No

18 June 1970
18 June 1970
29 July 1970

Alan Ayckbourn
Character
Young Man
Mommy
Daddy
Musician
Grandma
Actor
Piers Rogers
Eve Shickle
Ronald Herdman
Stephanie Turner
Heather Stoney
Note: The Sandbox was performed in a double-bill with The American Dream.

The Shy Gasman

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Leonard Barras
Yes

16 July 1970
16 July 1970
2 September 1970

Alan Ayckbourn
Character
Lindsay
These Inquitous Corn Laws
Alice
Hector
Gracious Days
Walter
Winifred
Jim
Brenda
Kenneth
The Fluff Picker
Teddy
Rowena
Actor
Joe Dunlop

Eve Shickle
Robert Peck

Ronald Herdman
Elisabeth Sladen
Robert Peck
Stephanie Turner
Richard Derrington

Piers Rogers
Heather Stoney

The Story So Far…

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Alan Ayckbourn
Yes

20 August 1970
20 August 1970
12 September 1970

Alan Ayckbourn
Character
Edward
Emma
Polly
Jenny
Deidre
Oliver
David
James
Actor
Robert Peck
Eve Shickle
Heather Stoney
Elisabeth Sladen
Stephanie Turner
Joe Dunlop
Ronald Herdman
Piers Rogers

1968 Production Notes

○ Wife-Swapping: Italian Style was loosely based on the anonymous Commedia dell'Arte scenario The Three Cuckolds.
○ Alan Ayckbourn’s original intent was to direct Mandrogla (The Mandrake) by Niccolo Machiavelli - described in early publicity drafts as “considered to be one of the greatest of the Italian plays and is certainly one of the funniest”. However, late in the scheduling process (possibly as late as three weeks before the start of the season), Alan Ayckbourn instead decided to produce Wife Swapping: Italian Style which he believed was “newer and better.”
○ Wife-Swapping: Italian Style was toured to HM Prison Hull; the actor Richard Derrington has very vivid memories of performing in pink tights during the show.
○ Although not initially advertised as a double bill, The American Dream by Edward Albee was performed as a double bill alongside Albee's The Sandbox.
○ The American Dream Double Bill was initially advertised as ending on 19 August, but the final week in repertory (13 - 19 August) saw it replaced with The Shy Gasman.
○ The Shy Gasman consists of three short plays linked by the 'shy gasman' Lindsay as he tells of his experiences reading meters. Each play being one of his experiences: These Inquitous Corn Laws, Gracious Days and The Fluff Picker.
○ The Story So Far... was subsequently retiled and revised several times. It is now known as Family Circles.
○ The Story So Far… is considered to be the 50th play to be premiered at Theatre in the Round the Library Theatre since it opened in 1955.
○ The season includedSettle Us Fair, a production toured from the Hull Arts Centre. The comic musical documentary by Phil Woods explored the fishing industry in Hull in light of the July 1970 national dock strikes which closed most of the UK's docks.

Advertised Programme

○ Wife Swapping - Italian Style
○ The American Dream
○ Wife Swapping - Italian Style
○ The American Dream
○ Settle Us Fair *
○ The Shy Gasman
○ The American Dream
○ The Shy Gasman
○ Wife Swapping - Italian Style
○ The American Dream
○ The Story So Far…
○ The Shy Gasman
○ The Story So Far…
15 - 17 Jun
18 - 24 Jun
25 Jun - 1 Jul
2 - 8 Jul
9 - 15 Jul
16 - 22 Jul
23 - 29 Jul
30 Jul - 5 Aug
6 - 12 Aug
13 - 19 Aug
20 - 26 Aug
27 Aug - 2 Sept
3 - 12 Sept

Actual Programme

○ Wife Swapping - Italian Style
○ The American Dream
○ Wife Swapping - Italian Style
○ The American Dream
○ Settle Us Fair *
○ The Shy Gasman
○ The American Dream
○ The Shy Gasman
○ Wife Swapping - Italian Style
○ The Shy Gasman
○ The Story So Far…
○ The Shy Gasman
○ The Story So Far…
15 - 17 Jun
18 - 24 Jun
25 Jun - 1 Jul
2 - 8 Jul
9 - 15 Jul
16 - 22 Jul
23 - 29 Jul
30 Jul - 5 Aug
6 - 12 Aug
13 - 19 Aug
20 - 26 Aug
27 Aug - 2 Sept
3 - 12 Sept
Production and dates in bold italics indicate alterations from the originally advertised programme.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust