The Complete Plays: 1975 Overview
This page contains details about 1975 at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough; the first year the company approached an almost year round schedule. For details about individual plays, click on the play titles below.All information on this page has been researched and compiled by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. from programmes, brochures and newspaper articles.
Summer 1975
All plays were performed in-the-round in the Concert Room at Scarborough Library. The season ran from 16 June to 13 September 1974. The plays were performed in rep, generally with a change of programme on Thursdays.Advertised Programme
○ Bedroom Farce
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Up To The Eyes
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Confusions
○ Up To The Eyes
○ Confusions
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Up To The Eyes
○ Confusions
○ Up To The Eyes
○ Bedroom Farce
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Up To The Eyes
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Confusions
○ Up To The Eyes
○ Confusions
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Up To The Eyes
○ Confusions
○ Up To The Eyes
○ Bedroom Farce
16 - 21 Jun
23 - 25 Jun
26 Jun - 2 Jul
3 - 9 Jul
10 - 12 Jul
14 - 16 Jul
17 - 23 Jul
24 - 30 Jul
31 Jul - 2 Aug
4 - 6 Aug
7 - 13 Aug
14 - 20 Aug
21 - 27 Aug
28 Aug - 3 Sep
4 - 10 Sep
11 - 13 Sep
23 - 25 Jun
26 Jun - 2 Jul
3 - 9 Jul
10 - 12 Jul
14 - 16 Jul
17 - 23 Jul
24 - 30 Jul
31 Jul - 2 Aug
4 - 6 Aug
7 - 13 Aug
14 - 20 Aug
21 - 27 Aug
28 Aug - 3 Sep
4 - 10 Sep
11 - 13 Sep
Actual Programme
○ Bedroom Farce
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Angels in Love
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Confusions
○ Angels in Love
○ Confusions
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Angels in Love
○ Confusions
○ Angels in Love
○ Bedroom Farce
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Angels in Love
○ On Approval
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Confusions
○ Angels in Love
○ Confusions
○ Bedroom Farce
○ Angels in Love
○ Confusions
○ Angels in Love
○ Bedroom Farce
16 - 21 Jun
23 - 25 Jun
26 Jun - 2 Jul
3 - 9 Jul
10 - 12 Jul
14 - 16 Jul
17 - 23 Jul
24 - 30 Jul
31 Jul - 2 Aug
4 - 6 Aug
7 - 13 Aug
14 - 20 Aug
21 - 27 Aug
28 Aug - 3 Sep
4 - 10 Sep
11 - 13 Sep
23 - 25 Jun
26 Jun - 2 Jul
3 - 9 Jul
10 - 12 Jul
14 - 16 Jul
17 - 23 Jul
24 - 30 Jul
31 Jul - 2 Aug
4 - 6 Aug
7 - 13 Aug
14 - 20 Aug
21 - 27 Aug
28 Aug - 3 Sep
4 - 10 Sep
11 - 13 Sep
In addition to the advertised summer schedule, a Saturday morning children's show was arranged, The Adventures of Bongo Bungle by Janet Dale. The play premiered on 19 July 1975 and ran for seven Saturdays. The popularity of the show led to further shows for the summer and winter season. On 23 August, there was one-off show called Bongo, Bob and Polly which included a Punch & Judy Show and, from 30 August to 13 September, The Village That Woke Up Asleep by Janet Dale.
Creatives
Alan Ayckbourn (Artistic Director / Writer)Stanley Page (Director)
Janet Dale (Writer)
Helga Wood (Design)
Philip Pawsey (Costumes)
Christine Welch (Costumes)
Paul Todd (Music)
Actors
Janet DaleBob Eaton
Christopher Godwin
tephen Mallatratt
Eileen O'Brien
Stanley Page
Heather Stoney
Polly Warren
Other Staff
Ken Boden (General Manager)Kay Jamieson (Publicity Manager)
John Boden (Publicity Design)
David Millard (Company Stage Manager)
Trevor John-Smith (Deputy Stage Manager)
Helga Wood (ASM)
Kevin Wood (ASM)
Veronica Pemberton-Billing (Catering Manager)
Margaret Boden (Box Office)
Connie Garlick (Box Office)
Autumn / Winter 1975 / 76
All plays were performed three-sided in the Large Lecture Room at The Library Theatre at Scarborough Library. The season ran from 23 September 1974 to 31 January 1975. The plays were performed in rep, generally with a change of programme on Thursdays. During this season, the venue was known as The Library Theatre rather than Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.Advertised / Actual Programme
○ Brontës
○ An Englishman's Home
○ Brontës
○ An Englishman's Home
○ A View From The Bridge
○ What The Devil!
○ A View From The Bridge
○ Charlie's Christmas Countdown
○ A View From The Bridge
○ An Englishman's Home
○ Brontës
○ An Englishman's Home
○ A View From The Bridge
○ What The Devil!
○ A View From The Bridge
○ Charlie's Christmas Countdown
○ A View From The Bridge
22 Sep - 4 Oct
15 - 25 Oct
29 Oct - 1 Nov
5 - 8 Nov
12 - 22 Nov
26 - 29 Nov
3 - 6 Dec
8 - 10 Dec
11 - 13 Dec
15 - 25 Oct
29 Oct - 1 Nov
5 - 8 Nov
12 - 22 Nov
26 - 29 Nov
3 - 6 Dec
8 - 10 Dec
11 - 13 Dec
○ Charlie's Christmas Countdown
○ The Chimes
○ Charlie's Christmas Countdown
○ The Chimes
○ The Chimes
○ Charlie's Christmas Countdown
○ The Chimes
○ An Englishman's Home
○ Just Between Ourselves
○ The Chimes
○ Charlie's Christmas Countdown
○ The Chimes
○ The Chimes
○ Charlie's Christmas Countdown
○ The Chimes
○ An Englishman's Home
○ Just Between Ourselves
15 - 17 Dec
18 - 20 Dec
22 - 31 Dec
26 - 27 Dec
1 - 3 Jan
5 - 7 Jan
8 - 10 Jan
14 - 17 Jan
28 - 31 Jan
18 - 20 Dec
22 - 31 Dec
26 - 27 Dec
1 - 3 Jan
5 - 7 Jan
8 - 10 Jan
14 - 17 Jan
28 - 31 Jan
In addition to the advertised summer schedule, Saturday morning children's show were arranged with The Adventures of Bongo Bungle (11 November - 6 December), by Janet Dale.
Creatives
Alan Ayckbourn (Artistic Director / Writer)Janet Dale (Writer / Director)
Bob Eaton (Director)
Paul Webster (Director)
Stephen Mallatratt (Writer)
Helga Wood (Design)
Jill Pennington (Costumes)
Trevor John-Smith (Scenery)
Peter Clough (Music)
Bob Eaton (Music)
Actors
Janet DaleBob Eaton
Christopher Godwin
Malcolm Hebden
Stephen Lowe
Stephen Mallatratt
Wendy Murray
Alison Skilbeck
Polly Warren
Other Staff
Ken Boden (General Manager)Tony Banfield (Publicity)
David Millard (Company Stage Manager)
Kevin Wood (Deputy Stage Manager)
Wendy Murray (ASM)
Trevor John-Smith (Technician)
Veronica Pemberton-Billing (Catering Manager)
Margaret Boden (Box Office)
Bea Matthews (Box Office)
1975 Production Notes
○ Up To The Eyes by Peter King was announced as part of the 1975 summer season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre. It was advertised in the press and tickets had gone on sale for the new play. However, a report in the Scarborough Evening News on 11 June 1975 reported the play had been replaced by a production of Hugh Mills’ Angels In Love instead.
○ Although premiered at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, Bedroom Farce was actually commissioned by the National Theatre and would become Alan's first production to be staged at that venue. However, the National agreed for the play to have its first production in Scarborough.
○ Commissioned as an end-stage play for the Lyttelton at the National Theatre, Alan Ayckbourn initially intended to direct Bedroom Farce in-the-round. Unfortunately, the set would not fit as intended into the space and was repurposed for three-sided 'thrust' performance.
○ On Approval was a revival of the production which had featured in the 1974 winter season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre and featured the same company.
○ No programme is held in archive for The Adventures Of Bongo Bungle so all details have been taken from the summer 1975 brochure for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, and the only review published for the play.
○ The Adventures of Bongo Bungle was a children's show performed on Saturday mornings during the 1975 summer season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough. Admission was 5p which included a lolly-pop and a badge.
○ The second performance of the play saw more than 500 children turn up and a decision to stage a second performance immediately after the first to cope with the demand.
○ The Adventures of Bongo Bungle was performed on a voluntary basis by both the acting company and stage management with all box office profits going to the company.
○ No programme is held in archive for The Village That Woke Up Asleep and there are no press cuttings held in archive either relating to the play. As a result, no details other than performance dates and the author are known.
○ The Village That Woke Up Asleep was a children's show performed on Saturday mornings during the 1975 summer season.
○ Brontës was written to coincide with a Brontë Festival being held in Scarborough in 1975.
○ The play is occasionally incorrectly referred to as The Brontës in publications about the company's history.
○ During the 1974 and 1975 winter seasons at The Library Theatre, Scarborough, the Library Committee did not make the venue's Concert Room available; this room being where The Library Theatre had been based since 1955. In its place, a smaller room on the same floor - the Large Lecture Room - was offered but which could not incorporate theatre-in-the-round with productions performed three-sided (thrust).
○ An Englishman's Home marked the debut of the actor Stephen Mallatratt as a playwright with his first full-length commissioned work. He would go on to become a renowned playwright and screenwriter - notably working on the popular British television soap opera Coronation Street. He is perhaps most famous for his adaptation of Susan Hill's novella The Woman In Black in 1987.
○ A View From The Bridge was apparently put into the schedule for the winter 1975 season due to it being studied by schools in the region, who contacted Alan Ayckbourn enquiring about the possibility of the play being staged so pupils could see the play rather than just reading it.
○ What The Devil! was initially conceived as a revue suitable touring pubs in the Scarborough area. This featured just three actors - Bob Eaton, Polly Warren and David Ross - and had a shortened programme. The success of the revue led to its being revived as a full evening's entertainment at The Library Theatre. This version of the revue included a new comedy sketch, Dracula, by Alan Ayckbourn.
○ Just Between Ourselves was premiered at the end of the 1975 winter season at The Library Theatre with just six performances (which sold out as soon as they were put on sale). This was intended as a taster for the 1976 summer season when the play was scheduled for a normal run in the repertory.
○ Although Just Between Ourselves was written with the intention of it being staged in-the-round, the original production was staged three-sided (thrust) due to the limitations of the performance space (see note above). When the play was revived during the 1976 summer season in the larger space of the Concert Room, Alan Ayckbourn decided to keep it in the thrust configuration for ease.
○ Although premiered at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, Bedroom Farce was actually commissioned by the National Theatre and would become Alan's first production to be staged at that venue. However, the National agreed for the play to have its first production in Scarborough.
○ Commissioned as an end-stage play for the Lyttelton at the National Theatre, Alan Ayckbourn initially intended to direct Bedroom Farce in-the-round. Unfortunately, the set would not fit as intended into the space and was repurposed for three-sided 'thrust' performance.
○ On Approval was a revival of the production which had featured in the 1974 winter season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre and featured the same company.
○ No programme is held in archive for The Adventures Of Bongo Bungle so all details have been taken from the summer 1975 brochure for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, and the only review published for the play.
○ The Adventures of Bongo Bungle was a children's show performed on Saturday mornings during the 1975 summer season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough. Admission was 5p which included a lolly-pop and a badge.
○ The second performance of the play saw more than 500 children turn up and a decision to stage a second performance immediately after the first to cope with the demand.
○ The Adventures of Bongo Bungle was performed on a voluntary basis by both the acting company and stage management with all box office profits going to the company.
○ No programme is held in archive for The Village That Woke Up Asleep and there are no press cuttings held in archive either relating to the play. As a result, no details other than performance dates and the author are known.
○ The Village That Woke Up Asleep was a children's show performed on Saturday mornings during the 1975 summer season.
○ Brontës was written to coincide with a Brontë Festival being held in Scarborough in 1975.
○ The play is occasionally incorrectly referred to as The Brontës in publications about the company's history.
○ During the 1974 and 1975 winter seasons at The Library Theatre, Scarborough, the Library Committee did not make the venue's Concert Room available; this room being where The Library Theatre had been based since 1955. In its place, a smaller room on the same floor - the Large Lecture Room - was offered but which could not incorporate theatre-in-the-round with productions performed three-sided (thrust).
○ An Englishman's Home marked the debut of the actor Stephen Mallatratt as a playwright with his first full-length commissioned work. He would go on to become a renowned playwright and screenwriter - notably working on the popular British television soap opera Coronation Street. He is perhaps most famous for his adaptation of Susan Hill's novella The Woman In Black in 1987.
○ A View From The Bridge was apparently put into the schedule for the winter 1975 season due to it being studied by schools in the region, who contacted Alan Ayckbourn enquiring about the possibility of the play being staged so pupils could see the play rather than just reading it.
○ What The Devil! was initially conceived as a revue suitable touring pubs in the Scarborough area. This featured just three actors - Bob Eaton, Polly Warren and David Ross - and had a shortened programme. The success of the revue led to its being revived as a full evening's entertainment at The Library Theatre. This version of the revue included a new comedy sketch, Dracula, by Alan Ayckbourn.
○ Just Between Ourselves was premiered at the end of the 1975 winter season at The Library Theatre with just six performances (which sold out as soon as they were put on sale). This was intended as a taster for the 1976 summer season when the play was scheduled for a normal run in the repertory.
○ Although Just Between Ourselves was written with the intention of it being staged in-the-round, the original production was staged three-sided (thrust) due to the limitations of the performance space (see note above). When the play was revived during the 1976 summer season in the larger space of the Concert Room, Alan Ayckbourn decided to keep it in the thrust configuration for ease.
All information for this page has been researched and compiled by Simon Murgatroyd and should not be reproduced without permission. Any approved reproduction of information from this page should always credit 'A Round Town (www.theatre-in-the-round.co.uk).