The Complete Plays: Up To The Eyes (1975)
Note: Up To The Eyes was announced in advance publicity for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre’s summer 1975 brochure. However, despite tickets being sold for the play, it was pulled from the schedule in June 1976 and replaced by Hugh Mills’ Angels In Love. This page contains what details were announced of the production for historical research. Dates, company members and staging details are included to indicate what was planned for the play had it been performed.
Production Details (Confirmed)
Title:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Advertised opening:
Advertised closing:
Author:
New Play:
Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Advertised opening:
Advertised closing:
Up To The Eyes
Peter King
Yes (unproduced)
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
14 July 1975
3 September 1975
Peter King
Yes (unproduced)
The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
14 July 1975
3 September 1975
Director:
Character
Sherlock Holmes
Lord Peter Wimsey
Philip Marlowe
Character
Sherlock Holmes
Lord Peter Wimsey
Philip Marlowe
Alan Ayckbourn
Actor
Details not announced
Details not announced
Details not announced
Actor
Details not announced
Details not announced
Details not announced
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 However, a report in the Scarborough Evening News on 11 June 1975 reported the play had been replaced by a production of Hugh Mills’ Angels In Love instead.
○ The premise for the play was suggested to Peter King by the theatre’s Artistic Director Alan Ayckbourn with the idea of the fictional detectives Lord Peter Wimsey, Philip Marlowe and Sherlock Holmes all trying to solve the same case.
○ When the final script was given to Alan Ayckbourn, it included songs and Holmes’ confidant Doctor Watson doing a clog dance to an accordion! Just a month before rehearsals, The Scarborough Evening News reported the play had been withdrawn following an 'amicable agreement' between Alan Ayckbourn and Peter King as the finished script had not been what the theatre expected.
○ The play did go on to find a life outside Scarborough though - with a change of title as Dead Eyed Dicks - with a major production starring Peter O’Toole as the three detectives with John Standing as Watson; the play opened at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, in 1976 before going on a major Australian tour.
○ The premise for the play was suggested to Peter King by the theatre’s Artistic Director Alan Ayckbourn with the idea of the fictional detectives Lord Peter Wimsey, Philip Marlowe and Sherlock Holmes all trying to solve the same case.
○ When the final script was given to Alan Ayckbourn, it included songs and Holmes’ confidant Doctor Watson doing a clog dance to an accordion! Just a month before rehearsals, The Scarborough Evening News reported the play had been withdrawn following an 'amicable agreement' between Alan Ayckbourn and Peter King as the finished script had not been what the theatre expected.
○ The play did go on to find a life outside Scarborough though - with a change of title as Dead Eyed Dicks - with a major production starring Peter O’Toole as the three detectives with John Standing as Watson; the play opened at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, in 1976 before going on a major Australian tour.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust