The Plays: Year-by-Year (1976)

This page contains productions details for all plays produced by Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, during 1976. All information on this page has been researched and compiled by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. from programmes, brochures and newspaper articles.

Summer 1976

All plays were performed in-the-round in the Concert Room at Scarborough Library.* The season ran from 14 June to 11 September 1976. At which point, the company moved to its second home, Theatre in the Round at Westwood (later retitled the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round) for the 1976 autumn / winter season.

* Alan Ayckbourn's Just Between Ourselves was performed in a thrust / three-sided configuration have already been directed this way for the 1975 / 1976 winter season. The Adventures of Dirty Dick was a touring production around Scarborough.

All The Best People

Author:
Translation:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Design:
Music:
Choreography:
Molière
Sally Pindar
No

14 June 1976
14 June 1976
14 July 1976

Bob Eaton
Helga Wood
Peter Clough
Edna Davis
Character
Monsieur Jourdain, tradesman
Madame Jourdain, his wife
Lucile, their daughter
Nicole, servant
Cleonte, suitor to Lucile
Covielle, Cleonte's valet
Dorimene, Marchioness
Count Dorante, suitor to Dorimene
Music Master
Dance Teacher
Fencing Teacher
Philosophy Master
Master Tailor
Apprentice Tailor
Actor
Malcolm Hebden
Elaine Strickland
Elspeth Charlton
Diane Bull
Robin Herford
Christopher Godwin
Alison Skilbeck
Stephen Mallatratt
Christopher Gray
Stephen Lowe
Christopher Godwn
Robin Herford
Stephen Lowe
Nigel LeVaillant

Just Between Ourselves

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Designer:
Alan Ayckbourn
No

17 June 1976
17 June 1976
11 September 1976

Alan Ayckbourn
Helga Wood
Character
Dennis
Vera, his wife
Neil
Marjorie, Dennis's mother
Pam
Actor
Christopher Godwin
Heather Stoney
Malcolm Hebden
Elspeth Charlton
Alison Skilbeck

Comic Pictures: Cards

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Designer:
Stephen Lowe
No

21 July 1976
21 July 1976
1 September 1976

Alan Ayckbourn
Helga Wood
Character
Mum
Dad
Charlie
Vera
Actor
Elaine Strickland
Malcolm Hebden
Robin Herford
Diane Bull
Note: Cards was performed in a double-bill - Comic Pictures - with Stars.

Comic Pictures: Stars

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Designer:
Stephen Lowe
Yes

21 July 1976
21 July 1976
1 September 1976

Alan Ayckbourn
Helga Wood
Character
Dick
Jane
Boy
Girl
Actor
Malcolm Hebden
Elaine Strickland
Robin Herford
Diane Bull
Note: Stars was performed in a double-bill - Comic Pictures - with Cards.

The Mystery of the Lost City

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Designer:
Janet Dale
Yes

31 July 1976
31 July 1976
11 September 1976 (TBC)

To be confirmed
Helga Wood
Character
Janice Jones
Other roles
Actor
Diane Bull
Christopher Godwin
Wendy Murray
Robin Herford
Bob Eaton

The Adventures of Dirty Dick

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Devised
Yes

28 July 1976 (TBC)
28 July 1976 (TBC)
31 July 1976 (TBC)

To be confirmed
Actors
Christopher Godwin
Elspeth Charlton
Stephen Lowe
Stephen Mallatratt
Bob Eaton
Note: The Adventures of Dirty Dick was a 40 minute decided work which toured village greens and gardens around Scarborough.

Mother Country

Author:
New Play:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:

Director:
Designer:
Stephen Mallatratt
Yes

25 August 1976
25 August 1976
8 September 1976

Alan Ayckbourn
Helga Wood
Character
Dorothy
Geraldine
Shakespeare
Peter
Nobby
Vic
Actor
Alison Skilbeck
Elspeth Charlton
Elaine Strickland
Robin Herford
Stephen Lowe
Christopher Godwin

1976 Production Notes

○ Strictly speaking, the world premiere of Just Between Ourselves falls into 1976 as it premiered from 28 - 31 January 1976 but is considered part of the 1975 / 1976 winter season.
○ All The Best People was advertised as being in repertory until 18 August 1976. However, the final nine performances of the production were replaced by six performances of Alan Ayckbourn's Just Between Ourselves and three performances of Stephen Lowe's Comic Pictures due to the demand for tickets for these plays - and presumably a lack of demand to see All The Best People.
○ All The Best People marked the debut of Robin Herford with the company who would later go on to become Associate Director and, subsequently, Artistic Director whilst Alan Ayckbourn was on sabbatical at the National Theatre from 1986 to 1988.
○ Just Between Ourselves had premiered in January 1976 in the library's Lecture Room space, which had necessitated it being produced three-sided. When it came to revive the play during the summer season, Alan Ayckbourn decided to keep it in the thrust configuration for ease and to accommodate the existing set.
○ The Mystery of The Lost City was the first part of a six part serial for children performed on Saturday mornings during the 1976 summer season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre. No programme is held in archive for this production, so all details are drawn from the 1976 Library Theatre summer brochure and press cuttings relating to the play.
○The Adventures Of Dirty Dick was a revue produced by Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre intended to visit village greens and lawns in the Scarborough area; it was never performed at the Library. No programme is held in archive for this play and all details are drawn from related press cuttings from the period including no charge was made for the 40 minute piece.
○ Mother Country was the final new play to be produced at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough. Between Stephen Joseph opening the venue in 1955 andthe company leaving the venue in September 1976, the company produced 159 plays of which 77 were new commissions.
○ Just Between Ourselves was the final play to be performed at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre when it closed on 11 September 1976, prior to the company moving to its new home to Theatre in the Round at Westwood.
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).