The Complete Plays: Carmilla (1972)

Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Carmilla
David Campton
Yes

The Library Theatre, Scarborough
Concert Room
Round
Original Work:
Author:

First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Carmilla
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

19 June 1972
19 June 1972
6 September 1972
Company Details
Director:
Costumes:
Music:

Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage Manager:
Alan Ayckbourn
Tina Bicat
Barrie Davenport

Jennifer Smith
David Millard
David Hayward
Sue Rogers
Character
Captain Field
Ivan
Laura
Madame Perrodon
Colonel Smithson
Carmilla
Dr Spielsberg
Actor
Ray Jewers
David Hayward
Philippa Urquhart
Matyelok Gibbs
Piers Rogers
Jennifer Piercey
Christopher Godwin
Why is this play significant?
David Campton was Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre's first resident playwright and was the only writer to be produced during every year during Stephen Joseph's tenure as Artistic Director of the company. Sadly, for such a key figure in the history of theatre in the round in Scarborough, Carmilla marked the final production of a Campton play by the company as of writing. Campton was one of the company's great successes and had a prolific and popular playwriting career and is still performed today.
Notes
○ David Campton was the first writer-in-residence at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, and a significant figure in the theatre from its creation in 1955 until Stephen Joseph's death in 1967.
○ Although the play is credited as having its world premiere at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, the company actually performed it for a week prior to 19 June 1972 at the newly opened Sheffield Crucible before transferring to Scarborough; it's premiere is still considered to be at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre though.
○ Carmilla is a new adaptation of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's famed vampire novel.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust