The Plays: Year-by-Year (1973)
This page contains productions details for all plays produced by Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, during 1973. All information on this page has been researched and compiled by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. from programmes, brochures and newspaper articles.Summer 1973
All plays were performed in-the-round in the Concert Room at Scarborough Library. The season ran from 18 June to 15 September 1973.The Norman Conquests
In 1973, Alan Ayckbourn wrote a trilogy of plays which - from its London premiere in 1974 - would become known as The Norman Conquests, consisting of Make Yourself at Home, Fancy Meeting You and Round and Round The Garden. It was neither originally known nor advertised as The Norman Conquests for its world premiere production.Author:
New Play:
Character
Reg
Sarah, his wife
Ruth, Reg's sister
Norman, her husband
Annie, Reg & Ruth's sister
Tom
New Play:
Character
Reg
Sarah, his wife
Ruth, Reg's sister
Norman, her husband
Annie, Reg & Ruth's sister
Tom
Alan Ayckbourn
Yes
Actor
Stanley Page
Alex Marshall
Janet Dale
Christopher Godwin
Rosalind Adams
Ronald Herdman
Yes
Actor
Stanley Page
Alex Marshall
Janet Dale
Christopher Godwin
Rosalind Adams
Ronald Herdman
Fancy Meeting You
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Make Yourself At Home
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Round And Round The Garden
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Make Yourself At Home
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Round And Round The Garden
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
18 June 1973
18 June 1973
13 September 1973
25 June 1973
25 June 1973
14 September 1973
9 July 1973
9 July 1973
15 September 1973
Notes on The Norman Conquests
○ Two of the three plays were subsequently renamed for their London Premiere in 1974. Fancy Meeting You became Table Manners and Make Yourself At Home became Living Together.
○ The plays were informally referred to as 'The Trilogy' during the 1973 summer season in Scarborough. The earliest reference to them as The Norman Conquests is January 1974.
○ Although it has become traditional to have 'trilogy days' where all three plays are performed in one day, the three plays were never performed on the same day during their world premiere production. The first such 'trilogy day' did not come until the London premiere in 1974.
○ Two of the three plays were subsequently renamed for their London Premiere in 1974. Fancy Meeting You became Table Manners and Make Yourself At Home became Living Together.
○ The plays were informally referred to as 'The Trilogy' during the 1973 summer season in Scarborough. The earliest reference to them as The Norman Conquests is January 1974.
○ Although it has become traditional to have 'trilogy days' where all three plays are performed in one day, the three plays were never performed on the same day during their world premiere production. The first such 'trilogy day' did not come until the London premiere in 1974.
Having A Lovely Time
Author:
New Play:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Director:
New Play:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Director:
Peter Blythe
Yes
30 July 1973
30 July 1973
25 August 1973
Stanley Page
Yes
30 July 1973
30 July 1973
25 August 1973
Stanley Page
Character
Keith
Karen, his wife
Gran-Gran, her mother
Blanche
Steven, her brother
Father
Keith
Karen, his wife
Gran-Gran, her mother
Blanche
Steven, her brother
Father
Actor
Ronald Herdman
Rosalind Adams
Alex Marshall
Janet Dale
Robert Benfield
Christopher Godwin
Ronald Herdman
Rosalind Adams
Alex Marshall
Janet Dale
Robert Benfield
Christopher Godwin
All Together Now
Author:
New Play:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Director:
New Play:
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
Director:
Peter King
Yes
20 August 1973
20 August 1973
12 September 1973
Christopher Godwin
Yes
20 August 1973
20 August 1973
12 September 1973
Christopher Godwin
Character
Kate Marlowe
Glyn Madoc
Hywel Madoc
Dily Madoc
Alethea Marlowe
Rodney Marlowe
Kate Marlowe
Glyn Madoc
Hywel Madoc
Dily Madoc
Alethea Marlowe
Rodney Marlowe
Actor
Janet Dale
Robert Benfield
Ronald Herdman
Rosalind Adams
Alex Marshall
Stanley Page
Janet Dale
Robert Benfield
Ronald Herdman
Rosalind Adams
Alex Marshall
Stanley Page
1973 Production Notes
○ It was reported by The Stage newspaper that this season had broken all box office records just six weeks into the season.
○ Contrary to belief, the Ayckbourn trilogy (The Norman Conquests) was not performed on a single day on the final day of the summer season. The plays were only performed on individual nights and it would only be with its London transfer in 1974 that the concept of having all three plays performed on the same day became a reality.
○ Having A Lovely Time marked the directorial debut of Stanley Page; he is better known as one of the company’s most prolific actors having worked with the company at various points between 1960 and 1986.
○ This was the first play by Peter King to be staged at the Library Theatre and was one of three world premieres by the writer to be staged by the company. Peter had previously worked with the company as an actor during the early 1960s including appearing in the world premiere of Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking (then titled Meet My Father).
○ All Together Now marked the directorial debut of Christopher Godwin at the Library Theatre. He is better known as a prolific actor with the company between 1971 and 1977.
○ Contrary to belief, the Ayckbourn trilogy (The Norman Conquests) was not performed on a single day on the final day of the summer season. The plays were only performed on individual nights and it would only be with its London transfer in 1974 that the concept of having all three plays performed on the same day became a reality.
○ Having A Lovely Time marked the directorial debut of Stanley Page; he is better known as one of the company’s most prolific actors having worked with the company at various points between 1960 and 1986.
○ This was the first play by Peter King to be staged at the Library Theatre and was one of three world premieres by the writer to be staged by the company. Peter had previously worked with the company as an actor during the early 1960s including appearing in the world premiere of Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking (then titled Meet My Father).
○ All Together Now marked the directorial debut of Christopher Godwin at the Library Theatre. He is better known as a prolific actor with the company between 1971 and 1977.
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).