The Complete Plays: The Ruffian On The Stair (1978)

Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:
The Ruffian on the Stair
Joe Orton
No

Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round
Studio
End-stage
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
26 August 1978
26 August 1978
30 September 1978
Company Details
Director:

Stage Manager:
Robin Herford

Amanda Saunders
Character
Mike
Joyce
Wilson
Actor
Malcolm Hebden
Lavinia Bertram
Robin Murphy
Notes
○ The Ruffian On The Stair marked the directorial debut of the actor Robin Herford. He would go on to run the venue whilst Alan Ayckbourn took a two year sabbatical to the National Theatre between 1986 and 1988. He would also go on to direct the world premiere and West End productions of The Woman In Black and is considered one of the leading directors of Alan Ayckbourn's plays.
○ The Ruffian On The Stair was a late night show produced in the Studio space at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round.
○ In the minutes for a Scarborough Theatre Trust meeting in April 1978 laying out the plans for the coming year, Alan Ayckbourn initially announced the late night slot would be a production of Kennedy's Children by Robert Patrick. It is not known why the play was later altered to The Ruffian On The Stair, but - plausibly - the larger cast of Kennedy's children of six actors made it an impractical choice.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust