The Complete Plays: Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays (1988)

Production Details
Title:
Author:
New Play:

Venue:
Location:
Staging:
Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays
Alan Ayckbourn
Yes

Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round
Main house (Round)
Round
First performance:
Opening night:
Final performance:
30 November 1988
30 November 1988
23 December 1988
Company Details
Director:
Assistant Director:
Sound:
Design:
Costumes:

Stage Manager:
Alan Ayckbourn
Stephen Mallatratt
Mick Thomas
Michael Holt
Laura McLaughlin

Unknown
Character
Suzy
Neville
Mother
Father
Mr Accousticus
Mr Passerby
1st Narrator
2nd Narrator
Actor
Kerry Peers
Adam Godley
Victoria Carling
Richard Brain
Roger Forbes
John Branwell
Graeme Eton
Philip Fox
Why is this play significant?
Alan Ayckbourn's first 'family' play - it is not regarded as a children's play, but one aimed at the entire family - and which began a period of 18 years where an Ayckbourn play regularly filled the Christmas slot at theatre in the round. The play - which is the most successful and famous of his 'family' plays and would go on to be revived at the National Theatre - is also his most ambitious chance play, in which the path of the heroine and her dog's journey through a labyrinth of a house is decided entirely by the audience.
Notes
○ Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays is considered to be Alan Ayckbourn's first play written for families (and not, as some commentators suggest, a children's play).
○ Mr A's Amazing Maze Plays was designed to share the same set as The Turn of The Screw which it was presented in repertory with.
○ The play has a random element in that the second act sees the audience guide Suzy and her dog Neville through Mr Accousticus’s house.
Links
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd. Image copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust