Alan Ayckbourn, Playwright
alan-ayckbourn.bsky.social
Alan Ayckbourn, Playwright
@alan-ayckbourn.bsky.social
News & links relating to Alan Ayckbourn and theatre in the round curated by Alan Ayckbourn's archivist, Simon Murgatroyd M.A. Find out more about Alan Ayckbourn & his plays at www.alanayckbourn.net
The Ayckbourn blog's in-depth look at the plays written by Alan Ayckbourn whilst at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre continues with his first piece of speculative fiction, Standing Room Only in 1961.
The Library Theatre at 70: The Ayckbourn Plays – Standing Room Only
Here on the Ayckbourn Blog, we're celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough in July 1955. Alan Ayckbourn was a vital and significant presence at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre and these articles celebrate the plays he wrote for the company between 1959 and 1976. They offer an in-depth look at the creation of and background to some of the playwright's most famous - and most obscure - works.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
December 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The Ayckbourn Blog continues its celebration of the 70th anniversary of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre with a look at the company's first resident playwright and one of its most significant early figures, David Campton.
The Library Theatre: 1972 – State of Play
Throughout 2025, the Ayckbourn Blog is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough in 1955. Focusing on Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre - the company's first home between 1955 and 1976 - we're celebrating the venue and people involved as well as its historic connection to Alan Ayckbourn.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
November 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Ayckbourn Blog's look at Alan Ayckbourn's play premiered at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre continues with his third work, Dad's Tale. His first taste of theatrical failure!
The Library Theatre at 70: The Ayckbourn Plays – Dad’s Tale
As visitors to the blog will be aware, we've been celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough in 1955. With the anniversary year in full swing, the blog comes closer to a home with a look at all the plays Alan Ayckbourn wrote for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre…
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
November 20, 2025 at 9:01 AM
There's just three weeks until Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind opens in the West End starring Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan.
Woman in Mind – Coming Soon!
There's just three weeks until the West End revival of Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind opens at the Duke of York's Theatre starring Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan. This major revival is being directed by Michael Longhurst and marks the first significant reveal of the play since Alan Ayckbourn's own acclaim production starring Janie Dee in 2009. Woman in Mind…
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Sir Alan Ayckbourn brought the successful inaugural Whitby Lit Fest to a fantastic conclusion with a packed In Conversation event with the festival patron Kate Fenton
A Literal Success!
On Sunday night, Sir Alan Ayckbourn brought the inaugural Whitby Lit Fest to a successful conclusion with a wonderful In Conversation event. The playwright regaled a packed audience at the Eighteen91 venue with stories from the influence of his mother - a professional writer - to writing his first play all the way to his latest play for 2026. Hosting the event was the festival's patron, Kate Fenton.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
November 11, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The Library Theatre: 1971 – State of Play

Throughout 2025, the Ayckbourn Blog is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough in 1955. Focusing on Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre - the company's…
The Library Theatre: 1971 – State of Play
Throughout 2025, the Ayckbourn Blog is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough in 1955. Focusing on Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre - the company's first home between 1955 and 1976 - we're celebrating the venue and people involved as well as its historic connection to Alan Ayckbourn.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
November 11, 2025 at 9:01 AM
This Sunday sees Sir Alan Ayckbourn in conversation with Kate Fenton at the inaugural Whitby Lit Fest. Book your tickets now.
Final Call for Whitby Lit Fest
There's not long left to get your tickets to see Sir Alan Ayckbourn at the inaugural Whitby Lit Fest discussing his writing and career in theatre. Sir Alan will be the closing guest of the first Whitby Lit Fest on Sunday 9 November at 5pm at Eighteen91 on Brunswick Street. Tickets are priced at £15 and can be booked here…
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
It's your final chance to catch Alan Ayckbourn's Earth Angel as its mini tour comes to an end - but the Ayckbourn blog also has a sneak peek at what to expect in 2026 from the playwright...
Earth Angel Final Week & 2026 Hint
This is your final chance to catch Alan Ayckbourn's latest play, Earth Angel, before its world premiere run concludes this Saturday. This week the production, directed by Alan Ayckbourn, will visit The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere, from tonight until 8 November (details here), performed in-the-round. The play stars Elizabeth Boag, Stuart Fox, Liza Goddard, Ro Kumar, Russell Richardson and Hayden Wood.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
November 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM
1970 marks a years of transition for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre as the Ayckbourn Blog continues its celebration of 70 years since its founding. Bob Peck, Stephanie Turner and Alan Ayckbourn were now all part pf the company, but it was financially more precarious than ever.
The Library Theatre: 1970 – Transitions
Throughout 2025, the Ayckbourn Blog is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough in 1955. Focusing on Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre - the company's first home between 1955 and 1976 - we're celebrating the venue and people involved as well as its historic connection to Alan Ayckbourn.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
October 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
There's less than three weeks until Sir Alan is in conversation with Kate Fenton at the first Whitby Lit Fest. To mark this, the Ayckbourn blog takes a look at Alan's long literary publishing history and some of the notable publications from the past six decades.
Lit Hist for Lit Fest
There's less than three weeks until the inaugural Whitby Lit Fest, where Sir Alan Ayckbourn will be giving the final talk of the festival. Here, at the Ayckbourn blog, we thought it a good opportunity to consider Sir Alan's literary publishing history in advance of the talk about his playwriting and theatrical careers with Kate Fenton on Sunday 9 November at 5pm (tickets available…
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
October 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM
As Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind celebrates its 40th anniversary and on the eve of its West End revival, the Ayckbourn Blog has an interview with the playwright about the work.
Woman in Mind at 40: Alan Ayckbourn
Alan Ayckbourn's classic play Woman in Mind celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025 and is soon to be revived in the West End with a major production starring Sheridan Smith. The blog continues to celebrate the anniversary with an insight into Woman in Mind and its creation. Here is an interview with Alan Ayckbourn which was originally published for the Dundee Rep's 2014 revival of the play.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
October 16, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Alan Ayckbourn's latest play Earth Angel is now on tour to The New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere.
Earth Angel On Tour
Alan Ayckbourn's latest acclaimed play, Earth Angel, is now on a short in-the-round tour. The production, directed by Alan Ayckbourn, will visit the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme, from tonight until 25 October (details here). It will then transfer to The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere, from 4 - 8 November (details here). The play will be performed in-the-round at both venues.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
October 14, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Alan Ayckbourn's work with Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, continues to be explored on the company's 70th anniversary with an in-depth look at his second play, Love After All.
The Library Theatre at 70: The Ayckbourn Plays – Love After All
As visitors to the blog will be aware, we've been celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough in 1955. With the anniversary year in full swing, the blog comes closer to a home with a look at all the plays Alan Ayckbourn wrote for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre…
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
October 9, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Alan Ayckbourn's latest play, Earth Angel, is playing for a final week at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough. Catch it before it closes on 11 October!
Earth Angel – Final Week
There's just a week left to catch the world premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's play Earth Angel at his home theatre. The acclaimed play is running until Saturday at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, before heading out on a short in-the-round tour. The playwright's 91st full-length work sees him asking what makes someone a good person and how do we know in a world full of distrust and disinformation...
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
October 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The future of theatre in the round is Scarborough looks more secure as the history of the Library Theatre reaches 1969 and with it, the return of Alan Ayckbourn to the company in the wake of Stephen Joseph's death.
The Library Theatre: 1969 – The Ayckbourn Era
Throughout 2025, the Ayckbourn Blog is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough in 1955. Focusing on Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre - the company's first home between 1955 and 1976 - we're celebrating the venue and people involved as well as its historic connection to Alan Ayckbourn.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
October 2, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Have you booked your tickets for Sir Alan Ayckbourn at the inaugural Whitby Lit Fest? Find out full details on the Ayckbourn blog.
Alan Ayckbourn at Whitby Lit Fest
Have you booked yet to see Sir Alan Ayckbourn at the inaugural Whitby Lit Fest? The award-winning playwright of 66 years and 91 plays will be in conversation with the festiuval';s patron Kate Fenton on Sunday 9 November offering an insight into his almost seven decades in theatre. Sir Alan said: “I am delighted to be a part of the inaugural Whitby Literary Festival.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
September 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The Stephen Joseph Theatre is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Alan Ayckbourn's play Relatively Speaking from 26 - 28 September 2025.
Relatively Speaking Reading
The 60th anniversary of Relatively Speaking is being celebrated by the Stephen Joseph Theatre from 26 - 28 September. The Actors, Audiences & Ayckbourn fundraising weekend will feature a rehearsed reading of one of Alan Ayckbourn's most-loved plays, Relatively Speaking, on Sunday 28 September followed by a Q&A with Alan Ayckbourn. The reading of the play will be performed by Georgia Burnell, Liza Goddard, Russell Richardson and Hayden Wood.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
September 18, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Alan Ayckbourn's new play Earth Angel is now running at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, and the Ayckbourn Blog has production images.
Earth Angel – Images
Alan Ayckbourn's new play, Earth Angel, officially opens tonight at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough. To mark the opening of his 91st full-length play, the blog has some images from the show to whet your appetite. Russell Richardson & Iskander Eaton in Earth Angel (©Tony Bartholomew) Alan Ayckbourn directs a cast comprising Elizabeth Boag, Iskandar Eaton, Stuart Fox, Liza Goddard, Russell Richardson and Hayden Wood which runs until 11 October.
archivingayckbourn.home.blog
September 16, 2025 at 8:01 AM