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.

Here's the latest update of productions and events relating to Alan Ayckbourn over the coming months. Productions Directed by Alan Ayckbourn ◦ Play to be announced at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (Summer 2026)The world premiere production of Alan Ayckbourn's 92nd play, directed by the playwright. West End Productions ◦ Woman in Mind at the Duke of York's Theatre, London…

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.

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…

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…

The title of Alan Ayckbourn's new play has been announced as The Trial of Romeo Oscar. The play will premiere in September 2026 and is the playwright's 92nd full-length play. It is also his first court-room drama and is set in the far future, returning to one of the playwright's favourite themes.... In the year 2194, humanity is scattered around the solar system and day-to-day life on earth looks very different.

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.

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.

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…

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.

Here's the latest update of productions and events relating to Alan Ayckbourn over the coming months. Productions Directed by Alan Ayckbourn ◦ Earth Angel at The Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness-on-Windermere (4 - 8 November)The world premiere production of Alan Ayckbourn's 91st play, directed by the playwright. West End Productions ◦ Woman in Mind at the Duke of York's Theatre, London…

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.

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…

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.

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.

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…

The full cast has been announced for the West End revival of Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind starring Sheridan Smith, which also marks the 40th anniversary of the play. As previously announced, double Oiliver Award winner Sheridan Smith will play Susan in the playwright's darkly comic masterpiece. The rest of the cast includes Romesh Ranganathan as Doctor Bill Windsor, Tim McMullan as Susan's Husband Gerald, Louise Brealey as Gerald's sister Muriel, Taylor Uttley as Susan's son Rick, Sule Rimi as Andy, Chris Jenks as Tony, Safia Oakley-Green as Lucy with Kate Buchholz and Michael Woolfitt.

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...

The Association of British Theatre Technicians was privileged to present esteemed playwright and director Sir Alan Ayckbourn with the ABTT Stephen Joseph Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to theatre-in-the-round and his enduring impact on British theatre. The presentation took place at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough on the 28th September 2025, following a rehearsed reading of Ayckbourn’s much-loved 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.

Here's the latest update of productions and events relating to Alan Ayckbourn over the coming months. Productions Directed by Alan Ayckbourn ◦ Earth Angel at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (Until 11 October)The world premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's 91st play, directed by the playwright. ◦ Earth Angel at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme (14 - 25 October)The world premiere production of Alan Ayckbourn's 91st play, directed by the playwright.

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.

Sheridan Smith is to star in Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind in the West End, directed by Michael Longhurst. The play will run from December 9 to February 28 at the Duke of York’s Theatre, following which it will visit the Sunderland Empire from 4 March to 7 March 2026 and Theatre Royal, Glasgow from 10 March to 14 March 2026.

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.

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.