Celebrating 70 Years of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre
In 1955, Stephen Joseph launched the UK's first professional theatre in the round company in Scarborough Library. Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre opened on 14 July 1955 and, 70 years on, the company continues in its third home, the Stephen Joseph Theatre.In 2025, several events are being held to celebrate the 70th anniversary led by an exhibition at Scarborough Library, celebrating where it all began.
The Library Theatre at 70: Celebrating Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre (1955 - 1976)
Dates: Thursday 10 - Saturday 12 July from 10am - 5pm (2pm on Saturday) - Free EntryLocation: Scarborough Library, Vernon Road, Scarborough
Organisers: Simon Murgatroyd & North Yorkshire Council in association with www.alanayckbourn.net & www.a-round-town.com
An exhibition celebrating the significance of Scarborough Library in British theatre history. Here, at Scarborough Library in 1955, Stephen Joseph launched the UK's first professional theatre-in-the-round company where, for 21 years, the company thrived first under Stephen Joseph and, later, under his protégé, Alan Ayckbourn.
During that 21 years, the Library Theatre saw the world premiere of some of Alan Ayckbourn's most acclaimed works - many of which are considered classics of late 20th century British theatre - including Relatively Speaking, Absurd Person Singular, The Norman Conquests and Bedroom Farce.
- An exhibition of 70 rarely seen photographs, from 1955 - 1976, looking at the history of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, the venue and the people.
- A video presentation including rare archival footage of the Library Theatre and an exclusive interview with Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE.
- A display of posters drawn from Stephen Joseph's original exhibitions at the Library Theatre during the 1950s.
- Programmes, correspondence and posters drawn from the Scarborough Library archives.
- The launch of a new book by Simon Murgatroyd, A Theatrical Revolution - Celebrating Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, to accompany the exhibition.
- Talks by Simon Murgatroyd about the history of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre on Thursday 10 July at 6pm and Saturday 12 July at 11am.
- Plus more to be announced…
The exhibition is being organised by Alan Ayckbourn's archivist and theatre historian Simon Murgatroyd in association with Scarborough Library and North Yorkshire Council. It is supported by Haydonning Ltd, www.alanayckbourn.net and www.a-round-town.com.
If you have an enquiry about the exhibition, please contact Simon Murgatroyd at: admin@alanayckbourn.net.
Other Events
SJT's 70th Birthday Party
Dates: 13 July at 2.30pm - Tickets at £20 with VIP tickets available for £70)Location: Stephen Joseph Theatre
Organisers: The Stephen Joseph Theatre
The Stephen Joseph Theatre is celebrating its 70th anniversary with an afternoon featuring extracts from some significant plays from those seven decades, performed script-in-hand by some of our notable SJT actors. Further details here.
The event is organised by the Stephen Joseph Theatre and is not related to the exhibition at Scarborough Library.