Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round: 1987

This page contains a more detailed guide to significant events concerning Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round in 1987.

1987

  • 1 January: Alan Ayckbourn is appointed CBE for services to the theatre in the New Year's Honours List.
  • The Friends of the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round take over the running of the Shop In The Round in the theatre's foyer.
  • 20 January: The company tours Alan Ayckbourn's revival of Time & Time Again to Canada in association with the British Council.
  • 9 March: The Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round launches it first amateur season but following friction with publicity officer Russ Allen in 1986, most of the town's major amateur companies (including Scarborough & District Light Opera Society, Cresta Drama and The Outsiders) who have previously performed at the theatre do not participate.
  • Ticket prices for the summer season are raised to £4.50 with concessions priced at £3.50 and a £2.50 ticket available for young people and the unemployed.
  • 2 June: The Spring / Summer season opens with Spokesong by Stewart Parker.
  • The Scarborough Evening News begins sponsoring the winter seasons at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round joining Scarborough Building Society's existing sponsorship of a new play each year and the McCains' Children's Play at Christmas.
  • Keith McFarlane is appointed Financial Administrator of the company; Keith had previously handled the accounts for the theatre as part of a local accounts firm.
  • 30 July: World premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's Henceforward… which also marks the Scarborough debut of the designer Roger Glossop, who goes on to collaborate with Alan on his plays for the next two decades.
  • 30 September: Advertised opening date for the world premiere of Wonderland by Stephen Mallatratt; a month prior to opening it is pulled from the schedule as it is announced further work is needed on the play due to the subject of mental disability
  • 30 September: The Autumn / Winter season opens with Educating Rita by Robin Herford; this is also the first play the playwright Willy Russell to be performed at the venue.
  • 11 December: World premiere of Stephen Mallatratt's acclaimed adaptation of Susan Hill's ghost story The Woman In Black. Presented in the Studio with a minimal budget, the play goes on to become the second longest running play in the West End.
Article by and copyright of Simon Murgatroyd. Please do not reproduce this article without permission of the copyright holder.