Objectives of A Round Town - Theatre in the Round in Scarborough
A Round Town is a complementary website to Alan Ayckbourn's Official Website and take an in-depth look at the formative years of theatre-in-the-round in Scarborough, its development and impact on the cultural heritage of the town as well as the inextricable connection between theatre-in-the-round and the pioneer Stephen Joseph and the playwright Alan Ayckbourn.A Round Town covers the period from 1955, when Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre was founded by Alan's most influential mentor Stephen Joseph, to early 1996, when the company prepared to leave its second home, the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round for its current home, the Stephen Joseph Theatre. Arguably, these four decades are the most significant years for the company and its development.
The website predominantly explores the period 1955 - 1995, but also touches on the development and creation of its current home. Further details on Alan Ayckbourn's work at the present home of the company from 1996 to the present can be found on his official website www.alanayckbourn.net.
Genesis of the Project
In 2002, I first created Alan Ayckbourn's Official Website - then just 25 pages as opposed to 3,500 pages today - celebrating the life and career of Alan Ayckbourn.However, when discussing Alan Ayckbourn you cannot escape the cultural connection with Scarborough. More than any other playwright today, he is specifically associated with this town where he first came to work in 1957 and which, subsequently, has dominated his professional life and career.
As a lifelong resident of Scarborough and follower of theatre-in-the-round for almost four decades, I was also well ware of the broader significance of this theatre company which was revolutionary in its promotion of a new - for the UK - theatre form and new writing as well as it's inspirational pioneer, Stephen Joseph.
Increasingly, I felt to tell the full story of Alan Ayckbourn, one also had to tell the story of theatre in the round in Scarborough and how it informed Alan's development and career as well as highlighting the company's national significance and, crucially, its role in the cultural development and heritage of the town during the 20th century.
The result was this website, which covers almost 1,500 pages and is a personal, passion project. As Alan Ayckbourn's Archivist since 2003 and, formerly, the Stephen Joseph Theatre's Archivist, I have always been fascinated by the history of theatre in the round in Scarborough and its association with Alan Ayckbourn and his mentor, Stephen Joseph.
Since 2022, I have been actively taking the story of theatre in the round in Scarborough into the town community (see Talks & Events) and this serves as a continuing inspiration for the website, looking at the wider picture of theatre in the round's relationship and contribution to the seaside resort.
It is, I believe, the single most accurate and reliable source of information regarding the first four decades of theatre in the round in Scarborough available. Much of the research and information is new and held in neither The Bob Watson Archive at the Stephen Joseph Theatre nor the Ayckbourn Archive at the Borthwick Institute of Archives at the University of York. It is the most comprehensive public resource relating to theatre-in-the-round in Scarborough.