Research: The Bob Watson Archive

The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, is the current home of the company founded by Stephen Joseph in 1955 as Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre. The Bob Watson Archive holds the company's archives predominantly relating to the period 1976 to the present day.
Although primarily concentrating on the history of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, The Bob Watson Archive does hold material pertinent to the world premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's plays as well as his career as Artistic Director of the venue.

The Alan Ayckbourn Collection at The Bob Watson Archive does not hold a catalogue, but a broad outline of what is held in the collection can be found below.

The Bob Watson Archive is not accessible to the public - except by special appointment - due to it primarily being an internal research resource for the company and, more practically due to limited resources, financial constraints and not having a full-time or dedicated Archivist. The Archive has no facility for drop-in visits and no on-site facilities for researchers.

○ Many of the world premiere manuscripts from 1955 to the present day.
○ Press cuttings for the majority of productions at the venue.
○ Programmes, posters and occasional marketing material for productions at the venue.
○ Photographs - production and rehearsal - for many production - predominantly post-1976.
○ General press cuttings relating to the history of the theatre.

Archivist's Note: It is worth emphasising that although The Bob Watson Archive does hold material relating to Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre (1955 - 1976), the majority of it is copied material from The Stephen Joseph / Library Theatre Collection held at Scarborough Library.
This is due to the fact that, in 1987, the theatre's press officer destroyed the majority of the theatre's archive including practicality the totality of everything relating to Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre. The archivist Bib Watson restored the archive by photocopying programmes and articles held by Scarborough Library and Alan Ayckbourn.

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The Scarborough pages of A Round Town are associated with The Library Theatre / Stephen Joseph Collection at Scarborough Library - which has been catalogued, curated and expanded by Simon Murgatroyd - and The Ayckbourn Collection. Facilitated by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. and donated by Sir Alan and Lady Ayckbourn to Scarborough Museums and Galleries in 2023, this collection of material celebrates the contribution of Alan Ayckbourn, Stephen Joseph and theatre in the round to Scarborough's theatrical history and heritage.