SpotLight on Ayckbourn

Alan Ayckbourn
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SpotLight on Ayckbourn takes an in-depth look at Alan Ayckbourn's plays, looking behind the scenes of their creation and original productions. Alan Ayckbourn's Archivist, Simon Murgatroyd, presents fascinating insights into some of the playwright's most significant works, drawing exclusively on material held in the Ayckbourn Archive at the Borthwick Institute for Archives in York. From inspiration to writing, rehearsals to productions, world premiere to West End premiere, SpotLight on Ayckbourn offers a fascinating look at the plays of Alan Ayckbourn. Researched, written and presented by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. A SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

  1. 12/15/2022

    SpotLight on Ayckbourn - The Early Christmas Plays

    Early in his career, the playwright Alan Ayckbourn wrote two children's plays for Christmas, Dad's Tale and Christmas V Mastermind. He now considers them the 'black sheep' of his play canon! The playwright's Archivist, Simon Murgatroyd, goes back to 1960 and 1962 to shed some light on these two plays which were never produced again, never published and have long since been withdrawn. Discover the story of Alan's first - and only - attempt to write ballets and what is probably the only play ever written about industrial action in Santa's workshop. Obscure and long forgotten, this is the story of Alan Ayckbourn's early Christmas plays. Researched, written and presented by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. A SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd.

    10 min

  2. 10/31/2022 · BONUS

    SpotLight Bonus - The Ghost of 'Enry Albert Murgatroyd

    In 1975, Alan Ayckbourn wrote the song The Ghost of 'Enry Albert Murgatroyd for the revue, What The Devil!, for the Library Theatre, Scarborough. As a bonus to accompany the SpotLight on Ayckbourn - The Supernatural Plays podcast, the playwright has given permission for the lyrics to be heard for the first time in 40 years. This bonus episode is researched, written and presented by Simon Murgatroyd. It is a SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd with thanks to Alan Ayckbourn.

    5 min

  3. 10/31/2022

    SpotLight on Ayckbourn: The Supernatural Plays

    There's a chilling presence in this SpotLight on Ayckbourn as the playwright's Archivist turns his attention to Alan Ayckbourn's supernatural plays. Exploring his three supernatural works as well as other more obscure short works, Simon Murgatroyd, looks at the various plays and other works from 1975 to the present which feature spectres and the unexplained. From What The Devil! to A Cut in the Rates, Taking Steps to The Fearsome Threesome, Haunting Julia to Snake in the Grass and Life & Beth to Roundelay, Simon looks at how the supernatural pervades a significant section of the playwright's work. It also includes an exclusive extract from Alan Ayckbourn's audio recording of Haunting Julia. Researched, written & presented by Simon Murgatroyd M.A.A SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd and The Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York.

    16 min

  4. 08/03/2022 · BONUS

    SpotLight Bonus: A Chorus of Disapproval - The Film

    A bonus episode looking at the filming of Alan Ayckbourn's play A Chorus of Disapproval in his home town of Scarborough. Listen as the playwright's Archivist, Simon Murgatroyd, talks about the unorthodox scouting locations of Winner, Alan's rather obvious absence from the town and the bizarre story of what connects the film, the MP John Prescott and the Bingo Callers' Union in this bonus SpotLight.

    7 min

  5. 08/02/2022

    SpotLight on A Chorus of Disapproval: The Film (pt.3)

    A Chorus of Disapproval is one of Alan Ayckbourn's most popular plays. Premiered in 1984 in Scarborough before a triumphant production at the National Theatre in 1985, it remains one of his most successful works. Over three parts, SpotLight on A Chorus of Disapproval will look at the creation of the play, its West End production and the notorious film adaptation. In part 3, the film of A Chorus of Disapproval comes into focus. This was the first film adaptation of an Ayckbourn play and is - in the playwright's mind - an unmitigated disaster. The SpotLight looks at how 'Death Wish' director Michael Winner came to direct the film and his ongoing clashes with the playwright about what he felt the play was and the way he adapted it into the film. From initial meetings to world premiere, SpotLight looks at the dialogue between Ayckbourn and Winner and how disappointed the playwright was with Winner for directing creating such a poor film and with himself for her agreeing to let the film be made. Drawing extensively on material held in The Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York, the podcast offers a n insight into how the play which propelled Alan Ayckbourn to fame came to fruition. Season 1 of the SpotLight series looks at Alan Ayckbourn plays premiered at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, between 1959 and 1976, Season 2 at plays premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round, Scarborough, from 1976 to 1995 and Season 3 at plays premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, from 1996 to the present day. Researched, written and narrated by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. and adapted from the SpotLight video series on the Ayckbourn YouTube Channel. The SpotLight series is produced by SiMo in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives. Royalty-free music by BenSound (www.bensound.com) A SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

    18 min

  6. 07/18/2022

    SpotLight on Just Between Ourselves

    Just Between Ourselves is regarded as one of Alan Ayckbourn's darkest and richest plays. It is a work which he considers marked a definite step forward as a writer. SpotLight on Just Between Ourselves goes back to 1976 and how the play was created and how writing in winter for the first time affected the content and feel of the play. It looks at how the play developed and how - extraordinarily - it was an even darker play when first conceived. It looks at the writing of the play and its original production at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, the final play by Ayckbourn to premiere at this venue. Drawing extensively on material held in The Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York, the podcast offers a n insight into how the play which propelled Alan Ayckbourn to fame came to fruition. Season 1 of the SpotLight series looks at Alan Ayckbourn plays premiered at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, between 1959 and 1976, Season 2 at plays premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round, Scarborough, from 1976 to 1995 and Season 3 at plays premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, from 1996 to the present day. Researched, written and narrated by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. and adapted from the SpotLight video series on the Ayckbourn YouTube Channel. The SpotLight series is produced by SiMo in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives. Royalty-free music by BenSound (www.bensound.com) A SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

    13 min

  7. 07/18/2022

    SpotLight on Absent Friends

    Absent Friends is the playwright Alan Ayckbourn's follow-up to his trilogy, The Norman Conquests, and is diametrically different. Intimate and contained and set in real-time, it was a push-back against the huge ambitions of the trilogy. SpotLight on Absent Friends explores the significance of one of the playwright's favourite own works where he feels he made a significant step forward as a writer. It looks at how it was conceived very differently from what it became and how it developed into this intimate and successful play and that the playwright hoped to achieve with a play which is, as he notes, about 'the death of love.' Its original production at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, also comes under the spotlight. Drawing extensively on material held in The Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York, the podcast offers a n insight into how the play which propelled Alan Ayckbourn to fame came to fruition. Season 1 of the SpotLight series looks at Alan Ayckbourn plays premiered at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, between 1959 and 1976, Season 2 at plays premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round, Scarborough, from 1976 to 1995 and Season 3 at plays premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, from 1996 to the present day. Researched, written and narrated by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. and adapted from the SpotLight video series on the Ayckbourn YouTube Channel. The SpotLight series is produced by SiMo in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives. Royalty-free music by BenSound (www.bensound.com) A SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

    13 min

  8. 07/18/2022

    SpotLight on How The Other Half Loves

    In 1967, Alan Ayckbourn wrote the play How The Other Half Loves, it would become his second major West End hit and solidify his position as one of the UK's most exciting rising playwrights. SpotLight on How The Other Half Loves looks at the creation of the play which is regarded as the first of his works to experiment with structure, space and time. It looks at the inspiration and original performance as well as how it was dramatically altered in the West End by the actor Robert Morley, who helped make it a hit whilst trampling on over the play as written. Drawing extensively on material held in The Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York, the podcast offers an fascinating look into the early success of a play which continues to be popular today. Season 1 of the SpotLight series looks at Alan Ayckbourn plays premiered at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, between 1959 and 1976, Season 2 at plays premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round, Scarborough, from 1976 to 1995 and Season 3 at plays premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, from 1996 to the present day. Researched, written and narrated by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. and adapted from the SpotLight video series on the Ayckbourn YouTube Channel. The SpotLight series is produced by SiMo in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives. Royalty-free music by BenSound (www.bensound.com) A SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

    13 min
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SpotLight on Ayckbourn takes an in-depth look at Alan Ayckbourn's plays, looking behind the scenes of their creation and original productions. Alan Ayckbourn's Archivist, Simon Murgatroyd, presents fascinating insights into some of the playwright's most significant works, drawing exclusively on material held in the Ayckbourn Archive at the Borthwick Institute for Archives in York. From inspiration to writing, rehearsals to productions, world premiere to West End premiere, SpotLight on Ayckbourn offers a fascinating look at the plays of Alan Ayckbourn. Researched, written and presented by Simon Murgatroyd M.A. A SiMo production in association with Haydonning Ltd and the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

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