Untitled Farce (2005)

World Premiere: 13 August 2005
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough

Play Description: Grey Play
Published / Available to Stage: No

Short Synopsis: A one act, unfinished farce written to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.

The Grey Plays are acknowledged miscellaneous minor pieces by Alan Ayckbourn, which have received limited performance but have never been published, are not available for production and are not included in the official canon of Ayckbourn plays.

History

Untitled Farce is unique in Alan Ayckbourn's playwriting canon. It has received just one professional performance, directed by Alan Ayckbourn and featuring the Stephen Joseph Theatre company, and Alan has said it will never be staged again.

The one act farce was presented as the conclusion of the week long celebration of the Stephen Joseph Theatre's 50th anniversary, Fifty Years New. Billed as the 'big surprise!', the play was presented on Saturday 13 August in the second half of the evening's entertainment and offered a unique end to the week of celebrations. The play, believed to have been written specifically for the night, was performed on the book by Alan's resident company and had been rehearsed during the afternoon.

The farcical plot revolves around the recently married Sir Randolph who is preparing for an important dinner with a government minister. Matters are complicated by an incriminating letter, his wife dressed as a maid, the arrival of an old friend with problems of his own, a disastrously ill-conceived identity-change plan, the unexpected arrival of an old flame and a rather enthusiastic security officer.

The play is also an exceptionally rare foray into pure farce for the playwright as he considered at the point he wrote Untitled Farce, that he had only written one true full-length farce, Taking Steps, which premiered in 1979 at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round.

Premiere Production Details (2005)

Premiere: 13 August 2005
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough

Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Stage Manager: Dawn Erica Dyson
Technician: Ben Vickers

Character
Sir Randolph
Sage
Jemima
Willie
Marigold
Hilary
Marigold
Pamela
Bodyguard

Actor
Terence Booth
Neil Grainger
Clare Swinburne
John Branwell
Eileen Battye
Laura Doddington
Becky Hindley
Laura Doddington
Sam Taylor

Untitled Farce (2005)

History

Premiere Production Details (2005)

Further Reading