Joking Apart: Significant Productions
This page contains details of significant productions of Alan Ayckbourn's Joking Apart, such as the world and London premieres as well as Ayckbourn-directed revivals. It is not a complete list of productions given how frequently it has been performed by professionals and amateur companies around the world.
World Premiere (1978)
First performance: 12 January 1978
Premiere: 12 January 1978
Final performance: 4 February 1978
Venue: Theatre In The Round at Westwood, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: David Millard
Costumes: Frances Upton
Stage Manager: Janet Fox
Deputy Stage Manager: Christopher Gray
Assistant Stage Manager: Dee Marsden
Assistant Stage Manager: Derek Scriminger
Premiere: 12 January 1978
Final performance: 4 February 1978
Venue: Theatre In The Round at Westwood, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: David Millard
Costumes: Frances Upton
Stage Manager: Janet Fox
Deputy Stage Manager: Christopher Gray
Assistant Stage Manager: Dee Marsden
Assistant Stage Manager: Derek Scriminger
Character
Richard
Anthea
Hugh
Louise
Sven
Olive
Brian
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Richard
Anthea
Hugh
Louise
Sven
Olive
Brian
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Actor
John Arthur
Alison Skilbeck
Malcolm Hebden
Shelagh Stuttle
Robert Austin
Annette Badland
Robin Herford
Fiona Mathieson
John Arthur
Alison Skilbeck
Malcolm Hebden
Shelagh Stuttle
Robert Austin
Annette Badland
Robin Herford
Fiona Mathieson
Note: The original production at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round closed on 4 February before immediately departing on a UK tour. The production was then revived on 23 May 1978 at the venue to play in repertory during the summer season with a slight cast alteration.
Revival (1978)
First performance: 23 May 1978
Premiere: 23 May 1978
Final performance: 30 September 1978
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: David Millard
Costumes: Frances Upton
Stage Manager: Janet Fox
Deputy Stage Manager: Christopher Gray
Assistant Stage Manager: Dee Marsden
Assistant Stage Manager: Derek Scriminger
Premiere: 23 May 1978
Final performance: 30 September 1978
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: David Millard
Costumes: Frances Upton
Stage Manager: Janet Fox
Deputy Stage Manager: Christopher Gray
Assistant Stage Manager: Dee Marsden
Assistant Stage Manager: Derek Scriminger
Character
Richard
Anthea
Hugh
Louise
Sven
Olive
Brian
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Richard
Anthea
Hugh
Louise
Sven
Olive
Brian
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Actor
John Arthur
Alison Skilbeck
Malcolm Hebden
Shelagh Stuttle
Robert Austin
Heather Stoney
Robin Herford
Fiona Mathieson
John Arthur
Alison Skilbeck
Malcolm Hebden
Shelagh Stuttle
Robert Austin
Heather Stoney
Robin Herford
Fiona Mathieson
London Premiere (1979)
First performance: 7 March 1979
Premiere: 7 March 1979
Final performance: 7 July 1979
Venue: The Globe Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Alan Tagg
Lighting: Richard Pilbrow
Costumes: Lindy Hemming
Premiere: 7 March 1979
Final performance: 7 July 1979
Venue: The Globe Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Alan Tagg
Lighting: Richard Pilbrow
Costumes: Lindy Hemming
Character
Richard
Anthea
Hugh
Louise
Sven
Olive
Brian
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Richard
Anthea
Hugh
Louise
Sven
Olive
Brian
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Actor
Christopher Cazenove
Alison Steadman
Julian Fellowes
Marcia Warren
Robert Austin
Jennifer Piercey
John Price
Diane Bull
Christopher Cazenove
Alison Steadman
Julian Fellowes
Marcia Warren
Robert Austin
Jennifer Piercey
John Price
Diane Bull
Revival (2002)
First performance: 11 July 2002
Premiere: 16 July 2002
Final performance: 7 September 2002
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Roger Glossop
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Costumes: Christine Wall
Music: John Pattison
Stage Manager: Dawn Erica Dyson
Deputy Stage Manager: Corrie Jamie Cooper
Assistant Stage Manager: Shane Thom
Premiere: 16 July 2002
Final performance: 7 September 2002
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Roger Glossop
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Costumes: Christine Wall
Music: John Pattison
Stage Manager: Dawn Erica Dyson
Deputy Stage Manager: Corrie Jamie Cooper
Assistant Stage Manager: Shane Thom
Character
Richard
Anthea
Louise
Hugh
Brian
Sven
Olive
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Richard
Anthea
Louise
Hugh
Brian
Sven
Olive
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Actor
David Leonard
Fiona Mollison
Susie Blake
Adrian McLoughlin
Kenneth Price
Paul Raffield
Rachel Atkins
Georgina Freeman
David Leonard
Fiona Mollison
Susie Blake
Adrian McLoughlin
Kenneth Price
Paul Raffield
Rachel Atkins
Georgina Freeman
Revival (2018)
First performance: 26 July 2018
Premiere: 31 July 2018
Final performance: 4 October 2018
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Casting: Sarah Hughes
Stage Manager: Brian Perkins
Deputy Stage Manager: Sarah Rhodes-Cannings
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Lang
Premiere: 31 July 2018
Final performance: 4 October 2018
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Casting: Sarah Hughes
Stage Manager: Brian Perkins
Deputy Stage Manager: Sarah Rhodes-Cannings
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Lang
Character
Richard
Anthea
Louise
Hugh
Brian
Sven
Olive
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Richard
Anthea
Louise
Hugh
Brian
Sven
Olive
Melody / Mandy / Mo /
Debbie
Actor
Laurence Pears
Frances Marshall
Louise Shuttleworth
Jamie Baughan
Richard Stacey
Leigh Symonds
Liz Jadav
Naomi Petersen
Laurence Pears
Frances Marshall
Louise Shuttleworth
Jamie Baughan
Richard Stacey
Leigh Symonds
Liz Jadav
Naomi Petersen
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.