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
Character
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
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
Character
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

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
Character
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

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
Character
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

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
Character
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
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.