Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre: 1967

This page contains a more detailed guide to significant events concerning Scarborough's Theatre in the Round at the Library (abbreviated to the Library Theatre on this page) in 1967.

1967

  • With funding restored by Scarborough Town Council, professional theatre resumes at the Library Theatre with a 14 week summer season; the longest summer season yet held at the venue.
  • Appointed by the board of Scarborough Theatre Trust, Rodney Wood is named Director of Productions for the season; Rodney had previously worked with Stephen Joseph. The position is unpaid but includes accommodation for the summer.
  • The search for a new, permanent home for the company begins in earnest during 1967 with attention mainly focused on buildings within Scarborough suitable for conversion to a theatre-in-the-round. One of the first serious contenders is St Paul's Church, next to Scarborough Library.
  • 29 March: Alan Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking opens at the Duke Of York's Theatre in London; this is the first Library Theatre play to transfer to the West End. A special agreement is made with Alan Ayckbourn's agent that any Ayckbourn play which opens in London within four years of Scarborough, will see the company receive 1% of gross box office receipts for two years.
  • 10 July: The summer season opens with the world premiere of Alan Plater's Hop, Step And Jump.
  • July: A small charge is made for programmes at the Library Theatre for the first time since it opened in 1955; the charge is 6d.
  • 13 July: World premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's The Sparrow; the company includes Robert Powell, the professional stage debut of John Nettles and Alan Ayckbourn's future second wife Heather Stoney.
  • 28 July: Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Theatre Trust Ltd is incorporated as a company to run the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent. This essentially marks the end of Stephen Joseph's pioneering Studio Theatre Ltd company.
  • 31 August: The Stage reports it has been a record year for audiences at the Library Theatre with capacity running at more than 80% throughout the season.
  • 15 September: Tom Laughton - brother of actor Charles Laughton - joins the board of Scarborough Theatre Trust. Tom plays a key role in trying to locate a new home for the company and was the first to suggest the Claremont building on Castle Road (formerly a print works) as a site suitable for conversion.
  • 18 September: Scarborough Theatre Trust is registered as a charitable trust.
  • 23 September: The Library Theatre company is featured in a BBC radio broadcast of J.B. Priestley's Eden End, directed by Alfred Bradley; the play had been presented at the Library Theatre from 27 July.
  • 5 October: Stephen Joseph dies at Longwestgate, Scarborough, aged 46.
  • 19 November: Scarborough Theatre Trust is told that proposals to convert St Paul's Church into a theatre had been rejected. It is agreed any future home of the theatre "should bear the name of Stephen Joseph."
Click here to go to 1968.

Article by Simon Murgatroyd. Copyright: Haydonning Ltd. Please do not reproduce this article without permission of the copyright holder.