Scarborough A - Z
The A - Z is an alphabetical guide to people, places and events relating to theatre - with an emphasis on theatre in the round - in Scarborough. This is an ongoing project, produced in association with the Encyclopaedia at www.alanayckbourn.net with new content being regularly added. To begin exploring, click on a letter in the right hand column below.C
A - Z
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Campton, David: Playwright and contemporary of Alan Ayckbourn. Campton (1924 - 2006) was the first resident playwright with Studio Theatre Ltd when Alan Ayckbourn joined Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre in 1957. The pair became the main-stay writers for the company and frequently wrote each other ludicrous roles. It is often wrongly assumed Alan Ayckbourn was Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre's first resident playwright.
Capitol Theatre: A former ciné-variety theatre on Albermarle Crescent which opened in 1929. Despite having a stage, fly-tower, dressing rooms and orchestra put, it was rarely used as a theatre and predominantly as a cinema. It was taken over by Classic Cinemas in the mid-1970’s and re-named Classic Cinema. In 1977, it was taken over by Mecca Bingo Ltd and become a Mecca Bingo Club which still operate there today.
Castle Road Gaol: The former Scarborough prison - later a courthouse - on Castle Road was considered for conversion as a potential home for theatre in the round during the early 1970s. Built c.1840 and operating as a prison until 1866. It then served as a Court House and Police Station until 1971 and it was demolished during the late 1970s (TBC) and is now the site of a car park.
Central School: A former school in Scarborough on Trafalgar Street considered for conversion as a potential home for theatre in the round during the 1970s. It was demolished in the early 1970s.
Charles Adnams Grand Circus: See Opera House.
Cheeseman, Peter: Peter Cheeseman (1932 - 2010) was the Artistic Director of the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent - now the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme - for 35 years from its opening in 1962. The Victoria was the UK's first permanent theatre in the round and was founded by Stephen Joseph. Alan Ayckbourn was a founding member of the Victoria Theatre alongside Peter between 1962 and 1964. Prior to founding the Victoria, Peter worked at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, for a season.
Christ Church: A former church in Scarborough on Vernon Road considered for conversion as a potential home for theatre in the round during the 1970s. It was consecrated in 1928 and demolished in 1979. It was also, notably, where the writer Anne Brontë's funeral was conducted in 1849 although she was then buried in St Mary's Church. It is now the site of an Iceland store.
Christian Science Church: See Lawrence House.
Circle of Love: The play, written by Eleanor D Glaser, which opened Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, on 14 July 1955. Directed by the company's founder, Stephen Joseph, this was a new work and notable for being by a female writer (extremely rare at the time); in fact three of the season's four plays were new works written by female playwrights.
Cinemas: There have been a multitude of cinemas in Scarborough over the decades - many converted from theatres or running as both cinema and theatre. The list includes: The Arcadia; Cameo Cinema, Capitol Theatre; Electric Palace De Luxe; Futurist Super Cinema; Gaiety Theatre; Grand Cinema; Hollywood Plaza Cinema; Londesborough Theatre; Odeon; Olympia Picture Palace; Palladium Picture Palace, People's Palace and Aquarium; the Picture House; the Picturedome; Pier Pavilion Theatre; the Royal Opera House; Theatre Royal Cinema; YMCA Theatre. As of writing (2023), Scarborough's operational cinemas are the Hollywood Plaza and The McCarthy in the Stephen Joseph Theatre. In 2024, it is intended they will be joined by a multi-screen complex in the Brunswick Centre.
Claremont Building: A former Methodist Church, later converted to the former Pindar Printworks in Scarborough on Castle Road. It was considered for conversion as a potential home for theatre in the round during the late 1960s and is now the Elim Pentecostal Church Christian Centre.
Classic Cinema: See Capitol Theatre.
Comer, Jodie: Award-winning actress who made her professional stage debut at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, in 2010 in the production The Price of Everything.
Concert Room: The room at Scarborough Library which housed Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, from 1955 to 1976. Formerly known as the Harrison Room, this room was home to both Alan Ayckbourn's professional writing and directorial debuts as well as the world premieres of 17 of his plays including acclaimed works such as Relatively Speaking, Absurd Person Singular and The Norman Conquests.
Conversations With Ayckbourn: A collection of interviews between Ian Watson and Alan Ayckbourn. This was the first book of note published about the playwright. A hardback edition was first published in 1981 by MacDonald Futura and a revised and expanded softcover second edition was published by Faber in 1988.
The Courthouse: See Castle Road Gaol.
The Crafty Art Of Playmaking: Alan Ayckbourn's first - and thus far, only - non-fiction book offering insight and advice into writing and directing for the stage. First published by Faber in 2002.
The Crescent: During the early 1970s, The Crescent was considered as a site for a potential home for theatre in the round. A vacant space - still there to this day - above Valley Road was considered but eventually abandoned following strong opposition by nearby residents.
The Scarborough: A - Z section of the website is created in collaboration with Alan Ayckbourn's Official Website. Original research is by Simon Murgatroyd and copyright of the author. Please credit this website if reproducing the information.