A Round Town: Talks & Events
This website is part of a project to highlight theatre in the round's contribution to Scarborough's cultural heritage & history.To that end, Simon Murgatroyd - theatre historian and Alan Ayckbourn's archivist - gives regular talks in the Scarborough community about theatre in the round, its history in Scarborough and significant figures such as Alan Ayckbourn and Stephen Joseph. From the people to the companies, historical events to places and buildings, Simon is delving into theatre in the round and its place in the town.
Simon also hopes to forge links with organisations around the town in order to emphasise the rich cultural contribution that theatre in the round made to Scarborough in its formative decades. To contact Simon about talks, visit his website here.
The Ayckbourn Collection at Scarborough Art Gallery
Items drawn from The Ayckbourn Collection relating to Alan Ayckbourn, his mentor Stephen Joseph and the early history of theatre in the round in Scarborough are currently on display at Scarborough Art Gallery.The Ayckbourn Collection display consists of approximately 30 pieces relating to Alan Ayckbourn, his mentor Stephen Joseph and the formative years of theatre in the round in Scarborough.
The Ayckbourn Collection was donated to Scarborough Museums and Galleries by Sir Alan and Lady Ayckbourn and their archivist, Simon Murgatroyd, in 2023 with the support of The Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York.
The Ayckbourn Collection is now on at Scarborough Art Gallery, which is open from 10am to 5pm every day except Monday (plus Bank Holidays). Entrance is free with a £5 annual pass, which also allows unlimited free entry to the Rotunda Museum.
Talks with Simon Murgatroyd M.A.
◦ House & Garden at 25
Details: Tuesday 9 July at 2pm, Italian Gardens, South Cliff, Scarborough
Price: Free - Places limited and must be reserved in advance. More details soon.
Simon Murgatroyd celebrates the 25th anniversary of Alan Ayckbourn's wildly ambitious duology House & Garden against the backdrop of Scarborough's beautiful Italian Gardens.
Details: Tuesday 9 July at 2pm, Italian Gardens, South Cliff, Scarborough
Price: Free - Places limited and must be reserved in advance. More details soon.
Simon Murgatroyd celebrates the 25th anniversary of Alan Ayckbourn's wildly ambitious duology House & Garden against the backdrop of Scarborough's beautiful Italian Gardens.
◦ Artistically Directed
Details: Thursday 1 August at 10.30am, Filey Library and streaming
Price: Free - Places limited and must be reserved in advance. More details soon.
Following last year's successful talk at Filey Library, Simon Murgatroyd continues his look into the career of Alan Ayckbourn, here looking at his role of Artistic Director with the Scarborough company for 37 years.
Details: Thursday 1 August at 10.30am, Filey Library and streaming
Price: Free - Places limited and must be reserved in advance. More details soon.
Following last year's successful talk at Filey Library, Simon Murgatroyd continues his look into the career of Alan Ayckbourn, here looking at his role of Artistic Director with the Scarborough company for 37 years.
◦ Everything Including The Kitchen Sink
Details: Friday 13 September at 7pm, Stephen Joseph Theatre
Price: £20. Click here for details and to book.
The world premiere of a film of Alan Ayckbourn in intimate conversation preceded by a talk with Simon Murgatroyd celebrating the milestone of the playwriter's 90th play and the phenomenal writing career which preceded it.
Details: Friday 13 September at 7pm, Stephen Joseph Theatre
Price: £20. Click here for details and to book.
The world premiere of a film of Alan Ayckbourn in intimate conversation preceded by a talk with Simon Murgatroyd celebrating the milestone of the playwriter's 90th play and the phenomenal writing career which preceded it.
◦ Page to Stage - The Woman in Black
Details: Tuesday 29 October at 6.30pm, Beeforth's Hive, Scarborough
Price: Free - Places limited and must be reserved in advance. More details soon.
Simon Murgatroyd celebrates the acclaimed book and play The Woman In Black and its journey in 1987 from the pages of Scarborough-born author Susan Hill's novella to the stage of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round. A Halloween treat!
Details: Tuesday 29 October at 6.30pm, Beeforth's Hive, Scarborough
Price: Free - Places limited and must be reserved in advance. More details soon.
Simon Murgatroyd celebrates the acclaimed book and play The Woman In Black and its journey in 1987 from the pages of Scarborough-born author Susan Hill's novella to the stage of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round. A Halloween treat!
Videos / Podcasts / Other Projects
◦ Ayckbourn at the Library Theatre: A Talk with Simon Murgatroyd M.A.A recording of Simon Murgatroyd's talk at Scarborough Library looking at Alan Ayckbourn's connection with Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre between 1957 and 1976 in which he forged his first links with the theatre company he would have a lifelong association with.
Link: YouTube
◦ Scarborough Spotlight Podcast: Simon Murgatroyd
Alan Ayckbourn's Archivist Simon Murgatroyd is interviewed for the 22 January 2024 edition of Scarborough Spotlight Podcast looking at his work and Alan Ayckbourn's relationship with Scarborough.
Link: Apple Podcasts / Spotify Podcasts
Bonus Episode: Apple Podcasts
◦ Ayckbourn's Gardens: A Talk with Simon Murgatroyd M.A.
A recording of Simon Murgatroyd's talk Ayckbourn's Gardens which took place in the Italian Gardens on Scarborough's South Cliff during July 2023. Simon talks about how and why Alan Ayckbourn uses gardens within his plays.
Link: The Ayckbourn YouTube Channel
◦ Alan Ayckbourn - From Actor to Artistic Director: A Talk with Simon Murgatroyd M.A.
A recording of Simon Murgatroyd's talk Alan Ayckbourn: From Actor to Artistic Director recorded at Filey Library in 2023 looking at the playwright's rise in the Theatre at the Round at the Library Theatre company from 1957 to 1972.
Link: The Ayckbourn YouTube Channel