Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre: 1956

This page contains a more detailed guide to significant events concerning Scarborough's Theatre in the Round at the Library in 1956.

1956

  • 2 January (circa): Scarborough Town Council is told Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre is "a very deserving cultural activity" by Councillor Walsh, chairman of the Libraries Committee.
  • 30 April: In an interview in the Yorkshire Evening News, Stephen Joseph notes: "We had a remarkably good season there [at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre] last year and I am confident that we shall do even better this year."
  • Stephen Joseph secures financial help from Scarborough Corporation, the Libraries Committee and the Arts Council of Great Britain for the summer season of at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.
  • June: The summer brochure advertises a double bill for week commencing 19 July consisting of Clifford Williams' The Disguises Of Arlecchino and Eleanor D. Glaser's Call The Selkie Home. It is actually produced as a triple bill with Tardieu's Office Of Information.
  • 6 June: The Scarborough Evening News reports the new season will see every seating row raised at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, improved lighting equipment and a better advertising campaign.
  • 12 July: The second season at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre opens with Father Matthew by Aubrey Collins.
  • 19 July: The second production of the season is a triple bill which includes the world premiere of Clifford William's The Disguises Of Arlecchino; Williams will go on to become one of the Royal Shakespeare Company's most acclaimed directors.
  • 2 August: World premiere of David Campton's Idol In The Sky. Although credited to David Campton, notes in the Stephen Joseph Papers held at the University Of Manchester indicate the play was originally written by Stephen Joseph under the title What Would Mildred Have Said. The archive notes the play was re-arranged by David Campton for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.
  • 7 September: The season closes with David Campton's Idol In The Sky; it is reported in the Leicester Mercury in 1957 that the season lost £500.
  • 9 September: The Sunday Club (Studio Theatre Club) season resumes at the Mahatma Gandhi Hall in London.
Article by and copyright of Simon Murgatroyd. Please do not reproduce this article without permission of the copyright holder.