Stephen Joseph Theatre: 2004

This page contains a more detailed guide to significant events concerning the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, in 2004.

2004

  • 11 March: Professional world premiere of John Godber's Fly Me To The Moon, the first co-production between the SJT and Hull Truck Theatre.
  • 13 - 24 April: The first Solos season is launched highlighting visiting solo productions in The McCarthy.
  • 4 May: Death of the SJT's archivist Bob Watson following the first night party of the world premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's play Drowning on Dry Land. The SJT archive is later renamed The Bob Watson Archive in his honour.
  • Spring: Jason Mullen appointed Theatre Manager
  • Spring: Serious consideration is given to a new Ayckbourn play being premiered at Scarborough Castle possibly in conjunction with a connected world premiere at the SJT. The feasibility of this is investigated and later revised to the possibility of staging John Gay's The Beggar's Opera in the Castle as a companion-piece to Alan Ayckbourn's revival of A Chorus of Disapproval. The idea is later abandoned.
  • 12 June: The first - and last - ComedyClub Night season is launched with Sol Bernstein, Spencer Brown and Andy Parsons.
  • 20 - 25 June: The fifth Ayckbourn and the Round theatre school.
  • 27 June: Scarborough Spa Orchestra performs at the SJT for the first time in its 94 year history.
  • 12 August: World premiere of Alan Ayckbourn's Private Fears in Public Places, written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn. This is a late addition to the schedule after Alan is inspired by the company for the world premiere of his play Drowning on Dry Land earlier in the year. Unusually, he writes a new play with this specific company in mind.
  • 6 October: Launch of a UK end-stage tour of Alan Ayckbourn's play Season's Greetings, directed by Alan Ayckbourn, in collaboration with the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford. Intended to launch a new regular touring collaboration - which never takes place again - the production is unusual in that it is never staged at the SJT as it is designed specifically for large proscenium arch venues.
  • 22 November: Death of playwright Stephen Mallatratt, who most famously adapted Susan Hill's novel The Woman in Black for the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round in 1987.
  • March:
  • Date TBC: Ian Wyatt is appointed Finance Administrator.
Article by and copyright of Simon Murgatroyd. Please do not reproduce this article without permission of the copyright holder.