Alan Ayckbourn: Published Contributions

The Contributions page highlights written contributions Alan Ayckbourn has made to publications by other authors as well as to theatre programmes. This list should not be considered definitive as a complete record of Alan Ayckbourn's contributions does not exist. It also does not include published interviews with or articles about Alan, details of which can found in the Interviews / Articles section.

Published Articles (chronological)

Young Elizabethan magazine
December 1954
First published work, a poem called Dawn

Relatively Speaking
Evans Bros, 1968, ISBN 0237494833
Article: Foreword

The Author magazine
1970 (issue unknown)
Article: Provincial Playwriting

Yorkshire Magazine
1972 (issue unknown)
Article: Beside The Seaside

The Norman Conquests
Chatto & Windus, 1975, ISBN 0701121033
Article: Preface

Three Plays
Chatto & Windus, 1977, ISBN 070112203X
Article: Preface

Over 21 magazine
1977 (issue unknown)
Article: My First Job

Amateur Stage magazine
1978 (issue unknown)
Article: Playing Comedy And Farce

Amateur Stage magazine
1978 (unknown)
Article: Writing The Norman Conquests

Joking Apart And Other Plays
Chatto & Windus, 1979, ISBN 0701124024
Article: Preface

The Happiness Book
Pan Books, 1980, ISBN 0-330-26208-4
Includes a paragraph on happiness

Sisterly Feelings & Taking Steps
Chatto & Windus, 1981, ISBN 0701125616
Article: Preface

Stephen Joseph: Theatre Pioneer & Provocateur
Bloomsbury, 2013, ISBN 9781408185674
Article: Foreword

How To Manage
Heinemann, 1983, ISBN 9780434922475
Article: How To Manage

Greenwich Theatre Newsletter
1984
Article: Theatrical Confessions

My Favourite Poem
Corgi, 1985, ISBN 0552127132
Reprints favourite poem (AA Milne's March Time)

Occasional Poets
Viking, 1986, ISBN 0670802093
Article: Seven Fragments (seven short poems)

Radio York Magazine
1988 (issue unknown)
Article: Ayckbourn's Airwaves

Sunday Telegraph
21 February 1988
Article: Ayckbourn's National Service.

The Times
12 November 1988
Article: Who Should Pay The Player

Sisterly Feelings
Longman, 1991, ISBN 058201638X
Article: Writing About Sisters.

Absurd Person Singular
Longman, 1991, ISBN 058201638X
Article: The Writer On Writing

The Independent On Sunday
26 July 1992
Article: How We Met (with Roger Glossop)

The Observer
6 March 1994
Discusses working with Harold Pinter

Alan Ayckbourn: Plays 1
Faber & Faber, 1995, ISBN 0571176801
Article: Foreword

Life In The Farce Lane
Andre Deutsch, 1995, ISBN 9780233989365
Article: Farce

Alan Ayckbourn: Plays 2
Faber & Faber, 1998, ISBN 0571194575
Article: Foreword

Newsround
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2000
Article: A Word On Whenever

The Times
30 September 2000
Article: Culture 2000

Lighting Techniques for Theatre In The Round
Entertainment Tech., 2000, ISBN 1904031013
Article: Foreword

Damsels In Distress
Faber & Faber, 2002, ISBN 057121648X
Article: Foreword

Orvin - Champion Of Champions
Faber & Faber, 2002, ISBN 0571221718
Article: Foreword

Auditions Speeches for Young Actors
A & C Black, 2002, ISBN 978-0713661606
Article: Out On Your Own

Stage Management: The Essential Handbook
Nick Hearn Books, 2003, ISBN 9781854597342
Article: Foreword

Gambon: A Life in Acting
Nick Hearn Books, 2004, ISBN 1-85459-773-6
Article: Conversation About Gambon

Plays For Children 2
Faber & Faber, 2004, ISBN 0571220800
Article: Foreword

Alan Ayckbourn: Plays 3
Faber & Faber, 2005, ISBN 0571226884
Article: Foreword

White Truffle Yorkshire Puddings
La Trifula, 2005, ISBN 9780954975302
Article: Foreword

Remembering Arthur Miller
Methuen, 2005, ISBN 0413775526
Article: Alan Ayckbourn

Acting Characters (first edition)
Methuen, 2006, ISBN 0713675861
Article: Foreword

Newsround
September 2009, Stephen Joseph Theatre
Article: SJT Memories

Daily Telegraph
26 April 2010
Article: Heaven On Earth

Alan Ayckbourn: Plays 4
Faber & Faber, 2011, ISBN 978-0571274611
Article: Foreword

Alan Ayckbourn: Plays 5
Faber & Faber, 2011, ISBN 978-0571274628
Article: Foreword

Who Was Betty?
Bettys & Taylors, 2012, ISBN 9780955091438
Article: Who Was Betty?

Interactions
Roast Books, 2012, ISBN 9781906894115
Article: Random Thoughts After A Stroke.

St Catherine's, Oxford: A Pen Portrait
Third Millenium, 2012, ISBN 9781906507381
Holding the Chair Of Contemporary Theatre

Every Picture Tells A Story
North Yorkshire County Council, 2013
Foreword

Stephen Joseph: Theatre Pioneer & Provocateur
Bloomsbury, 2013, ISBN 9781408185674
Foreword

Alan Ayckbourn: Plays 6
Faber, 2018, ISBN 978-0571348282
Article: Foreword

Programme / Playbill Articles

Gaslight
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1961
Article: Gaslight

David Copperfield
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1961
Article: David Copperfield

Two For The Seesaw
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1961
Article: Two For The Seesaw

The Caretaker
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1962
Article: The Caretaker

A Thief In Time
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1962
Article: A Thief In Time

Christmas V Mastermind
Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, 1962
Article: Christmas V Mastermind

Standing Room Only
Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, 1963
Article: Standing Room Only

Relatively Speaking
Theatre Royal, Windsor, 1968
Article: Relatively Speaking

Mr Whatnot
Civic Theatre, Leeds, 1968
Article: Mr Whatnot

How The Other Half Loves
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1969
Article: How The Other Half Loves

Mr Whatnot
Castle Theatre, Farnham, 1969
Article: Mr Whatnot

The Story So Far...
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1970
Article: The Story So Far...

Relatively Speaking
Civic Theatre, Leeds, 1970
Article: Relatively Speaking

The Norman Conquests
Library Theatre, 1973
Article: A Weekend View Of The Norman Conquest

How The Other Half Loves
Theatre Royal, Windsor, 1973
Article: How The Other Half Loves

The Norman Conquests
Greenwich Theatre, London, 1974
Article: The Norman Conquests

All The Best People
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1976
Article: 21 Years Old!

Just Between Ourselves
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1976
Article: First Plays And How To Cope

Just Between Ourselves
Library Theatre, Scarborough, 1976
Article: Happiness Is A Company

Mr Whatnot
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1976
Article: Mr Whatnot

Relatively Speaking
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1977
Article: Relatively Speaking

Bedroom Farce
National Theatre, London, 1977
Article: John Heilpern talks to Alan Ayckbourn

Family Circles
Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, 1978
Article: Family Circles

Sisterly Feelings
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1979
Article: Sisterly Feelings

Taking Steps
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1979
Article: Taking Steps

Intimate Exchanges
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1982
Article: Intimate Exchanges

Intimate Exchanges
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1982
Article: Characters

Way Upstream
National Theatre, London, 1982
Article: The Author Talks To The Director

It Could Be Any One Of Us
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1983
Article: It Could Be Any One Of Us

A Chorus Of Disapproval
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1984
Article: A Chorus Of Disapproval

Tons Of Money
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1985
Article: Tons Of Money

Time And Time Again
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1986
Article: Time And Time Again

The Revengers’ Comedies
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1989
Article: Ayckbourn At 50

Callisto 5
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1990
Article: Dedication

Time Of My Life
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1992
Article: Time Was...

Dreams From A Summer House
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1992
Article: Dreams From A Summer House

Mr A’s Amazing Maze Plays
National Theatre, London, 1993
Article: Live And Dangerous

Communicating Doors
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1994
Article: A Little Thing Entitled...

Just Between Ourselves
Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, 1996
Article: Twenty Years At Westwood

By Jeeves
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 1996
Article: Meeting With A Living Legend

By Jeeves
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 1996
Article: Dreams Can Come True

Absent Friends
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 1997
Article: What’s The Time?

A Doll’s House
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 1998
Article: Why Ibsen?

The Forest
National Theatre, London, 1999
Article: The Forest

House & Garden
National Theatre, London, 2000
Article: House & Garden

GamePlan
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2001
Article: Damsels In Distress

GamePlan
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2001
Article: Schoolday Memories

FlatSpin
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2001
Article: FlatSpin

RolePlay
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2001
Article: It’s My Party (And I’ll Untie If I Want To)

Joking Apart
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2002
Article: Joking Apart

Damsels In Distress
Gala Theatre, Durham, 2002
Article: Damsels In Distress

Damsels In Distress
Vaudeville Theatre, London, 2002
Article: Damsels In Distress

Snake In The Grass
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2002
Article: Things That Go Bump

Sugar Daddies
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2003
Article: The Gentle Art Of Self Deception

Private Fears In Public Places
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2004
Article: Private Fears In Public Places

Absent Friends
Salisbury Playhouse, 2007
Article: About You And Your Work

My Wonderful Day
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2009
Article: Welcome To Winnie’s World

Communicating Doors
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2010
Article: Communicating Doors

Life Of Riley
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2010
Article: In Order Of Non-Appearance

Neighbourhood Watch
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2011
Article: A Playwright’s Guide To Survival

Woman In Mind
Brazil, 2011
Article: Woman In Mind

Absent Friends
Harold Pinter Theatre, London, 2012
Article: In Sympathy

Surprises
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, 2012
Article: Surprises

Ayckbourn 2013 Season
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, 2013
Articles: The Company Spirit; Arrivals & Departures

Confusions
Stephen Joseph Theatre, 2015 / Bloomsbury 2015
Article: A Word From The Writer & Director

The Karaoke Theatre Company
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, 2016
Interior content

Henceforward…
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, 2016
Origins Of Life (according to the author)

Better Off Dead
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, 2018
Excerpt from Final Fanfare (Middlebrass 33)

Birthdays Past, Birthdays Present
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, 2019
Welcome to Ecraf
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.