Way Upstream: Significant Productions
This page contains details of significant productions of Alan Ayckbourn's Way Upstream, such as the world and London premieres as well as Ayckbourn-directed revivals. It is not a complete list of productions of Way Upstream given how frequently Alan Ayckbourn's plays are performed by professionals and amateur companies around the world.
World Premiere (1981)
First performance: 2 October 1981
World premiere: 2 October 1981
Final performance: 16 January 1982
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Water Effects: Water Sculptures Ltd
Stage Manager: Isobel Nimmo
Deputy Stage Manager: Eric Lumsden
Assistant Stage Manager: Sue Merry
World premiere: 2 October 1981
Final performance: 16 January 1982
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Water Effects: Water Sculptures Ltd
Stage Manager: Isobel Nimmo
Deputy Stage Manager: Eric Lumsden
Assistant Stage Manager: Sue Merry
Character
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Actor
Robin Bowerman
Carole Boyd
Robin Herford
Lavinia Bertram
Susan Uebel
Graeme Eton
Gillian Bevan
Robin Bowerman
Carole Boyd
Robin Herford
Lavinia Bertram
Susan Uebel
Graeme Eton
Gillian Bevan
North American Premiere (1982)
First performance: 24 February 1982
Final performance: 31 March 1982
Venue: Alley Theatre, Houston
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Final performance: 31 March 1982
Venue: Alley Theatre, Houston
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Character
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Actor
Robin Bowerman
Carole Boyd
Robin Herford
Lavinia Bertram
Susan Uebel
Graeme Eton
Gillian Bevan
Robin Bowerman
Carole Boyd
Robin Herford
Lavinia Bertram
Susan Uebel
Graeme Eton
Gillian Bevan
Note: This was the company from the original production at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough, which toured to the Alley Theatre, Houston, for a two month residency with Way Upstream and a new production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends.
London Premiere (1982)
First performance: 14 August 1982
(postponed from 12 August)
Premiere: 4 October 1982
(postponed from 18 August)
Final performance: 19 April 1983
Venue: The Lyttelton, National Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Alan Tagg
Lighting: William Bundy
Music: Paul Todd
(postponed from 12 August)
Premiere: 4 October 1982
(postponed from 18 August)
Final performance: 19 April 1983
Venue: The Lyttelton, National Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Alan Tagg
Lighting: William Bundy
Music: Paul Todd
Character
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Actor
Tony Haygarth
Susan Fleetwood
Jim Norton
Julie Legrand
Jane Downs
James Laurenson
Nina Thomas
Tony Haygarth
Susan Fleetwood
Jim Norton
Julie Legrand
Jane Downs
James Laurenson
Nina Thomas
Tour (1984)
First performance: 25 June 1984 (to be confirmed)
Venue: The Grand Theatre, Leeds (to be confirmed)
Staging: End-stage
Co-Director: Val May
Co-Director: Christopher Masters
Design: Saul Radomsky
Lighting: Richard M. Parker
Producer: Duncan C. Weldon
Venue: The Grand Theatre, Leeds (to be confirmed)
Staging: End-stage
Co-Director: Val May
Co-Director: Christopher Masters
Design: Saul Radomsky
Lighting: Richard M. Parker
Producer: Duncan C. Weldon
Character
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Actor
Peter Forbes
Sarah Parish
Jason Hughes
Jill Halfpenny
Nicola Sloane
Jason Durr
Emily Laing
Peter Forbes
Sarah Parish
Jason Hughes
Jill Halfpenny
Nicola Sloane
Jason Durr
Emily Laing
Revival (2003)
First performance: 17 October 2003
Premiere: 22 October 2003
Final performance: 15 November 2003
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Music: John Pattison
Fight Director: Christopher Main
Water Effects: Water Sculptures Ltd
Stage Manager: Dawn Erica Dyson
Deputy Stage Manager: Emily Thurlby
Assistant Stage Manager: Sarah Caldwell
Premiere: 22 October 2003
Final performance: 15 November 2003
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Music: John Pattison
Fight Director: Christopher Main
Water Effects: Water Sculptures Ltd
Stage Manager: Dawn Erica Dyson
Deputy Stage Manager: Emily Thurlby
Assistant Stage Manager: Sarah Caldwell
Character
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Actor
John Branwell
Fiona Mollison
Matthew Cottle
Saskia Butler
Suzy Aitchison
Stephen Beckett
Maeve Larkin
John Branwell
Fiona Mollison
Matthew Cottle
Saskia Butler
Suzy Aitchison
Stephen Beckett
Maeve Larkin
Revival (2011)
First performance: 8 September 2011
Final performance: 8 October 2011
Venue: Salisbury Playhouse
Staging: Traverse
Director: Lucy Pitman- Wallace
Design: Janet Bird
Lighting: Richard G Jones
Music: Paul Dodgson
Fight Director: Terry King
Assistant Director: Ellie Trevitt
Final performance: 8 October 2011
Venue: Salisbury Playhouse
Staging: Traverse
Director: Lucy Pitman- Wallace
Design: Janet Bird
Lighting: Richard G Jones
Music: Paul Dodgson
Fight Director: Terry King
Assistant Director: Ellie Trevitt
Character
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Actor
David Hounslow
Cate Hamer
Daniel Crowder
Sally Scott
Suzy Aitchison
Richard Trinder
Georgina White
David Hounslow
Cate Hamer
Daniel Crowder
Sally Scott
Suzy Aitchison
Richard Trinder
Georgina White
Revival (2015)
First performance: 23 April 2015
Final performance: 16 May 2015
Venue: Chichester Festival Theatre
Staging: Thrust
Director: Nadia Fall
Design: Ben Stones
Lighting: Tim Mitchell
Sound: Fergus O’Hare
Fight Director: Rachel Bown-Williams
Fight Director: Ruth Cooper-Brown
Assistant Director: Jake Smith
Final performance: 16 May 2015
Venue: Chichester Festival Theatre
Staging: Thrust
Director: Nadia Fall
Design: Ben Stones
Lighting: Tim Mitchell
Sound: Fergus O’Hare
Fight Director: Rachel Bown-Williams
Fight Director: Ruth Cooper-Brown
Assistant Director: Jake Smith
Character
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Keith
June, his wife
Alistair, his partner
Emma, his wife
Mrs Hatfield
Vince
Fleur
Actor
Peter Forbes
Sarah Parish
Jason Hughes
Jill Halfpenny
Nicola Sloane
Jason Durr
Emily Laing
Peter Forbes
Sarah Parish
Jason Hughes
Jill Halfpenny
Nicola Sloane
Jason Durr
Emily Laing
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.