Way Upstream: History
It would be apt to say that Way Upstream marked a watershed for Alan Ayckbourn as a writer. It is a play which steps away from the suburban house-bound settings Alan was well-known for and moves into a wider world; both in the context of Alan's writing and the play itself. It is the point from which it becomes increasingly difficult to pin Alan down to a specific genre of play-writing or even to say what a typical Ayckbourn play is. Much as the play heads upstream away from Alan's fictional town of Pendon into metaphorical and fantasy waters, so he begins to explore new territory as a playwright.The significance of Way Upstream within the context of Alan's writing was initially largely lost due to a certain notoriety. Firstly, the mis-judged accusation that Alan had ventured into the realms of Political writing when the play premiered and, secondly, when the play transferred to the National Theatre with a production that became well-known for its technical difficulties. Yet since the 2000s, the play has been re-evaluated and recognised for its departure from what came before; that it is a play that tackles morality, the nature of leadership, how ordinary people deal with extraordinary situations, the abuse of power and the nature of relationships in a marriage. It is a play ripe for interpretation which also celebrates the essential liveness and fun of theatre.
Behind The Scenes: Putting the V Into Evil
Way Upstream is undoubtedly Alan Ayckbourn's first play to consider the nature of evil; Vince is one of most evil characters in any Ayckbourn play and it is an almost elemental, unexplained evil.
Generally, when Alan deals with a character of evil intentions, he gives them a name beginning with V - Vince (Way Upstream), Vic (Man Of The Moment), Valda / Vader (A Word From Our Sponsor) and Val (Sugar Daddies).
Way Upstream is undoubtedly Alan Ayckbourn's first play to consider the nature of evil; Vince is one of most evil characters in any Ayckbourn play and it is an almost elemental, unexplained evil.
Generally, when Alan deals with a character of evil intentions, he gives them a name beginning with V - Vince (Way Upstream), Vic (Man Of The Moment), Valda / Vader (A Word From Our Sponsor) and Val (Sugar Daddies).
What definitely did not inspire the play was the political situation in the UK at the time. When the play premiered, a minority of critics accused it of being a political piece in favour of the recently formed Social Democratic Party.* The writer Michael Holt pinpoints The Guardian critic Robin Thornber as being critical in this perception with his quote: “Philosophically, it’s a plug for the soggy centrism of the Social Democratic Party.” In retrospect, Thornber’s critique tells us more about his own political leanings and his desire to imprint them on the play rather than his ability to make an incisive or objective critique of the playwright's actual intentions. Alan has always maintained he is an apolitical writer and is on frequent record for his lack of interest in party politics; he wasn't even voting at general elections during this period. He has suggested in the past the play was rather borne out of a disenchanted view of the country at the time and of the “nebulous hate” he perceived emerging in aspects of society. Way Upstream may well be about the state of the nation, but it is not about the political state of the nation.
One suspects that to a great many theatre-goers, the play is remembered best as the one on a boat; which is actually a vital element of the play's interest and success. Since Sisterly Feelings in 1989, Alan has emphasised in interviews how theatre should celebrate its unique live element - certainly when compared to television and film. Sisterly Feelings had introduced an element of chance and spontaneity into performance, Way Upstream introduced the spectacular into his plays. Even today, it is hard not to be impressed by Way Upstream when entering a theatre to see a boat floating on a flooded stage, accompanied by thunderous down-pours of rain. Way Upstream is an early example of what Alan would later term his 'event' plays.
Alan began writing the play at the start on 11 August 1981 with rehearsals scheduled to begin on 9 September - amended from the original scheduled date of 7 September. Alan showed the script to his designer Edward Lipscomb five weeks before the show was to open with the brief he needed a completely flooded stage, a cabin cruiser which could move through the water and a downpour. All in just four weeks before technical rehearsals began.
Behind The Scenes: Monsoons & Yoghurt Cups
The rain effect for the original production was created by Water Sculptures Ltd and was not tested until the day of the first performance. On the first test, accorded to designer Edward Lipscomb, "It rained so hard that the water bounced off the boat into the audience." As a result, the rain effect was cancelled on the opening night whilst the company was called in to adjust the effect.
Coincidentally, the first preview of Way Upstream at the National Theatre also saw the front row - this time with a paying audience - get soaked!
One unforeseen issue was the shower was not able to achieve a complete cut off after the rainstorm and would occasionally drip, destroying the illusion. The theatre's Master Carpenter Frank Matthews provided a simple and elegant solution. He attached a black-painted yoghurt cup beneath the shower head. This was operated by string and would cover the shower head following the rain storm, capturing any stray drips.
The rain effect for the original production was created by Water Sculptures Ltd and was not tested until the day of the first performance. On the first test, accorded to designer Edward Lipscomb, "It rained so hard that the water bounced off the boat into the audience." As a result, the rain effect was cancelled on the opening night whilst the company was called in to adjust the effect.
Coincidentally, the first preview of Way Upstream at the National Theatre also saw the front row - this time with a paying audience - get soaked!
One unforeseen issue was the shower was not able to achieve a complete cut off after the rainstorm and would occasionally drip, destroying the illusion. The theatre's Master Carpenter Frank Matthews provided a simple and elegant solution. He attached a black-painted yoghurt cup beneath the shower head. This was operated by string and would cover the shower head following the rain storm, capturing any stray drips.
Edward then turned to local boat-builder, Colin Wigglesworth, with the request for a boat without a bottom. Fortunately Colin's firm has a number of cabin cruiser moulds which had not actually been used since 1965; apparently much of their work was cleaning the moulds up for the casting! The boat was cast in fibreglass in three parts as it had to fit through an entrance of 4ft 9in doorway with the three parts being assembled in the actual stage space.
For the task of making the boat move, the problem was presented to Archer Industrial Systems of Scarborough, marking their first commission for theatre. They were asked for a design which could move a 19ft long boat forwards, backwards and sidewards - all within a fortnight and without any specifics such as dimensions of the boat or the weight. There was never a question of using a floating boat as - even if there had been enough water depth - it had to be completely under control at all times. The firm came up with a track onto which was built a trolly to enable the boat to move forwards and backwards. A large cog / revolving plate was then installed on the trolly which enabled to boat to slew. Movement was achieved by motors operated from the theatre's control room.
Within the stage space, the front row of seating had been taken out in order to build the structure which would hold the 'tank'; which - on the advice of Water Sculptures - consisted of heavy-duty plastic sheeting in order to give the 'tank' a limited flexibility rather than being rigid. This would allow for the 9½ inches of water needed to give the illusion of the boat moving without the mechanics being visible.
Onto this plastic sheeting, the track was laid alongside the isolated electrical system. On Sunday 28 September, the boat was brought into the theatre and assembled on the trolley and plate in situ. There were just five days until the show opened and nothing had been tested. The slewing motor blew almost immediately as it was too small and a new one was ordered, arriving on the Thursday as the show opened on the Friday.
During all this, the company has been rehearsing on blocks which only vaguely resembled the space they would perform in as dimensions for the boat kept changing as it was being constructed. The first time they worked on the actual boat was the Monday before the show opened on the Friday.
On Tuesday 30 September, the 'tank' was filled with water from two high power hoses organised by Yorkshire Water Authority. Once filled, a product called 'Murk' was added to the water to give a realistic impression of, obviously, murky water and which hid the mechanics of operating the boat. Water Sculptures Ltd had also installed the rain effect with a simple pump and pipe which ran over the stage to a shower; this would create the drenching rainstorm during the second act.
Behind The Scenes: Above & Beyond
Although only the first preview was cancelled during the world premiere run of Way Upstream in Scarborough, there was one close call. During a performance, one of the motors governing the boat's movement blew. Fortunately, the Managing Director of the company which had provided the motors was in the audience and Alan recalls him rolling up his suit trousers and shirt, taking off his jacket and wading into the pool to fix the engine and get the play running again! Alan had no idea why a member of the audience had waded into the water until stage management told him who he was.
Although only the first preview was cancelled during the world premiere run of Way Upstream in Scarborough, there was one close call. During a performance, one of the motors governing the boat's movement blew. Fortunately, the Managing Director of the company which had provided the motors was in the audience and Alan recalls him rolling up his suit trousers and shirt, taking off his jacket and wading into the pool to fix the engine and get the play running again! Alan had no idea why a member of the audience had waded into the water until stage management told him who he was.
Unfortunately from a critical perspective, the play’s ideas seem to have largely been lost in admiration for the technical achievement of the piece and the issue of the first full nudity seen on stage at the venue; the regional newspapers particularly obsessed with the idea that a naked body could appear in an Ayckbourn play on a Scarborough stage. It would only be in later years that the content of the play itself would genuinely be considered. With regard to the brief nudity at the climax of the play, Alan himself was unsure about its inclusion but found reassurance from his partner - now wife - Heather Stoney. She felt very strongly that the nudity was not misplaced nor could be viewed as gratuitous as - in the context of the play - it is an entirely innocent act and an affirming action for the characters.
Given all the work that was put into the production and the difficulties of staging it, it is perhaps odd to note a rather strange scheduling note. Way Upstream was advertised as running from 2 October to 7 November before returning to the stage for just five days from 12 to 16 January! It seems likely that given the autumn / winter brochure would have been published before Alan had even written the play, no-one would have given thought to how much of a challenge this would be, striking the not unsubstantial Making Tracks on Saturday evening and rebuilding the Way Upstream set, complete with water for the following Monday evening. Howwever unlikely this seems, Alan Ayckbourn does recall the company managed the two day turn round meaning Way Upstream was actually a repertory play for the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round.
Behind The Scenes: Full Frontal
The Scarborough Evening News took exception to the first full frontal male and female nudity at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round with a review headlined 'Nudity On Stage'.
The predominantly negative review by Lynne Curry noted "it seemed like nudity for the sake of it."
In response to this, the letters page - with the same headline again! - later featured two writers defending the decision and the 'delicacy' of the scene.
The Scarborough Evening News took exception to the first full frontal male and female nudity at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round with a review headlined 'Nudity On Stage'.
The predominantly negative review by Lynne Curry noted "it seemed like nudity for the sake of it."
In response to this, the letters page - with the same headline again! - later featured two writers defending the decision and the 'delicacy' of the scene.
Back in England, the subject of the play's inevitable transfer to London was the issue. Alan had been in contact with Peter Hall, Artistic Director of the National Theatre, about producing another play at the venue and Hall had the first option on his latest play, Way Upstream. However, Alan was so nervous about it - both in content and whether it would work technically - he would not let anyone read the play until after it opened in Scarborough. Alan need not have worried, Hall was very enthusiastic about Way Upstream and suggested it could be staged in The Olivier at the National Theatre from August 1982. Alan, having discussed it with his London designer Alan Tagg, suggested it might be better in the more compact Lyttelton auditorium, preferably in January 1983. He also initially hoped to cast Penelope Wilton as Emma, but this was not to be (Wilton had previously appeared as Annie in the Greenwich Theatre production of The Norman Conquests and as Abigail in the National Theatre's production of Sisterly Feelings).
As it was, Alan got his wish to stage it in the Lyttelton and - despite his hectic schedule - agreed to direct the play for August 1982. What followed gave the play an unexpected notoriety and the National Theatre many headlines of the wrong kind. With more resources and a larger budget (the budget for the boat alone was more than the entire production budget in Scarborough apparently), a more ambitious production was planned for the National. Alan Tagg designed a set which was more complex and impressive than the original, but which should not have been beyond the resources of the venue; if only that had been the case.
Behind The Scenes: Sea Sickness
One of the more unusual decisions for the National Theatre production was to control the boat from within the boat itself; in Scarborough the boat had been operated from the control room. As a result, three members of the technical team - Trish Bertram, Tony Godel and Tony Collins - were cooped up in the confined space of the boat with no exterior light for more than three hours per performance.
Initial problems led to complete disorientation and an inability to control the boat, but over the course of the run, the Evening Standard reported they had suffered "seasickness, backache, claustrophobia, disorientation, depression, loss of weight and pimples", working in conditions that "would make a coal-miner or even a galley slave wince".
One of the more unusual decisions for the National Theatre production was to control the boat from within the boat itself; in Scarborough the boat had been operated from the control room. As a result, three members of the technical team - Trish Bertram, Tony Godel and Tony Collins - were cooped up in the confined space of the boat with no exterior light for more than three hours per performance.
Initial problems led to complete disorientation and an inability to control the boat, but over the course of the run, the Evening Standard reported they had suffered "seasickness, backache, claustrophobia, disorientation, depression, loss of weight and pimples", working in conditions that "would make a coal-miner or even a galley slave wince".
The fibre-glass tank was the single biggest problem. It held 6,000 gallons of water and when the boat accidentally collided with it during previews, the tank split and dumped its water into the electrical switch room beneath the auditorium, closing the National Theatre. Other issues were no less notable but equally problematic. The boat itself was far larger and more complex than the Scarborough boat and all its movements were controlled by three people inside the boat, rather than off-stage. Unfortunately no-one had considered what three hours in an enclosed dark space would do to the stage crew. They quickly became disorientated and couldn't control the boat. This wasn't insurmountable, but the crew in the boat were notoriously never entirely happy with the situation. Added to this, the play was massively over-staffed due to the inflexibility of the theatre's working rules; at one point it was recorded that 52 people were involved in the interval stage change, which had been handled by just one person in Scarborough. Bigger was definitely not better in this case.
Behind The Scenes: High & Dry
The debacle of staging Way Upstream at the National Theatre was no doubt particularly frustrating for the press officer, Stephen Wood. He had been employed for the world premiere in Scarborough and had to deal with none of the issues which would plague the NT production.
Infamously, in an article on 5 September in the Sunday Times, he noted there was "no question" of doing Way Upstream without the water.
On Monday 13 September, the Hadforth Bounty sailed through an empty water tank for the first of several performances.
Stephen Wood would later tell the Evening Standard, "I would hate to say there is a jinx on this play."
The debacle of staging Way Upstream at the National Theatre was no doubt particularly frustrating for the press officer, Stephen Wood. He had been employed for the world premiere in Scarborough and had to deal with none of the issues which would plague the NT production.
Infamously, in an article on 5 September in the Sunday Times, he noted there was "no question" of doing Way Upstream without the water.
On Monday 13 September, the Hadforth Bounty sailed through an empty water tank for the first of several performances.
Stephen Wood would later tell the Evening Standard, "I would hate to say there is a jinx on this play."
By the time Way Upstream actually opened, the press had already had a field day with back-stage issues and were arguably not really interested in what the play was about or, ultimately, its quality. Reviews were hugely mixed and ranged from poor to excellent. With the benefit of hindsight, it perhaps marked the first time the critics truly turned against Ayckbourn as they sensed an easy target. Certainly some of the criticism - which variously derides the playwright for having ideas above his station, wanting to become a major playwright and being nothing more than a commercial, second rate comedy writer amongst others, as well as digs at his ambitions and home town of Scarborough - do, with hindsight, tend to reveal more about the prejudices of the critics than an objective and insightful critique into whether Way Upstream was genuinely a good or bad play in their eyes.
Behind The Scenes: An Unhealthy Dip
Concerns about the quality of the water quickly grew at the National Theatre leading to a sample being sent for analysis. This alarming results showed a 'heavy contamination' including the organism Aeromonas, which can lead to gastroenteritis. The analyst added: 'I would not be particularly keen on swimming in the stuff' and advised adding disinfectant to the water.
Concerns about the quality of the water quickly grew at the National Theatre leading to a sample being sent for analysis. This alarming results showed a 'heavy contamination' including the organism Aeromonas, which can lead to gastroenteritis. The analyst added: 'I would not be particularly keen on swimming in the stuff' and advised adding disinfectant to the water.
In the aftermath of the production, it was reported there had been a serious split within the National Theatre regarding the budget of the play and Peter Hall's decision to mount it; with implications that certain elements within the venue had actively worked against the play. Whether this is true or not, there was no doubt damage had been done to both the play and the National Theatre's reputation. For many years, the play would in the eyes of the media most commonly be associated with how it flooded the National Theatre.
Yet despite its apparent reputation, demand for the play was immediately high from professional repertory theatres often with clever solutions when venues were not able to flood the auditorium. In early 1984, the play's first regional repertory production opened on 4 May in a co-production between the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, and the Churchill Theatre, Bromley; this was a dry production featuring a boat on a revolve and gimbal to simulate movement on water. This was followed soon after by the play's first UK tour with Duncan Weldon producing another 'dry' production directed by Val May and Christopher Masters. Way Upstream was published by Samuel French in 1983 and has been frequently tackled by amateur companies as well. The play has remained surprisingly popular with both professional and amateur companies and has even been staged as an outdoor production several times on rivers or canals with real cabin cruisers.
Behind The Scenes: Ayckbourn Goes Rock
Perhaps one of the most unusual facts regarding Way Upstream is it is probably the only Ayckbourn play to feature in a track by a major band. In 1989, the British band New Order released the track Don't Do It, which prominently features a sample from the TV adaptation of the play with Barrie Rutter screaming, 'Keith Taylor is going to hound you.'
Perhaps one of the most unusual facts regarding Way Upstream is it is probably the only Ayckbourn play to feature in a track by a major band. In 1989, the British band New Order released the track Don't Do It, which prominently features a sample from the TV adaptation of the play with Barrie Rutter screaming, 'Keith Taylor is going to hound you.'
In 1997, the BBC World Service also broadcast a radio adaptation of the play, directed by Gordon House. The excellent ensemble cast featured Adam Godley, Samantha Bond, Neil Pearson and Russell Dixon. It is unfortunately one of the most rarely heard of the Ayckbourn radio adaptations and unlike many of the BBC's radio adaptations, has been repeated infrequently since 1999.
Behind The Scenes: Heinz Means Business
During Alan Ayckbourn's 2003 revival at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, the climatic fight between Vince and Alistair had an unfortunate outcome one evening. Matthew Cottle, playing Alistair, hit Stephen Beckett, playing Vince, on the forehead with the (foam) tin of beans. Somehow the foam still managed to cut Stephen, who - despite bleeding profusely - still made his taunting appearance in the final moments of the play prior to the boat going under Armageddon Bridge. At which point, stage management rushed him off to Scarborough Hospital for attention and stitches!
During Alan Ayckbourn's 2003 revival at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, the climatic fight between Vince and Alistair had an unfortunate outcome one evening. Matthew Cottle, playing Alistair, hit Stephen Beckett, playing Vince, on the forehead with the (foam) tin of beans. Somehow the foam still managed to cut Stephen, who - despite bleeding profusely - still made his taunting appearance in the final moments of the play prior to the boat going under Armageddon Bridge. At which point, stage management rushed him off to Scarborough Hospital for attention and stitches!
Produced more frequently than might be expected for a play with such challenges - including some extremely inventive 'dry' productions - there have been two notable productions in recent years with Salisbury Playhouse's 2011 revival and Chichester Festival Theatre's revival in 2015 (which featured an exceptional design by Ben Stone). Both extremely well-received by critics, they have demonstrated there is much to be appreciated about the play that was lost as a result of the issues with the National Theatre's production and its significance in the Ayckbourn play canon.
* On 25 January 1981, four senior Labour politicians announced an intent to leave the Labour party and to start a new socialist council. Known as the Limehouse Declaration, this led to the founding of the Social Democratic Party in March 1981 and the SDP-Liberal Alliance in autumn 1981. This had the effect of introducing a significant third major political party into British politics.
Article by Simon Murgatroyd. Copyright: Haydonning Ltd. Please do not reproduce without permission of the copyright holder.