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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 given how frequently it has been 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
Staging: Round

Director: Alan Ayckbourn | Design: Edward Lipscomb | Lighting: Francis Lynch | Music: Paul Todd | Water Effects: Water Sculptures Ltd

The Company (character in bold)
Keith: Robin Bowerman | June: Carole Boyd | Alistair: Robin Herford | Emma: Lavinia Bertram | Mrs Hatfield: Susan Uebel | Vince: Graeme Eton | Fleur: 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 | Boat Builder: Ron Skolmen (Speed Sailing Specialists) | Water Effects: R. Duncan MacKenzie

The Company (character in bold)
Keith: Robin Bowerman | June: Carole Boyd | Alistair: Robin Herford | Emma: Lavinia Bertram | Mrs Hatfield: Susan Uebel | Vince: Graeme Eton | Fleur: Gillian Bevan | Understudies: Jeni Giffen, John Skitt
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-long residency with Way Upstream and a new production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends. Way Upstream ran from 14 February - 24 March and 25 - 31 March 1982.

London Premiere (1982)

First Performance: 14 August 1982 (postponed from 12 August) | World premiere: 4 October 1982 (postponed from 18 August) | Final performance: 19 April 1983
Venue: The Lyttelton, National Theatre
Staging: End-stage | Number of Performances: 83

Director: Alan Ayckbourn | Design: Alan Tagg | Lighting: William Bundy | Music: Paul Todd

The Company (character in bold)
Keith: Tony Haygarth | June: Susan Fleetwood | Alistair: Jim Norton | Emma: Julie Legrand | Mrs Hatfield: Jane Downs | Vince: James Laurence | Fleur: Nina Thomas

Revival (2003)

First Performance: 17 October 2003 | Premiere: 22 October 2003 | Final performance: 15 November 2003
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre
Staging: Round

Directors: Alan Ayckbourn | Design: Michael Holt | Lighting: Mick Hughes | Music: John Pattison | Fight Director: Christopher Main | Water Effects: Water Sculptures Ltd

The Company (character in bold)
Keith: John Branwell | June: Fiona Mollison | Alistair: Matthew Cottle | Emma: Saskia Butler | Mrs Hatfield: Suzy Aitchison | Vince: Stephen Beckett | Fleur: Maeve Larkin

Revival (2011)

First Performance: 8 September 2011 | Final performance: 8 October 2003
Venue: Salisbury Playhouse
Staging: Traverse

Directors: Lucy Pitman-Wallace | Design: Janet Baird | Lighting: Richard G Jones | Music: Paul Dodgson | Fight Director: Terry King | Assistant Director: Ellie Trevitt

The Company (character in bold)
Keith: David Hounslow | June: Cate Hamer | Alistair: Daniel Crowder | Emma: Sally Scott | Mrs Hatfield: Suzy Aitchison | Vince: Richard Trinder | Fleur: 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 Directors: Rachel Brown-Williams, Ruth Cooper-Brown | Assistant Director: Jake Smith

The Company (character in bold)
Keith: Peter Forbes | June: Sarah Parish | Alistair: Jason Hughes | Emma: Jill Halfpenny | Mrs Hatfield: Nicola Sloane | Vince: Jason Durr | Fleur: Emily Laing

Revival (2027)

First Performance: TBA | Premiere: TBA | Final performance: TBA
Venue: Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, Newbury
Staging: Outdoor

Director: Katie Posner | Design: TBC| Lighting: TBC | Music: TBC | Fight Director: TBC

The Company (character in bold)
Keith: TBC | June: TBC | Alistair: TBC | Emma: TBC | Mrs Hatfield: TBC | Vince: TBC | Fleur: TBC
Note: This will be a relatively rare production staged outdoors with a boat on an actual body of water.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.