Alan Ayckbourn is most frequently recognised as a writer and director. But there is an equally significant third part of his career in theatre, that of Artistic Director.

For 37 years between 1972 and 2009, Alan Ayckbourn was the Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. This role has a profound impact on both Alan and the company itself.

For Alan Ayckbourn, it gave him an extraordinary freedom to write and direct the work he choose with few restrictions. For the theatre, it benefited from the association with and complete dedication of one of the UK’s most successful playwrights.

The latest A Life in Theatre video on the Ayckbourn YouTube Channel looks as this vital part of Alan’s life and career with the focus on his role as Artistic Director. It demonstrates just how vital the role was and how Alan ran the theatre for 37 years, guiding it through challenges to its existences through three homes.

Find out more with A Life In Theatre: Artistic Director, researched and presented by Alan Ayckbourn’s Archivist Simon Murgatroyd M.A. on the Ayckbourn YouTube Channel.