In 1989, Alan Ayckbourn’s popular play A Chorus of Disapproval became his first work to be adapted for the big screen.

It was, to not put too fine a point on it, a disaster. Directed by Michael Winner, the decision to allow the play to be made into a film because one hugely regretted by the playwright.

SpotLight on Ayckbourn concludes its three part look at A Chorus of Disapproval with a video exploring the making of the movie, looking into why Alan agreed to it, the disagreements between Winner and the playwright as well as the response and aftermath of the film.

Drawing extensively on correspondence held in the Ayckbourn Archive at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, this offers a never-before-seen glimpse into what really happened with the first Ayckbourn film adaptation.

SpotLight on Ayckbourn is researched, written and presented by the playwright’s Archivist, Simon Murgatroyd M.A. with royalty-free music provided by BenSound.

You can find the SpotLight on A Chorus of Disapproval video on the Ayckbourn YouTube Channel by clicking here.