Two fascinating lost plays which received their world premieres in theatre in the round in Scarborough more than six decades ago are being revived in October.

The Lost and Found Collective in association with the Stephen Joseph Theatre will be presenting a double bill of the uncut version of James Saunders Alas, Poor Fred and Clifford Williams’ The Disguises of Arlecchino.

They are being directed by Paul Elsam – author of the acclaimed book Stephen Joseph: Theatre Pioneer & Provocateur – who is delighted too have the opportunity to be staging these early piece of the SJT’s history.

“This is turning into a fascinating process,” said Paul. “Our ambition is to put these two forgotten plays on the stage for the first time in many decades – and in one case, in a way that has never been seen before as a full professional production.”

Both plays have remarkable stories behind them.

Alas, Poor Fred premiered at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre in 1959 and was the prolific writer James Saunders’ first major success. The play is still performed today – but not like the version to be presented here.

The original play – believed lost – was cut for performance, this became the basis for the published script performed today. Paul discovered a – probably – unique copy of the uncut play, which is being produced professionally for the first time and has led to some fascinating discoveries.

“Not wanting to deliver any spoilers,” said Paul, “but we’re discovering that things are not at all as they initially seem! It’s now part of Stephen Joseph Theatre history that The Woman in Black began its life there. I’m beginning to believe we’ve turned up an even earlier piece that seems – despite added humour – to occupy some of the same territory.”

Finding its roots in theatre of the absurd, this funny, moving show nods to Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco. It explores echoes of the past and the memory of memories. It seems fitting that the play as originally intended is finally being performed by the company with whom it all began.

The Disguises of Arlecchino was, so far as we know, the famed director Clifford Williams’ only produced play. Inspired by the Commedia del’Arte, this short play was produced in 1956 as part of a triple bill at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre and was never produced again.

“It’s a glorious romp, really,” said Paul. “A fairly wild piece of 16th century Italian street theatre, dragged indoors and only just managing to behave itself!”

Notably, its author Clifford Williams went onto an extraordinary directing career. At the Library Theatre, he directed the second and third of Alan Ayckbourn’s plays – Love After All and Dad’s Tale – before becoming a hugely influential director at the Royal Shakespeare Company amongst other successes.

Both these plays will be directed by Paul and presented at the SJT on 3 October; rather fittingly given it’s the 70th anniversary of Stephen Joseph founding Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre in Scarborough in 1955.

Alas, Poor Fred will star Dan Henley and Georgie Samuels whilst The Disguises of Arlecchino will star Gui Sá Pessoa, David Lomond, Hannah Curtis and Dan Henley.

The double bill will take place on Friday 3 October at 7pm in The McCarthy at the Stephen Joseph Theatre. Tickets are priced at £10 (£5 concessions) and they can be booked here.

Paul is directing the double-bill as a member of the informal Lost and Found Collective, and their hope is that people may see the production and want to book either or both plays for further dates. With that in mind, he can be reached at paulelsam@btinternet.com.”

You can find out more about Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre and the plays such as these which were performed and premiered by the UK’s first professional theatre-in-the-round on the A Round Town website.