Alan Ayckbourn
Birth Place: London, ENGLAND
Amy Di Bartolomeo and Orla O’Sullivan to Lead PRIVATE LIVES at Reading Rep (Feb 24, 2026)
The Theatre Group at SBCC to Stage A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS in March 2026 (Feb 19, 2026)
THE GRAND BABYLON HOTEL Comes to Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre in March (Feb 17, 2026)
BIO
Alan Ayckbourn is a prolific British playwright and director who has made a significant contribution to the world of theater. Born in London in 1939, Ayckbourn began his career in the theater as an actor, but soon turned his attention to writing and directing. He has written over 80 plays, many of which have been performed on stages around the world.
Ayckbourn's first major success came in 1969 with the play "Relatively Speaking," which became a hit in London's West End and on Broadway. This was followed by a string of successful plays, including "How the Other Half Loves," "Absurd Person Singular," and "The Norman Conquests." These plays are known for their sharp wit and insightful commentary on the foibles of human behavior.
In addition to his work as a playwright, Ayckbourn is also an accomplished director. He served as the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, England, from 1972 to 2009, where he directed many of his own plays as well as works by other writers. He has also directed productions in London's West End and on Broadway.
Ayckbourn's contributions to the world of theater have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was knighted in 1997 for his services to theater, and has received the Laurence Olivier Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, and the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Services to the Arts.
Despite his many accolades, Ayckbourn remains dedicated to his craft and continues to write and direct new works. His most recent play, "Birthdays Past, Birthdays Present," premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in 2018 and was well received by audiences and critics alike.
Ayckbourn's legacy as a playwright and director is a testament to his talent and dedication to the theater. His works continue to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world, and his impact on the world of theater will be felt for generations to come.
Photos
©Tony Bartholomew 07802 400651/mail@bartpics.co.uk
2nd July 2019
PICTURES SUPPLIED FOR EDITORIAL AND IN HOUSE USE BY STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE .
Season's Greetings written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn in rehearsal.
From: Photo Flash: In Rehearsal With SEASONS GREETING at the Stephen Joseph Theatre
©Tony Bartholomew 07802 400651/mail@bartpics.co.uk
2nd July 2019
PICTURES SUPPLIED FOR EDITORIAL AND IN HOUSE USE BY STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE .
Season's Greetings written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn in rehearsal.
From: Photo Flash: In Rehearsal With SEASONS GREETING at the Stephen Joseph Theatre
©Tony Bartholomew 07802 400651/mail@bartpics.co.uk
2nd July 2019
PICTURES SUPPLIED FOR EDITORIAL AND IN HOUSE USE BY STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE .
Season's Greetings written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn in rehearsal.
From: Photo Flash: In Rehearsal With SEASONS GREETING at the Stephen Joseph Theatre
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Productions
Writing
Bookwriter
Lyricist
Awards and Nominations
winner
Alan Ayckbourn
Alan AyckbournIntimate Exchanges
Alan AyckbournDamsels In Distress - Roleplay
Alan AyckbournHouse/Garden
winner
Alan Ayckbourn, Comic Potential
Alan AyckbournComic Potential
Alan AyckbournThings We Do For Love
Alan AyckbournCommunicating Doors
Alan AyckbournTime Of My Life
Alan AyckbournMan Of The Moment
Alan Ayckbourn, Women in Mind
Alan AyckbournHenceforward
winner
Alan AyckbournA Chorus Of Disapproval
Alan Ayckbourn Intimate Exchanges
Alan AyckbournSeason's Greetings
Alan AyckbournSisterly Feelings
Alan Ayckbourn, Bedroom Farce
Alan Ayckbourn, Bedroom Farce
Alan Ayckbourn, Bedroom Farce
Alan AyckbournTen Times Table
Alan Ayckbourn, Bedroom Farce
Alan AyckbournConfusions
Alan Ayckbourn, Absurd Person Singular
Videos
Video: Watch Gavin Lee Join THE LION KING on Broadway as 'Scar'
by Michael Major - 2025-07-23 11:54:23
Video: Watch a Preview of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at South Coast Repertory
by Michael Major - 2024-10-03 21:42:01
Living Room Concerts: Charlotte Harwood and Claire-Marie Hall Sing 'Apex Predator' From MEAN GIRLS
by BroadwayWorld UK TV - 2020-05-11 03:31:00
The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting Announces Workshops Led By Pulitzer Prize Winner, Suzan-Lori Parks
by Christina Mancuso - 2017-02-21 07:08:13
STAGE TUBE: Behind-the-Scenes With Two River Theater's ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR
by Christina Mancuso - 2015-01-16 08:04:01
STAGE TUBE: Behind the Scenes of Eclipse Theatre's BEDROOM FARCE
by Stage Tube - 2013-07-18 21:14:55
STAGE TUBE: MTC Celebrates Lynne Meadow With Nathan Lane, Christine Baranski and More
by Kelsey Denette - 2012-06-25 15:37:32
News
by Stephi Wild - Feb 24, 2026
Reading Rep Theatre has announced the latest casting news for the upcoming production of Noël Coward's Private Lives which opens at the theatre this spring.
by Stephi Wild - Feb 19, 2026
The Theatre Group at SBCC will present A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS from March 4-21, 2026, at the Garvin Theatre.
by Stephi Wild - Feb 17, 2026
A rollicking comedy thriller featuring an ensemble playing multiple flamboyant characters, rapid-fire character changes, sharp humour and theatrical fun will come to Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre next month.
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 31, 2026
The Theatre Group at SBCC will present A Small Family Business by Alan Ayckbourn in March 2026. The production runs March 4–21 in the Garvin Theatre on SBCC’s West Campus and is directed by Katie Laris.
by - Jan 8, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is January 8, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Jan 7, 2026
Directed by Michael Longhurst and starring Sheridan Smith as Susan and Romesh Ranganathan as Dr Bill, the show is now open at the Duke of York's Theatre. What did the critics think?
by Aliya Al-Hassan - Jan 7, 2026
Alan Ayckbourn’s 1985 play Woman In Mind is a darkly comic look about mental disintegration and a mid-life ennui that would have rarely been spoken about forty years ago. In the first major West End revival since 2012, director Michael Longhurst presents a startling portrait of a woman who retreats into a fantasy world as a means of coping with her lack of purpose and love in her real life.
by - Jan 7, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is January 7, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 6, 2026
All new production photos have been released of Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan in Alan Ayckbourn’s psychological comedy WOMAN IN MIND. Check out the photos below!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 19, 2025
MainStage Irving-Las Colinas will present their upcoming production of How the Other Half Loves, a farce by Alan Ayckbourn and directed by B. J. Cleveland.
by - Dec 12, 2025
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is December 12, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Stephi Wild - Dec 11, 2025
Production photos have been released of Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan in Alan Ayckbourn’s psychological comedy WOMAN IN MIND, which plays a strictly limited West End run at the Duke of York’s Theatre.
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 22, 2025
New rehearsal photos have been released for Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman in Mind, starring Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan, ahead of its West End engagement at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 9 December 2025 to 28 February 2026.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 14, 2025
The Theatre Group at SBCC will hold auditions for the spring 2026 production of A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Katie Laris, by appointment.
by Stephi Wild - Nov 12, 2025
The Stephen Joseph Theatre has announced the rest of its in-house productions for 2026. The Scarborough theatre recently announced that it would be producing Murder for Two (28 March to 18 April) and Calendar Girls the Musical (27 June to 25 July).
by Stephi Wild - Nov 10, 2025
Victoria Wood’s long-standing friendships, love of the Lake District and close connection to The Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness-on-Windermere comes full circle, as the intimate theatre is to be renamed THE VICTORIA WOOD THEATRE.
by Stephi Wild - Nov 4, 2025
Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre has announced its first summer production for 2026 – Calendar Girls the Musical. Learn more about the upcoming production here!
by Stephi Wild - Oct 8, 2025
Romesh Ranganathan will make his West End stage debut in a new production of Alan Ayckbourn's psychological comedy WOMAN IN MIND in a strictly limited West End run. Learn more here!
by Stephi Wild - Sep 24, 2025
The Menier Chocolate Factory has announced full casting for its forthcoming production of Noël Coward's Fallen Angels which opens its new season at its home base in London Bridge.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 18, 2025
A new production of Alan Ayckbourn's psychological comedy WOMAN IN MIND will star Sheridan Smith in a strictly limited West End run at the Duke of York's Theatre.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Alan Ayckbourn has written 23 shows including How the Other Half Loves (Playwright), Jeeves (Bookwriter), The Norman Conquests: Table Manners (Playwright), The Norman Conquests: Living Together (Playwright), The Norman Conquests: Round and Round the Garden (Playwright), Bedroom Farce (Playwright), Season's Greetings (Playwright), Woman in Mind (Playwright), Absent Friends (Playwright), Taking Steps (Playwright), A Small Family Business (Playwright), How the Other Half Loves (Playwright), By Jeeves (Bookwriter), Communicating Doors (Playwright), Comic Potential (Playwright), Garden (Playwright), House (Playwright), Private Fears in Public Places (Playwright), Absurd Person Singular (Playwright), The Norman Conquests Trilogy (Playwright), A Chorus of Disapproval (Playwright), Relatively Speaking (Playwright), The Divide (Author).
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (Tony Awards) for , Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Intimate Exchanges, Best New Comedy (Olivier Awards) for Damsels In Distress - Roleplay, Best New Comedy (Olivier Awards) for House/Garden, Outstanding Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Comic Potential, Best New Comedy (Olivier Awards) for Comic Potential, Best New Comedy (Olivier Awards) for Things We Do For Love, Best Comedy (Olivier Awards) for Communicating Doors, Best Comedy (Olivier Awards) for Time Of My Life, BBC Award for the Play of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Man Of The Moment, Outstanding New Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Women in Mind, Comedy of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Henceforward, Comedy of the Year (Olivier Awards) for A Chorus Of Disapproval, Comedy of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Intimate Exchanges, Comedy of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Season's Greetings, Comedy of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Sisterly Feelings, Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Bedroom Farce, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for Bedroom Farce, Best Play (Tony Awards) for Bedroom Farce , Comedy of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Ten Times Table, Comedy of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Bedroom Farce, Comedy of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Confusions and Outstanding New Foreign Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Absurd Person Singular.
Alan Ayckbourn has won several prestigious awards, including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (Tony Awards), Outstanding Play for Comic Potential (Drama Desk Awards), and Comedy of the Year for A Chorus Of Disapproval (Olivier Awards).
Videos