Photo Flash: Inside Rehearsal For Alan Ayckbourn's JOKING APART at the Stephen Joseph Theatre

A classic play by Alan Ayckbourn receives its 40th anniversary production at the Stephen Joseph Theatre this summer.

Joking Apart was premiered in Scarborough at the SJT's former home at Westwood in 1978, and revived at the current venue in 2002.

For Richard and Anthea everything in life just falls into place. With their warmth, careless charm, generosity and business success they are a truly happy, golden couple.

They invite their friends, neighbours and business partners to celebrate with them over the years: on Bonfire Night, at midsummer, on Boxing Day and eventually, at their daughter's 18th birthday party. Perhaps it's inevitable that the others suffer by comparison. Quiet misery, unrequited love and jealousy play their part in this painfully funny comedy.

Alan Ayckbourn says: ""I wrote Joking Apart years ago - it was the nearest I'd got at that stage of my life to writing an autumnal play, about the sadness of getting older. I was then approaching my 40s and feeling extremely old. I realise now, of course, that I was extremely young!"

Joking Apart is currently in rehearsal with a cast of six: Jamie Baughan, Liz Jadav, Frances Marshall, Laurence Pears, Naomi Petersen, Louise Shuttleworth, Richard Stacey, Leigh Symonds.

Joking Apart can be seen in the Round at the SJT, in rep, from Thursday 26 July to Thursday 4 October. Tickets, priced from £10, are available from the box office on 01723 370541 and online at www.sjt.uk.com.

Photo Credit: Tony Bartholomew