Season's Greetings: Significant Productions
This page contains details of significant productions of Alan Ayckbourn's Season's Greetings, such as the world and London premieres as well as Ayckbourn-directed revivals. It is not a complete list of productions given how frequently Alan Ayckbourn's plays are performed by professionals and amateur companies around the world.
World Premiere (1980)
First performance: 25 September 1980
World premiere: 25 September 1980
Final performance: 3 January 1981 (see notes)
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
World premiere: 25 September 1980
Final performance: 3 January 1981 (see notes)
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Character
Neville
Belinda, his wife
Phyllis, his sister
Harvey, his uncle
Bernard, Phyllis's husband
Rachel, Belinda's sister
Eddie
Pattie, Eddie's wife
Clive
Neville
Belinda, his wife
Phyllis, his sister
Harvey, his uncle
Bernard, Phyllis's husband
Rachel, Belinda's sister
Eddie
Pattie, Eddie's wife
Clive
Actor
Michael Simkins
Tessa Peake-Jones
Susan Uebel
Robin Herford
Ronald Herdman
Marcia Warren
Jeffrey Robert
Lavinia Bertram
Robin Bowerman
Michael Simkins
Tessa Peake-Jones
Susan Uebel
Robin Herford
Ronald Herdman
Marcia Warren
Jeffrey Robert
Lavinia Bertram
Robin Bowerman
Note: The play ran for just 4 performances initially (from 25 - 27 September) and was then scheduled to tour to The Round House, London (see below), before returning into the company repertory from 28 October - 3 January 1981.
London Premiere (1980)
First performance: 13 October 1980
Final performance: 25 October 1980
Venue: The Round House
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Final performance: 25 October 1980
Venue: The Round House
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Character
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Actor
Robin Herford
Ronald Herdman
Tessa Peake-Jones
Lavinia Bertram
Michael Simkins
Jeffrey Robert
Marcia Warren
Susan Uebel
Robin Bowerman
Robin Herford
Ronald Herdman
Tessa Peake-Jones
Lavinia Bertram
Michael Simkins
Jeffrey Robert
Marcia Warren
Susan Uebel
Robin Bowerman
Note: This short residency featured the original company touring to The Round House following its first four performances in Scarborough. The version of the play performed was substantially different to later productions in London being three acts and featuring the off-stage character of Harvey’s wife Shirley. The play was later altered for its 1981 revival to two acts with Shirley excised from the play
Revival (1981)
First performance: 20 May 1981
Final performance: 26 September 1981
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Final performance: 26 September 1981
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Francis Lynch
Music: Paul Todd
Character
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Actor
Robin Herford
Russell Dixon
Gillian Bevan
Lavinia Bertram
Michael Simkins
Graeme Eton
Heather Stoney
Susan Uebel
Robin Bowerman
Robin Herford
Russell Dixon
Gillian Bevan
Lavinia Bertram
Michael Simkins
Graeme Eton
Heather Stoney
Susan Uebel
Robin Bowerman
London Revival (1982)
Premiere: 28 January 1982
Venue: Greenwich Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Music: Paul Todd
Venue: Greenwich Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Music: Paul Todd
Character
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Actor
Peter Vaughan
Bernard Hepton
Barbara Ferris
Diane Bull
Gareth Hunt
Brian Hall
Marcia Warren
Bridget Turner
Nigel Havers
Peter Vaughan
Bernard Hepton
Barbara Ferris
Diane Bull
Gareth Hunt
Brian Hall
Marcia Warren
Bridget Turner
Nigel Havers
London Transfer (1982)
Premiere: 29 March 1982
Final performance: 18 September 1982
Venue: Apollo Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Music: Paul Todd
Final performance: 18 September 1982
Venue: Apollo Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Edward Lipscomb
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Music: Paul Todd
Character
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Actor
Peter Vaughn
Bernard Hepton
Barbara Ferris
Diane Bull
Bryan Marshall
Brian Hall
Marcia Warren
Bridget Turner
Christopher Strauli
Peter Vaughn
Bernard Hepton
Barbara Ferris
Diane Bull
Bryan Marshall
Brian Hall
Marcia Warren
Bridget Turner
Christopher Strauli
New York Premiere (1985)
First performance: 6 July 1985
Final performance: 27 July 1985
Venue: Joyce Theater
Staging: End-stage
Director: Pat Brown
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Richard W. Jeter
Sound: Jan Cole
Costumes: Rotini Dimou
Dialect Coach: Cindia Huppeler
Stage Manager: Glenn Bruner
Final performance: 27 July 1985
Venue: Joyce Theater
Staging: End-stage
Director: Pat Brown
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Richard W. Jeter
Sound: Jan Cole
Costumes: Rotini Dimou
Dialect Coach: Cindia Huppeler
Stage Manager: Glenn Bruner
Character
Bernard
Belinda
Clive
Pattie
Phyllis
Neville
Harvey
Rachel
Eddie
Bernard
Belinda
Clive
Pattie
Phyllis
Neville
Harvey
Rachel
Eddie
Actor
Dale Helward
Robin Moseley
Michael Alan Gregory
Cynthia Lammel
Lillian Evans
Richard Poe
Robert Cornthwaite
Lawr Means
Charles Sanders
Dale Helward
Robin Moseley
Michael Alan Gregory
Cynthia Lammel
Lillian Evans
Richard Poe
Robert Cornthwaite
Lawr Means
Charles Sanders
Tour (1985)
First performance: 25 September 1985
Venue: Churchill Theatre, Bromley
Staging: End-stage
Director: Peter Coe
Design: Hugh Durrant
Lighting: Leonard Tucker
Music: Stephen Warbeck
Costumes: Annette Sharville
Venue: Churchill Theatre, Bromley
Staging: End-stage
Director: Peter Coe
Design: Hugh Durrant
Lighting: Leonard Tucker
Music: Stephen Warbeck
Costumes: Annette Sharville
Character
Bernard
Belinda
Clive
Pattie
Phyllis
Neville
Harvey
Rachel
Eddie
Bernard
Belinda
Clive
Pattie
Phyllis
Neville
Harvey
Rachel
Eddie
Actor
Lionel Blair
Marti Caine
Collin Johnson
Madeline Smith
Barbara Kinghorn
Geoffrey Davies
Bill Fraser
Angela Douglas
Andrew Ray
Lionel Blair
Marti Caine
Collin Johnson
Madeline Smith
Barbara Kinghorn
Geoffrey Davies
Bill Fraser
Angela Douglas
Andrew Ray
Tour (2004)
Premiere: 6 October 2004
Venue: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Roger Glossop
Associate Designer: Pip Leckenby
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Costumes: Christine Wall
Music: Denis King
Sound: Dan Last
Venue: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Roger Glossop
Associate Designer: Pip Leckenby
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Costumes: Christine Wall
Music: Denis King
Sound: Dan Last
Character
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Harvey
Bernard
Belinda
Pattie
Neville, Belinda’s Husband
Eddie, Pattie’s Husband
Rachel, Belinda’s Sister
Phyllis, Neville’s Sister
Clive
Actor
Terence Booth
Matthew Kelly
Liza Goddard
Alison Pargeter
Bill Champion
Jason Baughan
Alexandra Mathie
Eliza Hunt
Matthew Cottle
Terence Booth
Matthew Kelly
Liza Goddard
Alison Pargeter
Bill Champion
Jason Baughan
Alexandra Mathie
Eliza Hunt
Matthew Cottle
London Revival (2010)
Premiere: 8 December 2010
Final performance: 13 March 2011
Venue: The Lyttelton, National Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Marianne Elliott
Design: Rae Smith
Lighting: Bruno Poet
Music: Stephen Warbeck
Sound: Mark Dickinson
Final performance: 13 March 2011
Venue: The Lyttelton, National Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Marianne Elliott
Design: Rae Smith
Lighting: Bruno Poet
Music: Stephen Warbeck
Sound: Mark Dickinson
Character
Bernard
Belinda
Clive
Pattie
Phyllis
Neville
Harvey
Rachel
Eddie
Bernard
Belinda
Clive
Pattie
Phyllis
Neville
Harvey
Rachel
Eddie
Actor
Mark Gatiss
Catherine Tate
Oliver Chris
Katherine Parkinson
Jenna Russell
Neil Stuke
David Troughton
Nicola Walker
Marc Wootton
Mark Gatiss
Catherine Tate
Oliver Chris
Katherine Parkinson
Jenna Russell
Neil Stuke
David Troughton
Nicola Walker
Marc Wootton
Revival (2019)
First performance: 25 July 2019
Premiere: 31 July 2019
Final performance: 28 September 2019
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Kevin Jenkins
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Lighting Associate: Tigger Johnson
Sound: Alan Ayckbourn
Sound - Associate: Paul Stear
Casting: Sarah Hughes
Company Stage Manager: Fleur Linden Beeley
Deputy Stage Manager: Sarah Rhodes-Canning
Assistant Stage Manager: Rachel Stevens
Premiere: 31 July 2019
Final performance: 28 September 2019
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Kevin Jenkins
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Lighting Associate: Tigger Johnson
Sound: Alan Ayckbourn
Sound - Associate: Paul Stear
Casting: Sarah Hughes
Company Stage Manager: Fleur Linden Beeley
Deputy Stage Manager: Sarah Rhodes-Canning
Assistant Stage Manager: Rachel Stevens
Character
Bernard
Belinda
Clive
Pattie
Phyllis
Neville
Harvey
Rachel
Eddie
Bernard
Belinda
Clive
Pattie
Phyllis
Neville
Harvey
Rachel
Eddie
Actor
Leigh Symonds
Frances Marshall
Andy Cryer
Mercy Ojelade
Eileen Battye
Matt Addis
Bill Champion
Rachel Caffrey
Michael Lyle
Leigh Symonds
Frances Marshall
Andy Cryer
Mercy Ojelade
Eileen Battye
Matt Addis
Bill Champion
Rachel Caffrey
Michael Lyle
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.