Ten times table by alan ayckbourn biography

The venue was opened on 26 October not with a new Ayckbourn play but with a revival of one of the few Ayckbourn plays not to have premiered in Scarborough, Mr Whatnot. It would be another three months before Alan would premiere a new play at the theatre in January This was Ten Times Table and it drew its primary inspiration from the torturous committee process that Alan witnessed as he endeavoured to move the company from the Library Theatre to its new home.

Given the play premiered in the same year as the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II taking the throne and the enormous amount of community events and celebrations which took place around the UK to mark it, there has often been speculation Alan was influenced by this. But the play was actually written in December and premiered months before the Silver Jubilee celebrations got into full-swing, so this is no more than coincidence, although there was apparently some inspiration from the meetings for and organisation of Scarborough's Richard III festival held during This, he believes, is a fine basis for a pageant, and all the community affirming, and tourist boosting, benefits concomitant.

Summoned to the planning committee table are: officious, yet ineffectual local councillor, Donald Mark Curry with his deaf piano-playing mother Audrey Elizabeth Power ; local teacher, and avowed Marxist, Eric Craig Gazey and his voice-less girlfriend Phillipa Rhiannon Handy ; impressionable dog-breeder Sophie Gemma Oaten ; and, stumbling in last, the somewhat tragic figure of Laurence, Robert Duncan , an electrician with a crumbling marriage, and a growing drink-problem.

Eric, with ambitions to transmute pageant into political rally, swiftly finds an ideological enemy in the vocally right-wing Helen, and the battle-lines are drawn. Relatively shallow-subplots such as an ill-advised romance, and an ever-absent committee member, offer little for this talented cast to really get their performative teeth into.

Even the dialogue whilst natural, and accomplished, rarely sparkles as one might expect. Everyone on stage gives their skilful best, but with pace proving so elusive, the interval feels less like a break, and more like a relief. Fortunately, into the second act is tossed narrative grenade, Tim Harry Gostelow ; without doubt the most riotously fun part in the play.

The catastrophic tailspin which ensues thankfully provides plenty of laughs, and invites a far more engaged, invested audience. Gostelow is tremendous, his performance is a masterclass in farcical lunacy.

Ten times table by alan ayckbourn biography

T en Times Table does for the world of the committee what Noises Off does for the theatre. If you do then you will want to see this production as it top notch. Ten Times Table is worth seeing at least twice. Unfortunately, for Ray, his calamitous committee quickly divides, as his wife Helen has a bone to pick…. This tumultuous comedy by committee is not to be missed.

Ten Times Table, written by multi-award-winning writer Alan Ayckbourn, will embark on a nationwide tour stopping at Richmond Theatre from 20 — 25 January Between them, these companies have enjoyed over 15 years of theatrical success across the UK. Set and costume design is by Michael Holt. His mother was an illiterate Irish traveller. His early years were spent in Ladbroke Grove.

He was born at number 40 Lancaster Road. In the family was rehoused in Hackney. He became head boy and was the first person in his family to make it to university, gaining a place at Goldsmiths College in From until he taught at schools in Hackney and Richmond. From until he studied part-time in the evenings for a degree in English Literature at Birkbeck College.

He left teaching in and has worked as a tutor, researcher, writer and tour guide. Read the latest London theatre reviews by all reviewers. John OBrien. About The Author. Scroll to Top.