The First 40 Years: 1971
This is part of a series of articles looking at the first 40 years of the Stephen Joseph Theatre (1955 to 1995) from the perspective of the theatre's Archive. The articles were first published in the SJT Circular newsletter.1971: State of Play
by Simon Murgatroyd1971 marks the end of an era for the company started by Stephen Joseph on the first floor of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre in 1955.
Following the death of Stephen Joseph in 1967, the theatre had - arguably - struggled both for its survival and to find a new sense of direction. In five years, the company had had three Directors Of Productions and losses were steadily mounting for the company whilst it searched unsuccessfully for a new home.
Unknown at the time, the following year would see the appointment of Alan Ayckbourn as the Artistic Director - a position he would hold until 2009 - and the company move into its second stage, the Ayckbourn era.
As such, 1971 marked a year of flux and it’s interesting to explore what the theatre was like at this stage of it life; how similar or different it was to when it started and where it is now.
This can be examined thanks to two archival documents held in the Bob Watson Archive which offer quite a frank appraisal of the theatre’s position in 1971.
The first is taken from the Scarborough Theatre Trust minutes and was written “for the benefit of new members also to refresh the memories of founder members” of the board.
Since 1955 the theatre has always been run on a shoestring budget. Rostrums, lights, facia board [the signage outside Scarborough Library] and the dressing room tables are the property of the local branch of British Drama League, who permit us to use this equipment to run our summer season.
Administration, front of house duties, coffee bar were all done on a voluntary basis until 1969. For the 1970 season, the Secretary received a small salary for his duties doing the summer season only. No pay for work done out of season.
The Artistic Directors from 1967 to 1970 received no salary for their work only accommodation found by the Trust during their stay.
Costs of running Theatre have risen considerably particularly higher wages for actors.
The ‘new members’ probably relates most to the incoming Director of Productions, Caroline Smith, who ran the company during summer 1971, having been recommended by Alan Ayckbourn who had previously worked with her at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on- Trent.
What is remarkable is how, even 16 years on, the theatre was still true to the founding principles of Stephen Joseph. Not just theatre-in-the-round and new playwriting - which survive as core principles of the company to this day - but also its reliance on the Scarborough community and its close links with the amateur dramatic community in the town; the theatre had been founded with voluntary help and without which it is clear the theatre would not have been able to survive even in 1971.
It’s perhaps sad that these community links were subsequently lost as the theatre moved towards an all-year round, fully professional company.
Meanwhile, an addendum makes it clear that the company was still not necessarily tied to the town.
[The Trust] could offer our money in the Building Fund to other local authorities who might be interested; we had not pledged ourselves to build a theatre in memory of Stephen Joseph in Scarborough.
The Theatre Trust was a professional one wanting to create a theatre centre to cater for all organisations professional for amateur connected to the arts.
Ever since 1961, Stephen Joseph had made it clear that Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre company was not beholden to Scarborough. In fact, he had never viewed it as a permanent home, just a launchpad and showcase for theatre-in-the-round which he hoped would find a permanent home elsewhere.
In 1965, when he had closed Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Stephen had made the point to Scarborough Theatre Trust that its sole purpose was to find a way to keep the company running even if it was not in Scarborough. As it was, the company had reopened in 1967 in the town, but four years on and Scarborough Theatre Trust obviously still did not feel they had the complete support of the town council and would authorise a move to another town willing to financially support the company.
A grim thought for theatre-lovers in the town.
The second document in archive is written by the theatre’s general manager / secretary Ken Boden and was intended for the new company - possibly as notes for a speech, possibly as a letter - and again emphasises the position of the theatre at the time.
The Theatre itself 90% belongs to the amateurs who do front of house, usherettes, shop and coffee.
The arrangement here in Scarborough between the professional and amateur is unique. We are tenants in this library and I have to make an agreement with the Librarian and the Cirporation [sic]. In the past I have always had difficulty but I hope there will be none this year.
The Librarian is strict and one of the staff here reports regularly to him any marks on walls or any damage whatsoever. Then the Librarian is on to me straight away and I am in trouble. I don’t like trouble and I don’t want any.
Our other Staff consist of Mr Hioughton F on H [Front of house]. Ann Simpson Shop. PB [Mrs Pemberton Billing] Coffee. Connie Garlick, Hubert Ruff and Margaret Boden Box Office. Jon Boden Lucky Bricks. We hope to have a new Theatre one day,
I am personally looking forward to an exciting season. I recently went on an Arts Council tour of Theatres and I was amazed to find that our little Theatre was known and what pleased me was the high reputation of our presentation and standard. I told Caroline [Smith] this weeks ago and I have every confidence that our reputation will be maintained.
Ken was actually wrong in suggesting the relationship between amateurs and professionals was unique to Scarborough as Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre's sister theatre, the Victoria, was also run by volunteers and the Front Of House at what is now the New Vic is still run by volunteers.
And for those wondering, the Lucky Bricks was a fund-raising initiative for the proposed new theatre in which supporters could buy ‘bricks’ to contribute to the move.
This piece also highlighted the increasingly uncomfortable relationship between the company and Scarborough Library - which would soon begin to actively look to push the company out of the building. It does not imply a great deal of trust on either side.
Other notes from this period also show what it was like to visit and work in the theatre at the time.
In 1971, if you wanted to see the latest Ayckbourn play - Time & Time Again - you would have paid 45p (the UK having experienced Decimal Day on 15 February 1971, when the tickets changed from nine shillings to 45p). If you wanted a programme, they were 3p. You were also not purchasing a specific seat, but an unreserved seat as reserved seating had not yet started at the Library Theatre - and indeed, there would be some unreserved seating sold at Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round until as late as 1980.
If you were working within the company then your pay as an actor or stage manager was £25 a week, the only person receiving more was Caroline Smith, who received £35 a week as Director Of Productions. The only other person who was paid was Ken Boden (again at £25 a week) as Theatre Manager / Secretary.
And to give an idea of how theatre tickets have priced, adjusted for inflation, the price of a ticket in 1971 would be £4.27 today and the programme 43p.
Article by and copyright of Simon Murgatroyd. Please do not reproduce this article without permission of the copyright holder.