Confusions: Significant Productions
This page contains details of significant productions of Alan Ayckbourn's Confusions, such as the world and London premieres as well as Ayckbourn-directed revivals. It is not a complete list of productions given how frequently it has been performed by professionals and amateur companies around the world.
World Premiere (1974)
First performance: 30 September 1974
World premiere: 30 September 1974
Final performance: 9 October 1974
Venue: Lecture Room, Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Three-sided
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Costume Design: Christine Welch
Design: Helga Wood
Music: Paul Todd
Stage Manager: David Millard
Assistant Stage Manager: Kevin Wood
World premiere: 30 September 1974
Final performance: 9 October 1974
Venue: Lecture Room, Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Three-sided
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Costume Design: Christine Welch
Design: Helga Wood
Music: Paul Todd
Stage Manager: David Millard
Assistant Stage Manager: Kevin Wood
Character
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Charles
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly /
Milly / Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Arthur
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Ernest
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Charles
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly /
Milly / Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Arthur
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Ernest
Actor
Christopher Godwin
Janet Dale
Eileen O’Brien
Stanley Page
Stephen Mallatratt
Christopher Godwin
Janet Dale
Eileen O’Brien
Stanley Page
Stephen Mallatratt
Note: This production immediately went on a local tour with performances at Scarborough, Filey and Whitby presented in weekly repertory with other works. The schedule consisted of Filey Sun Lounge (12 & 26 November), Whitby Pavilion (13, 14, 27 & 28 November) and The Library Theatre,. Scarborough (15, 16, 29 & 30 November).
Revival (1975)
First performance: 4 August 1975
World premiere: 30 September 1975
Venue: Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Costume Design: Christine Welch
Design: Helga Wood
Music: Paul Todd
Stage Manager: David Millard
Deputy Stage Manager: Kevin Wood
Assistant Stage Manager: Susan Legge
World premiere: 30 September 1975
Venue: Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Costume Design: Christine Welch
Design: Helga Wood
Music: Paul Todd
Stage Manager: David Millard
Deputy Stage Manager: Kevin Wood
Assistant Stage Manager: Susan Legge
Character
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Charles
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly /
Milly / Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Arthur
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Ernest
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Charles
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly /
Milly / Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Arthur
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Ernest
Actor
Christopher Godwin
Janet Dale
Eileen O’Brien
Stanley Page
Stephen Mallatratt
Christopher Godwin
Janet Dale
Eileen O’Brien
Stanley Page
Stephen Mallatratt
London Premiere (1976)
First performance: 19 May 1976
Premiere: 19 May 1976
Final performance: 8 January 1977
Venue: Apollo Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Alan Tagg
Lighting: David Colmer
Costumes: Susan Yelland
Premiere: 19 May 1976
Final performance: 8 January 1977
Venue: Apollo Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Alan Tagg
Lighting: David Colmer
Costumes: Susan Yelland
Character
Harry / Waiter / Gosforth / Arthur
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly/ Milly /
Doreen
Waiter / Mr Pearce / Vicar / Charles
Terry / Martin / Stewart / Ernest
Harry / Waiter / Gosforth / Arthur
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly/ Milly /
Doreen
Waiter / Mr Pearce / Vicar / Charles
Terry / Martin / Stewart / Ernest
Actor
John Alderton
Pauline Collins
Sheila Gish
James Cossins
Derek Fowlds
John Alderton
Pauline Collins
Sheila Gish
James Cossins
Derek Fowlds
Notes
◦ The West End premiere was preceded by a short tour to Theatre Royal Bath from 19 April and the Theatre Royal Brighton from 26 April. Erroneous
◦ It should be noted the West End production deliberately and erroneously changed the author's intention by having John Alderton take all the lead male roles in what is intended to be an ensemble work. The distribution of roles should always follow the pattern of Alan Ayckbourn's Scarborough productions rather than the West End production.
◦ The West End premiere was preceded by a short tour to Theatre Royal Bath from 19 April and the Theatre Royal Brighton from 26 April. Erroneous
◦ It should be noted the West End production deliberately and erroneously changed the author's intention by having John Alderton take all the lead male roles in what is intended to be an ensemble work. The distribution of roles should always follow the pattern of Alan Ayckbourn's Scarborough productions rather than the West End production.
Revival (1991)
Premiere: 4 December 1991
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Malcolm Hebden
Design: Juliet Nichols
Lighting: Jackie Staines
Music: John Pattison
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Malcolm Hebden
Design: Juliet Nichols
Lighting: Jackie Staines
Music: John Pattison
Character
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Ernest
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly /
Milly / Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Charles
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Arthur
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Ernest
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly /
Milly / Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Charles
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Arthur
Actor
Peter Forbes
Elizabeth Rider
Serena Evans
Michael Percival
Keith Ladd
Peter Forbes
Elizabeth Rider
Serena Evans
Michael Percival
Keith Ladd
Revival (2015)
First performance: 9 July 2015
Opening night: 14 July 2015
Final performance: 26 September 2015
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Stage Manager: Fleur Linden Beeley
Deputy Stage Manager: Sue Volans
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Lang
Opening night: 14 July 2015
Final performance: 26 September 2015
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Stage Manager: Fleur Linden Beeley
Deputy Stage Manager: Sue Volans
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Lang
Character
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Charles
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly / Milly /
Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Arthur
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Ernest
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Charles
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly / Milly /
Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Arthur
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Ernest
Actor
Richard Stacey
Elizabeth Boag
Emma Manton
Russell Dixon
Stephen Billington
Richard Stacey
Elizabeth Boag
Emma Manton
Russell Dixon
Stephen Billington
Note: This production was re-directed for an end-stage tour in a co-production with the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, which toured from 13 January - 5 March 2016. The company was identical with the inclusion of understudies Philipa Flynn and Nik Drake.
New York Premiere (2016)
First performance: 28 May 2016
Premiere: 28 May 2016
Final performance: 3 July 2016
Venue: 59E59 Theaters, New York
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Casting: Sarah Hughes
Deputy Stage Manager: Jennifer Hirst
AEA Stage Manager: Veronica Aglow
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Lang
Premiere: 28 May 2016
Final performance: 3 July 2016
Venue: 59E59 Theaters, New York
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Michael Holt
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Casting: Sarah Hughes
Deputy Stage Manager: Jennifer Hirst
AEA Stage Manager: Veronica Aglow
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Lang
Character
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Charles
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly / Milly / Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Arthur
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Ernest
Harry / Martin / Vicar / Charles
Lucy / Bernice / Mrs Pearce / Beryl
Rosemary / Paula / Polly / Milly / Doreen
Mr Pearce / Gosforth / Arthur
Terry / Waiter / Stewart / Ernest
Actor
Richard Stacey
Elizabeth Boag
Charlotte Harwood
Russell Dixon
Stephen Billington
Richard Stacey
Elizabeth Boag
Charlotte Harwood
Russell Dixon
Stephen Billington
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.