Confusions: A Timeline
The Timeline offers a chronological view of significant events in the history of the play Confusions; it only lists major productions and does not include the vast majority of the many professional and amateur productions of the play.1973
Alan Ayckbourn writes a short one act play, Mother Figure, for the anthology Mixed Blessings. Intended for the West End, this production lasts only a week in Horsham.
1974
The Theatre in the Round air the Library Theatre company decides to mount its first winter season since the death of Stephen Joseph in 1967. Unable to revive his summer play, Absent Friends, due to it being optioned for London, Alan Ayckbourn announces he will write a new play.
Summer 1974
Alan Ayckbourn writes Between Mouthfuls, Drinking Companion, Gosforth's Fête and A Talk In The Park to join the existing one act play Mother Figure. Together these become Confusions.
30 September 1974
World premiere of Confusions in the Large Lecture Room at The Library Theatre, Scarborough, directed by Alan Ayckbourn. The production is three-sided rather than in-the-round as the Concert Room was unavailable and the production had to bemounted in the library's smaller lecture room space.
Circa October 1974
Confusions, directed by Alan Ayckbourn, tours to Hull, Workington, Ulverstone and Kendal. This marks the relaunch of touring from Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough.
12 November 1974
Confusions launches a six week repertory tour alongside On Approval and Peter Terson's But Fred Freud Is Dead at the Sun Lounge in Filey. The full tour performs on Tuesdays in Filey, on Wednesday and Thursdays at the Spa Theatre, Whitby and on Fridays and Saturdays at The Library Theatre, Scarborough, between 12 November and 21 December.
30 November 1974
The final performance of Confusions as part of the winter tour season takes place at The Library Theatre, Scarborough.
4 August 1975
Alan Ayckbourn revives Confusions for the summer season at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, in repertory from 4 August to 10 September.
19 May 1976
London premiere of Confusions at the Apollo Theatre, London, directed by Alan Strachan.
8 January 1977
Confusions closes at the Apollo Theatre, London.
1977
Samuel French publishes the acting edition of Confusions.
14 September 1979
Mother Figure, directed by Matthew Walters, is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
1983
Methuen publishes a student edition of Confusions.
20 April 1985
Confusions (Mother Figure, Gosforth's Fête & Between Mouthfuls), directed by Gordon House, is broadcast on BBC World Service.
6 - 9 April 1987
Confusions (Mother Figure, Drinking Companion, Gosforth's Fête, A Talk In The Park), directed by Dan Garrett, is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
28 August 1988
Gosforth's Fête, directed by Clive Brill, is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
4 December 1991
Confusions opens at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough, directed by Malcolm Hebden.
1992
Heinemann publish a student edition of Confusions.
9 July 2015
Confusions is revived at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, directed by Alan Ayckbourn.
9 July 2015
Bloomsbury publishes a new edition of Confusions to mark the 60th anniversary of the Stephen Joseph Theatre.
14 July 2015
The 60th anniversary of the Stephen Joseph Theatre is celebrated with the official opening night of Alan Ayckbourn's revival of Confusions.
13 January 2016
UK tour of Confusions and Hero's Welcome opens at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford.
28 May 2016
New York premiere of Confusions when it opens at the Brits Off Broadway festival at the 59E59 Theaters, New York, for a six week residency in repertory with Hero's Welcome.
Article by Simon Murgatroyd. Copyright: Haydonning Ltd. Please do not reproduce without permission of the copyright holder.