Alan Ayckbourn Encyclopaedia: L
Late Wife, The: An as-yet unproduced play written by Alan Ayckbourn during 2021.Laughter In The Dark: An academic hardback edition by Albert E. Kalson. Published in 1993 by Associated University Presses, it discusses Alan Ayckbourn's plays and themes and introduces the concept of the A (Ayckbourn) Effect.
Leatherhead Theatre Club: Alan Ayckbourn's first professional theatre employment was at Leatherhead Theatre Club during 1957, where he acted and staged-managed having been recruited by the theatre's founder Hazel Vincent Wallace.
Leckenby, Pip: Regular designer for both world premieres and revivals of Alan Ayckbourn's plays staged at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, between 1998 and 2011.
Liber, Vera: Author responsible for the literal translations of Ostrovsky's The Forest and Chekhov's Uncle Vanya for Alan Ayckbourn's adaptations The Forest and Dear Uncle.
The Library Theatre: The name commonly - and inaccurately - given to Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, home to the country's first professional theatre in the round company, created by Stephen Joseph in 1955. Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre was based on the first-floor concert room at Scarborough Public Library and was home to the company between 1955 and 1976 before it moved to the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round. Alan Ayckbourn became the Artistic Director of the venue in 1972. To be strictly accurate, the term Library Theatre refers to the venue at the library - which was used generically for any company performing in that space. Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre was the title specifically used by Stephen Joseph to identify his company's performance.
Life After Beth: The original title for Life & Beth was Life After Beth and it was Beth, rather than her husband, who had died prior to the play. The title was first mentioned in an interview from December 2007 but altered to Life & Beth soon afterwards.
Life & Beth: Alan Ayckbourn's 71st play premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, on 22 July 2008. The recently widowed Beth is hosting her first Christmas since her husband's Gordon's death. An unexpected visit and prayer from the local vicar brings an unwelcome and unexpected Christmas visitor to the house.
Life Of Riley: Alan Ayckbourn's 74th play premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, on 21 September 2010. Friends and family gather to remember the unseen and dying George Riley's life. As they look back on lives lived or might have lived, George plots a final farewell which threatens to upset all their future lives.
Life Of Riley (film): The film adaptation of Life Of Riley, directed by Alain Resnais and premiered in competition at the Berlin Film Festival on 10 February 2014. Called Aimer, Boire et Chanter in France, it won the Silver Bear Albert Bauer prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives. This was also the final film to be directed by Alain Resnais before his death in 2014.
Life Of Riley (concept): An undated synopsis in Alan Ayckbourn's archive bears the title of Life Of Riley, although the plot does not match that as written. Of note is the fact one of the characters is 13 year old Winnie Barnstairs, which dates the note to before March 2009 when he wrote My Wonderful Day whose lead character is called Winnie Barnstairs.
Like A Sister: One of several unused titles considered for Sisterly Feelings.
Living Together (The Norman Conquests): Alan Ayckbourn's 14th play premiered at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, on 25 June 1973 and opened at the Globe Theatre, London, on 21 May 1974. One part of The Norman Conquests trilogy, this is set in the living room with Norman's attentions focussed largely on Ruth.
Lockdown: See 'Covid-19'
Lolly: The name that Alan Ayckbourn's mother, Irene Maud Worley, was more familiarly known.
London: A number of Alan Ayckbourn's plays are identifiably set in London, with the city playing more significance as a setting in some of his later plays. The London-set plays include: Communicating Doors, elements of The Revengers' Comedies, Comic Potential, Virtual Reality, the Damsels In Distress trilogy, Sugar Daddies, Private Fears In Public Places, My Wonderful Day, elements of Arrivals & Departures and Consuming Passions.
London 2012 Festival: The Stephen Joseph Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre presented co-productions of Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular and his latest play Surprises as part of London 2012; the cultural festival accompanying the Olympic Games. Like many of the events, there was no direct link to London 2012, which neither contributed to or commissioned the productions.
Love After All (1959): Alan Ayckbourn's 2nd play premiered at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, on 21 December 1959. A farcical tale concerning a hero's attempts to meet the woman of his dreams through a variety of disguises - eventually ending up with the maid instead. Alan wrote the play under the pseudonym Roland Allen which has been withdrawn from production by the playwright and has never been published.
Love After All (1960): Alan Ayckbourn's 2nd play was revived the following year in 1960 at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, with an alternative contemporary setting and slight alterations to the plot. Alan Ayckbourn, who was prevented from appearing in the first production due to National Service, appeared in this production. This alternative version of the play has also been withdrawn from production by the playwright and has never been published.
Love In The Mist (Intimate Exchanges): One of the eight major permutations of Intimate Exchanges in which Miles and Sylvie begin a tentative relationship and go on a hike, only to be stranded in a hut in the mist. It has two possible permutations for the final scene comprising A Wedding and A Simple Ceremony.
Love Undertaken (1961): One of the Grey Plays (produced but unpublished), Love Undertaken is a one-act play by Alan Ayckbourn presented during October 1961 at St Mary's Parish House, Scarborough. The play is a light-comedy set in an undertaker's parlour. Love Undertaken is not available to produce.
Lower Pendon: Alan Ayckbourn's frequently used fictional town of Pendon is first named in Relatively Speaking as Lower Pendon, which is - at this point - located in Buckinghamshire. See Pendon.
The Lyttelton: The end-stage venue at the National Theatre. The London premieres of Alan Ayckbourn's plays Bedroom Farce, Way Upstream and House as well as the 2010 revival of Seasons' Greetings were staged in this space.
Original research for the The Alan Ayckbourn Encyclopaedia section is by Simon Murgatroyd and copyright of the author.