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Roundelay

Full-Length Play  /  4w, 4m

Alan Ayckbourn

Five self-contained one-act plays, written to be performed in any order, all of which are connected through overlapping narratives and shared characters.


Roundelay

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Details

Summary
Roundelay consists of five short, self-contained plays, written to be played in any sequence. There are therefore 120 possibilities as to the order in which they could be performed. Many are connected, sometimes through shared characters, sometimes through overlapping narrative. Some are prequels to others, being themselves in turn sequels to others.

It is hoped that during a run they will be played in as many different orders as there are performances, employing simple staging to allow minimal gaps between each scene.
Blanche Holgate 40’s
Tom Holgate Her father, a retired judge, 70’s
Russ Timms A clergyman, 30’s Gale Devonne An entrepreneur, 30’s
Ashley Kuyper A neighbour, 40’s Roz Perkins A schoolgirl, 16
Lindy Kuze An escort, 30s Lance An enforcer, 40’s
Mrs Miller A choreographer, 40’s Leo Axminster MP 40’s
Sean McKintyre A journalist, 30’s
Mrs Kuyper A constituent, 70’s

Note: Roundelay was conceived for a cast of eight, allowing for a doubling of certain roles.
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

"Moving and hilarious" - The Guardian

"Entertaining and daring" - The Times

"Here the writing, too, is at its finest—intriguing as well as masterfully comic." - British Theatre Guide

"A captivating work" - Gazette Series

ON BREAKING CHARACTER

10 Alan Ayckbourn Plays and Musicals to Perform
by Cathy Thomas
August 13, 2019

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
    This title may have restrictions in place for London based productions. Please submit a licence request to confirm specific availability.

Scripts

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Authors

Alan Ayckbourn

Alan Ayckbourn

A playwright and theatre director, to date Alan Ayckbourn has written 89 plays – Family Album attracted four-star reviews when it premiered in September 2022 at the Stephen Joseph, where nearly all his plays are first staged.

However, this year he will stage his 88th play Welc ...

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