The Ayckbourn Collection at Scarborough Museums & Galleries
These pages relate to the Ayckbourn Collection at Scarborough Museums & Galleries. This is a curated collection of material relating to Alan Ayckbourn, Stephen Joseph and the development of theatre in the round in Scarborough donated to the town by the playwright and his archivist, Simon Murgatroyd.An Archivist's Note
by Simon Murgatroyd
Related Pages
Alan Ayckbourn's Archivist, Simon Murgatroyd, with the Ayckbourn Collection (© Tony Bartholomew)
I've been the playwright's archivist since 2005 and in 2011 saw the huge and comprehensive Ayckbourn Archive be acquired for the nation to be held by the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York. Ever since then, I've held hope that some smaller collection could be held in the town which has been so significant to the playwright and vice versa.
True, the Stephen Joseph Theatre holds an extensive archive with much material relating to Alan Ayckbourn - particularly subsequent to the mid 1970s. But it is a private archive largely or the SJT's own benefit.
Having stepped down as the SJT's Archivist in 2022, I set my mind to realising this long-held ambition and, with the support and agreement of the Borthwick Institute for Archives, I began to curate a small but significant collection of approximately 50 items which could be donated to the town.
The collection, of course, began with the key item of am original manuscript of Alan Ayckbourn's first play, The Square Cat, and developed from there with occasional additions of items from my own collection.
In January 2023, I approached the of Scarborough Museums and Galleries, Andrew Clay, who showed immense enthusiasm about acquiring the collection for the town and as I met other members of the team - particularly the Collections Manager Jim Middleton - it became obvious this enthusiasm shared and this was the right place for the Collection.
Along the way, it opened the door to a portrait of Sir Alan by John Bratby being loaned to the Art Gallery for an exhibition, which in itself led to the portrait becoming part of the permanent donation.
This all came together ion July 2023 with the announcement of the acquisition of the Ayckbourn Collection by Scarborough Museums and Galleries. Six months of work but a dream of more than a decade finally realised.
It also coincided with the recent launch of my new website, A Round Town at www.theatre-in-the-round.co.uk which looks at the history of theatre in the round in Scarborough. A fortuitous coincidence but one which further shows the importance of Alan Ayckbourn, Stephen Joseph and theatre in the round to the cultural heritage and history of Scarborough.
I'm delighted the Ayckbourn Collection has a home in Scarborough and I hope to be working with it and Scarborough Museums and Galleries in the years to come, exploring just what theatre in the round and Alan Ayckbourn means to Scarborough.
I'd like to thank Gary Brennan at the Borthwick Institute for supporting this and Andrew Clay and his team at Scarborough Museums and Galleries for their enthusiasm for the Collection.
And, of course, to Sir Alan and Lady Ayckbourn for listening to and supporting my idea for the Collection and donation and allowing me to facilitate this wonderful new addition to Scarborough's collections. It's been a privilege to have initiated and guided this project.
Simon Murgatroyd
Alan Ayckbourn's Archivist
August 2023