The Norman Conquests: Significant Productions
This page contains details of significant productions of Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests, 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 (1973)
Fancy Meeting You first performance: 18 June 1973
World premiere: 18 June 1973
Final performance: 13 September 1973
Make Yourself At Home first performance: 25 June 1973
World Premiere: 25 June 1973
Final performance: 14 September 1973
Round & Round The Garden first performance: 2 July 1973
World premiere: 2 July 1973
Final performance: 15 September 1973
Venue: Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
World premiere: 18 June 1973
Final performance: 13 September 1973
Make Yourself At Home first performance: 25 June 1973
World Premiere: 25 June 1973
Final performance: 14 September 1973
Round & Round The Garden first performance: 2 July 1973
World premiere: 2 July 1973
Final performance: 15 September 1973
Venue: Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director:
Design:
Costumes:
Stage Manager:
Deputy SM:
Assistant SM:
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Design:
Costumes:
Stage Manager:
Deputy SM:
Assistant SM:
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Alan Ayckbourn
David Price
Christine Welch
David Price
Allan Took
Robert Benfield
Actor
Stanley Page
Alex Marshall
Janet Dale
Christopher Godwin
Rosalind Adams
Ronald Herdman
David Price
Christine Welch
David Price
Allan Took
Robert Benfield
Actor
Stanley Page
Alex Marshall
Janet Dale
Christopher Godwin
Rosalind Adams
Ronald Herdman
Note: The original titles for the plays are used above, these would later be altered in 1974. Fancy Meeting You was retitled Table Manners, whilst Make Yourself At Home was retitled Living Together.
London Premiere (1974)
Table Manners premiere: 9 May 1974
Living Together premiere: 21 May 1974
Round & Round The Garden premiere: 6 June 1974
Final performance: 29 June 1974
Venue: Greenwich Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Eric Thompson
Design: Alan Pickford
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Living Together premiere: 21 May 1974
Round & Round The Garden premiere: 6 June 1974
Final performance: 29 June 1974
Venue: Greenwich Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Eric Thompson
Design: Alan Pickford
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Actor
Mark Kingston
Penelope Keith
Penelope Wilton
Tom Courtenay
Felicity Kendal
Michael Gambon
Mark Kingston
Penelope Keith
Penelope Wilton
Tom Courtenay
Felicity Kendal
Michael Gambon
London Transfer (1974)
Table Manners premiere: 1 August 1974
Living Together premiere: 5 August 1974
Round & Round The Garden premiere: 8 Aug. 1974
Final performance: 13 March 1976
Venue: Globe Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn (see Notes)
Design: Alan Pickford
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Living Together premiere: 5 August 1974
Round & Round The Garden premiere: 8 Aug. 1974
Final performance: 13 March 1976
Venue: Globe Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Ayckbourn (see Notes)
Design: Alan Pickford
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Actor
Mark Kingston
Penelope Keith
Bridget Turner
Tom Courtenay
Felicity Kendal
Michael Gambon
Mark Kingston
Penelope Keith
Bridget Turner
Tom Courtenay
Felicity Kendal
Michael Gambon
Notes: Penelope Wilton returned to the role of Ruth during a period when Bridget Turner was 'indisposed' during the production run.
Although Eric Thompson is credited as the director of the transfer in the programme, this was apparently not the case. Eric was unavailable due to Absurd Person Singular opening in North America, so Alan Ayckbourn was asked by the producer, Michael Codron, to direct the transfer and subsequent recasts.
Although Eric Thompson is credited as the director of the transfer in the programme, this was apparently not the case. Eric was unavailable due to Absurd Person Singular opening in North America, so Alan Ayckbourn was asked by the producer, Michael Codron, to direct the transfer and subsequent recasts.
London Recast / Transfer (1975)
Recast first performance: 2 June 1975 (TBC)
Venue: Globe Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Transfer first performance: 1 December 1975
Final performance: 13 March 1976
Venue: Apollo Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Eric Thompson
Design: Alan Pickford
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Venue: Globe Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Transfer first performance: 1 December 1975
Final performance: 13 March 1976
Venue: Apollo Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Eric Thompson
Design: Alan Pickford
Lighting: Nick Chelton
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Actor
Ivor Danvers
Sheila Ballantine
Julia McKenzie
Ronald Pickup
Brigit Forsyth
Julian Holloway
Ivor Danvers
Sheila Ballantine
Julia McKenzie
Ronald Pickup
Brigit Forsyth
Julian Holloway
Notes: Although Eric Thompson is credited as the director of the transfer in the programme, this was apparently not the case. Eric was unavailable due to Absurd Person Singular opening in North America, so Alan Ayckbourn was asked by the producer, Michael Codron, to direct the transfer and subsequent recasts.
North American Premiere (1975)
Premiere: 10 October 1975
Final performance: 29 November 1976
Venue: Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles
Director: Eric Thompson
Design: Robert Randolph
Lighting: Robert Randolph
Costumes: Noel Taylor
Final performance: 29 November 1976
Venue: Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles
Director: Eric Thompson
Design: Robert Randolph
Lighting: Robert Randolph
Costumes: Noel Taylor
Character
Norman
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Annie
Ruth
Norman
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Annie
Ruth
Actor
Richard Benjamin
Ken Howard
Barry Nelson
Estelle Parsons
Paula Prentiss
Carole Shelley
Richard Benjamin
Ken Howard
Barry Nelson
Estelle Parsons
Paula Prentiss
Carole Shelley
New York Premiere (1975)
Premiere: 7 December 1975
Final performance: 19 June 1976
Performances: 68 (per play)
Venue: Morosco Theatre
Director: Eric Thompson
Design: Robert Randolph
Lighting: Robert Randolph
Final performance: 19 June 1976
Performances: 68 (per play)
Venue: Morosco Theatre
Director: Eric Thompson
Design: Robert Randolph
Lighting: Robert Randolph
Character
Norman
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Annie
Ruth
Norman
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Annie
Ruth
Actor
Richard Benjamin
Ken Howard
Barry Nelson
Estelle Parsons
Paula Prentiss
Carole Shelley
Richard Benjamin
Ken Howard
Barry Nelson
Estelle Parsons
Paula Prentiss
Carole Shelley
Note: During the course of the run, Don Murray replaced Barry Nelson as Tom and Elaine Heyman replaced Carole Shelley as Ruth.
Revival (1993)
Table Manners first performance: 21 April 1993
Living Together first performance: 28 April 1993
Round & Round The Garden first performance: 12 May 1993
Premiere: 24 May 1993
Final performance: 4 September 1993
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Roger Glossop
Lighting: Jackie Staines
Music: John Pattison
Stage Manager: Philip Rees
Deputy Stage Manager: Erica Jane Fletcher
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Gordon
Living Together first performance: 28 April 1993
Round & Round The Garden first performance: 12 May 1993
Premiere: 24 May 1993
Final performance: 4 September 1993
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Roger Glossop
Lighting: Jackie Staines
Music: John Pattison
Stage Manager: Philip Rees
Deputy Stage Manager: Erica Jane Fletcher
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Gordon
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Actor
Adrian McLoughlin
Jane Maud
Buffy Davis
Peter Lindford
Dariel Pertwee
Andrew Charleson
Adrian McLoughlin
Jane Maud
Buffy Davis
Peter Lindford
Dariel Pertwee
Andrew Charleson
London Revival (2008)
Premiere: 6 October 2008
Final performance: 20 December 2008
Venue: The Old Vic, London
Staging: Round
Director: Matthew Warchus
Design: Rob Howell
Sound: Simon Baker
Lighting: David Howe
Music: Gary Yershon
Final performance: 20 December 2008
Venue: The Old Vic, London
Staging: Round
Director: Matthew Warchus
Design: Rob Howell
Sound: Simon Baker
Lighting: David Howe
Music: Gary Yershon
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Actor
Paul Ritter
Amanda Root
Amelia Bullmore
Stephen Mangan
Jessica Hynes
Ben Miles
Paul Ritter
Amanda Root
Amelia Bullmore
Stephen Mangan
Jessica Hynes
Ben Miles
New York Revival (2009)
First performance: 7 April 2009
Premiere: 23 April 2009
Final performance: 25 July 2009
Venue: Circle In The Square, New York
Staging: Round
Director: Matthew Warchus
Design: Rob Howell
Sound: Simon Baker
Lighting: David Howe
Music: Gary Yershon
Premiere: 23 April 2009
Final performance: 25 July 2009
Venue: Circle In The Square, New York
Staging: Round
Director: Matthew Warchus
Design: Rob Howell
Sound: Simon Baker
Lighting: David Howe
Music: Gary Yershon
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Actor
Paul Ritter
Amanda Root
Amelia Bullmore
Stephen Mangan
Jessica Hynes
Ben Miles
Paul Ritter
Amanda Root
Amelia Bullmore
Stephen Mangan
Jessica Hynes
Ben Miles
Revival (2017)
Table Manners first performance: 18 September 2017
Living Together first performance: 21 September 2017
Round & Round The Garden first performance: 25 September 2017
Premiere: 3 October 2017
Final performance: 28 October 2017
Venue: Chichester Festival Theatre
Staging: Thrust
Director: Blanche McIntyre
Design: Simon Higlett
Sound: George Dennis
Lighting: Johanna Town
Music: Olly Fox
Living Together first performance: 21 September 2017
Round & Round The Garden first performance: 25 September 2017
Premiere: 3 October 2017
Final performance: 28 October 2017
Venue: Chichester Festival Theatre
Staging: Thrust
Director: Blanche McIntyre
Design: Simon Higlett
Sound: George Dennis
Lighting: Johanna Town
Music: Olly Fox
Character
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Reg
Sarah
Ruth
Norman
Annie
Tom
Actor
Jonathan Broadbent
Sarah Hadland
Hattie Ladbury
Trystan Gravelle
Jemima Cooper
John Hollingworth
Jonathan Broadbent
Sarah Hadland
Hattie Ladbury
Trystan Gravelle
Jemima Cooper
John Hollingworth
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.