The Square Cat: Interviews
This section features interviews with Alan Ayckbourn about his first play The Square Cat. Click on the link in the right-hand column below to go to the relevant interview.This interview with Alan Ayckbourn is a short extract from an extensive interview by Alan Yentob for the BBC'1 documentary, Imagine, broadcast during 2011.
The Square Cat
Alan Ayckbourn: Yes, Christine and I had one child which arrived inconveniently fast after the wedding, but nonetheless she was very supportive. The first two plays I wrote under our joint names - Roland Allen - because she was very very helpful in helping with the structure, which I was still blundering about with.
The Square Cat came about after a row I had with Stephen Joseph, because I was appearing in a play [Ring Of Roses by David Campton] and I came off complaining about the part. Stephen said, ‘well, if you can write a better play than this, then you’re on.’ And I said, ‘Anybody can write a better play than this. Right, take you on mate.’
So the following summer, I presented him with The Square Cat. My whole ego was blown to bits because I was writing for myself with a leading role where I displayed talents which I did not have, singing, dancing, all-smiling and of course...
Playing the guitar?
Playing the guitar!
Which you couldn’t play?
No! I got three lessons from a guy in Trafalgar Road. He said, ‘where’s your guitar?” and I said, ‘Haven’t got one!’ He said, ‘Oh, you can borrow mine. When do you need to learn this by?” I said, ‘week on Wednesday…' He said ‘God Almighty. You’re never going to learn anything, but let’s look for the songbook.’ And we came up with If I Gave My Love A Cherry which is one of the most tedious folk songs we ever heard. But at least it was only two chords. Dum, dum. And I said, ‘This man’s a rock and roll singer, he’s playing Dum Dum.’ So I thought I’ll play him as if he’s in a reflective mood! So sometimes I sang it and sometimes I would look up at the control room box, shake my head and the blackout would come.
Interview by Alan Yentob Copyright: BBC. Please do not reproduce without permission of the copyright holder.