The Square Cat: In Brief
The Square Cat
Play Number: 1World Premiere: 30 July 1959
Venue: Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
Premiere Staging: In-the-round
Published: No
Other Media: No
Cast: 3m / 2f
Synopsis: A house-wife arranges an illicit rendezvous at a country house with the rock 'n' roll star Jerry Wattis, who is not all he appears to be. Mayhem ensures when her husband, son and daughter also turn up.
Note: The Square Cat has never been published, nor is it available to produce. Original manuscripts are held in the British Library and the Ayckbourn Archive at the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York.
- The Square Cat is Alan Ayckbourn's first professionally produced play.
- The world premiere - directed by Stephen Joseph - was held at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, on 30 July, 1959.
- The Square Cat is credited to Roland Allen and was co-written with his wife Christine Roland (hence the pseudonym combines both names).
- Alan was 19 years old he wrote the play in early 1959.
- It has only been produced twice: the original production at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre in 1959 followed by a tour to the Municipal Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme, in 1960.
- The play was directed by Stephen Joseph; the most influential mentor in Alan's life who also encouraged him to both write and direct.
- The play was commissioned as a direct result of Alan complaining about the quality of role he was playing in Ring Of Roses by David Campton. As a result, Stephen Joseph challenged Alan to write a better play.
- Alan Ayckbourn starred in the original production of the play in the dual role of Jerry Wattis / Arthur Brummage; roles which required him to sing, dance and play guitar - none of which he could do!
- The Square Cat is a farce. It is one of only three pure full-length farces written by Alan Ayckbourn, of which only Taking Steps is available to produce.
- The Square Cat has never been published, nor is it available to produce. Original manuscripts are held in the British Library and the Ayckbourn Archive at the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York.