Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre celebrates its 70th birthday in 2025, with a season that includes the first in-the-round production of classic backstage comedy Noises Off, as well as the 91st play by the theatre’s 85-year-old Director Emeritus, Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
Earth Angel (September 13-October 11) is the record-breaking 91st play from Ayckbourn and will be directed by the author. Gerald recently lost his wife Amy.
She was the light of his life but he’s trying his best to put a brave face on things. Then a mysterious stranger turns up at Amy’s wake. He seems like a nice enough chap, washing the dishes and offering to do a shop for Gerald: but is he all he appears to be?
Michael Frayn’s classic farce Noises Off (August 9-September 6) follows the on- and off-stage antics of a touring theatre company as its cast stumbles its way through the fictional farce, Nothing On.
The year kicks off with a new adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost (more or less) by Elizabeth Godber and Nick Lane (March 27-April 19). Shakespeare's comedy is brought to life in the 1990s, featuring musical numbers from the era of boy bands and girl power.
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, adapted by award-winning playwright Kate Hamill (July 3-26), is a co-production with the Octagon Theatre in Bolton and Theatre by the Lake in Keswick. Can headstrong Lizzie Bennet resist love, especially when the infuriatingly intriguing Mr Darcy keeps popping up at every turn?!
Christmas 2025 brings Sleeping Beauty (November 28-December 28), created by the same team as last year’s UK Theatre award-winning Beauty and the Beast and this year’s Aladdin.
Next year will also bring two special fund-raising events: on July 13, a celebration of Circle of Love, the first play presented at STJ's first home, Scarborough Library Theatre, which opened on July 14, 1955; and from September 26-28, Actors, Audiences and Ayckbourn will include a rehearsed reading of a previously unheard play by the author, plus a talk by Ayckbourn's archivist, Simon Murgatroyd, and the chance to hear from some of the renowned writer’s favourite actors. More information on both events soon.
Finally, the theatre’s creative engagement team is preparing three shows from SJT's talented youth groups, Mystery at the Museum (February 12-13), Education, Education, Education (March 11-15), and David Wood’s musical adaptation of Edward Lear’s classic poem The Owl and the Pussycat Went To See (May 29-31).
Tickets for all shows except Love’s Labour’s Lost (More or Less), which is already on sale, go on sale to members of the the SJT’s membership scheme from November 13, and on general sale from November 20.
More info and tickets here