An innovative autumn and winter season for 2020 at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre has been carefully crafted to combine live theatre for socially distanced audiences with digital work for those that prefer to stay at home.
It includes the world premiere of a new play by John Godber, a new audio recording by the author of an Alan Ayckbourn play, and a one-person Christmas show, one of the few in the region, which was specially rewritten to adapt to current circumstances.
Artistic Director Paul Robinson says: “We’ve worked hard to create an ambitious season of relatively small-scale work, but one that promises great entertainment and really does have something for everyone, including shows for those who are happy to return to the building, and also for those who aren’t.
“We see it as part of our ongoing civic role to open as soon as is reasonably practicable, and to present irresistible work alongside meticulously thought-through health and safety measures.
“Our family show at Christmas, for instance, was originally written for five actors, but that would have made rehearsing impossibly under current guidelines – writer Nick Lane has adapted it into a remarkable one-woman show that we’re confident will be every bit as much fun as the original and will really showcase the multi-talented Polly Lister.
“Everything will pay proper heed to social distancing, for both the audience and for our staff and performers.”
