How The Other Half Loves: Significant Productions
This page contains details of significant productions of Alan Ayckbourn's How The Other Half Loves, 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 (1969)
First performance: 31 July 1969
World premiere: 31 July 1969
Final performance: 13 September 1969
Venue: Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Lighting: Peter Boden
Stage Manager: Robin Holmes
Deputy Stage Manager: Leslie Tomson
Assistant Stage Manager: Charles Boyle
Assistant Stage Manager: Sharon Duce
Assistant Stage Manager: Robert Peck
World premiere: 31 July 1969
Final performance: 13 September 1969
Venue: Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Lighting: Peter Boden
Stage Manager: Robin Holmes
Deputy Stage Manager: Leslie Tomson
Assistant Stage Manager: Charles Boyle
Assistant Stage Manager: Sharon Duce
Assistant Stage Manager: Robert Peck
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Jeremy Franklin
Stephanie Turner
Elisabeth Sladen
Colin Edwynn
Brian Miller
Elizabeth Ashton
Jeremy Franklin
Stephanie Turner
Elisabeth Sladen
Colin Edwynn
Brian Miller
Elizabeth Ashton
Pre-London Try-Out (1970)
Premiere: 19 March 1970
Venue: Phoenix Theatre, Leicester
Staging: End-stage
Director: Robin Midgley
Design: Franco Colavecchia
Producer: Peter Bridge
Venue: Phoenix Theatre, Leicester
Staging: End-stage
Director: Robin Midgley
Design: Franco Colavecchia
Producer: Peter Bridge
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Hugh Paddick
Sheila Steafel
Anna Barry
Stephen MacDonald
Roy Macready
Hilda Braid
Hugh Paddick
Sheila Steafel
Anna Barry
Stephen MacDonald
Roy Macready
Hilda Braid
Note: Unconvinced of the play's West End potential, the producer Peter Bridge organised a try-out production in Leicester with a different company to that which eventually took the play to London later in the same year.
London Premiere (1970)
First performance: 5 August 1970
Premiere: 5 August 1970
Final performance: 30 September 1972
Venue: Lyric Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Robin Midgley
Design: Alan Tagg
Lighting: John B. Read
Producers: Peter Bridge & Eddie Kulukundis
Premiere: 5 August 1970
Final performance: 30 September 1972
Venue: Lyric Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Robin Midgley
Design: Alan Tagg
Lighting: John B. Read
Producers: Peter Bridge & Eddie Kulukundis
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Robert Morley
Heather Sears
Joan Tetzel
Donald Burton
Brian Miller
Elizabeth Ashton
Robert Morley
Heather Sears
Joan Tetzel
Donald Burton
Brian Miller
Elizabeth Ashton
Note: During the course of its run, there were several cast alterations. Jan Holden took over the role of Fiona Foster (probably in 1971) with Ian McCulloch and Sheila Steafel taking over the roles of Bob and Terry Phillips (probably in 1972).
Broadway Premiere (1971)
First performance: 29 March 1971
Final performance: 26 June 1971
Performances: 104
Venue: Royale Theatre
Director: Gene Saks
Design: David Mitchell
Lighting: Peggy Clark
Final performance: 26 June 1971
Performances: 104
Venue: Royale Theatre
Director: Gene Saks
Design: David Mitchell
Lighting: Peggy Clark
Character
Frank Foster
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
Teresa Phillips
William Detweiler
Mary Detweiler
Frank Foster
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
Teresa Phillips
William Detweiler
Mary Detweiler
Actor
Phil Silvers
Bernice Massi
Richard Mulligan
Sandy Dennis
Tom Aldredge
Jeanne Hepple
Phil Silvers
Bernice Massi
Richard Mulligan
Sandy Dennis
Tom Aldredge
Jeanne Hepple
Tour (1973)
First performance: 13 March 1973
Venue: Theatre Royal Windsor
Staging: End-stage
Director: Hugh Goldie
Design: Richard Berry
Lighting: Jane Laws
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Venue: Theatre Royal Windsor
Staging: End-stage
Director: Hugh Goldie
Design: Richard Berry
Lighting: Jane Laws
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Derek Bond
Paula Wilcox
Miriam Karlin
Ray Lonnen
Derek Seaton
Sue Nicholls
Derek Bond
Paula Wilcox
Miriam Karlin
Ray Lonnen
Derek Seaton
Sue Nicholls
Revival (1976)
Premiere: 5 April 1976
Venue: Wimbledon Theatre
Company: Actors Company
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Robin Archer
Lighting: Brian Harris
Stage Manager: Jonathan Bartlett
Assistant Stage Manager: Harriet Eastcote
Venue: Wimbledon Theatre
Company: Actors Company
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Robin Archer
Lighting: Brian Harris
Stage Manager: Jonathan Bartlett
Assistant Stage Manager: Harriet Eastcote
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Moray Watson
Stephanie Turner
Barbara Murray
Neil Stacy
Simon Cadell
Helen Cotterill
Moray Watson
Stephanie Turner
Barbara Murray
Neil Stacy
Simon Cadell
Helen Cotterill
Revival (1988)
First performance: 8 February 1988
Final performance: 9 March 1988
Venue: Greenwich Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Michael Pavelka
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Final performance: 9 March 1988
Venue: Greenwich Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Michael Pavelka
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Christopher Benjamin
Louisa Rix
Gabriella Drake
Stuart Organ
Richard Kane
Lavinia Bertram
Christopher Benjamin
Louisa Rix
Gabriella Drake
Stuart Organ
Richard Kane
Lavinia Bertram
London Revival (1988)
First performance: 14 June 1988
Final performance: 26 November 1988
Venue: Duke Of York's Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Michael Pavelka
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Final performance: 26 November 1988
Venue: Duke Of York's Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Michael Pavelka
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Christopher Benjamin
Louisa Rix
Gabriella Drake
Stuart Organ
Richard Kane
Lavinia Bertram
Christopher Benjamin
Louisa Rix
Gabriella Drake
Stuart Organ
Richard Kane
Lavinia Bertram
Note: This production was a transfer of Greenwich Theatre’s 1988 revival.
Tour (1998)
Premiere: 16 November 1998
Venue: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Julian Saxton
Lighting: Leonard Tucker
Sound: Dan Last
Venue: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Julian Saxton
Lighting: Leonard Tucker
Sound: Dan Last
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Anton Rodgers
Dariel Pertwee
Angela Thorne
Michael Lumsden
Paul Raffield
Suzy Aitchison
Anton Rodgers
Dariel Pertwee
Angela Thorne
Michael Lumsden
Paul Raffield
Suzy Aitchison
Revival (2007)
Tour Premiere: 7 August 2007
Venue: Theatre Royal, Bath
Company: The Peter Hall Company
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Paul Farnsworth
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Venue: Theatre Royal, Bath
Company: The Peter Hall Company
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Paul Farnsworth
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Nicholas le Provost
Amanda Royle
Marsha Fitzalan
Richard Stacey
Paul Kemp
Claudia Elmhirst
Nicholas le Provost
Amanda Royle
Marsha Fitzalan
Richard Stacey
Paul Kemp
Claudia Elmhirst
Revival (2009)
First performance: 4 June 2009
Premiere: 9 June 2009
Final performance: 29 August 2009
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Jan Bee Brown
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Fight Director: Kate Waters
Company Stage Manager: Andy Hall
Deputy Stage Manager: Den Body
Assistant Stage Manager: Rebecca Mason
Premiere: 9 June 2009
Final performance: 29 August 2009
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Jan Bee Brown
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Fight Director: Kate Waters
Company Stage Manager: Andy Hall
Deputy Stage Manager: Den Body
Assistant Stage Manager: Rebecca Mason
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Robert Austin
Rosie Jenkins
Marilyn Cutts
Theo Cross
Ian McLarnon
Anna Lowe
Robert Austin
Rosie Jenkins
Marilyn Cutts
Theo Cross
Ian McLarnon
Anna Lowe
London Revival (2016)
First performance: 23 March 2016
Premiere: 31 March 2016
Final performance: 25 June 2016
Venue: Theatre Royal Haymarket
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Julie Godfrey
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Dan Samson
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Premiere: 31 March 2016
Final performance: 25 June 2016
Venue: Theatre Royal Haymarket
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Julie Godfrey
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Dan Samson
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Nicholas le Provost
Tamzin Outhwaite
Jenny Seagrove
Jason Merrells
Matthew Cottle
Gillian Wright
Nicholas le Provost
Tamzin Outhwaite
Jenny Seagrove
Jason Merrells
Matthew Cottle
Gillian Wright
London Transfer (2016)
First performance: 7 July 2016
Final performance: 1 October 2016
Venue: Duke of York's Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Julie Godfrey
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Dan Samson
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Final performance: 1 October 2016
Venue: Duke of York's Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Julie Godfrey
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Dan Samson
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Nicholas le Provost
Andrea Lowe
Jenny Seagrove
Jason Merrells
Matthew Cottle
Gillian Wright
Nicholas le Provost
Andrea Lowe
Jenny Seagrove
Jason Merrells
Matthew Cottle
Gillian Wright
Tour (2017)
First performance: 30 August 2017
Venue: Theatre Royal, Windsor
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Julie Godfrey
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Dan Samson
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Venue: Theatre Royal, Windsor
Staging: End-stage
Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Julie Godfrey
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Dan Samson
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Character
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Frank Foster
Teresa Phillips
Fiona Foster
Bob Phillips
William Featherstone
Mary Featherstone
Actor
Robert Daws
Charlie Brooks
Caroline Langrishe
Leon Ockenden
Matthew Cottle
Sara Crowe
Robert Daws
Charlie Brooks
Caroline Langrishe
Leon Ockenden
Matthew Cottle
Sara Crowe
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.