New Alan Ayckbourn play in Stephen Joseph summer season

Paul Robinson has announced his inaugural season at the Stephen Joseph Theatre.

Jim Cartwright's The Rise and Fall of Little Voice will run from 15 June to 19 August. Directed by the theatre's artistic director Robinson, the play is about a shy woman who can do pitch perfect impressions of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland. She meets talent scour Ray who wants to make her famous, and himself rich. The play won an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, and was adapted into a film starring Jane Horrocks.

Alan Ayckbourn will direct his play Taking Steps, which is about solicitor Tristram who oversees the sale of a haunted brothel. The comedy premiered at the theatre in 1979 and went on to the West End and Broadway. It will run from 13 July to Thursday 5 October.

There will be two world premieres as part of the season. Ayckbourn's A Brief History of Women is a comedy in four parts about an ordinary man, and his remarkable lovers he's had over 60 years. The comedy will run from 1 September to 7 October.

Ali Taylor's new play Goth Weekend is set in the lead-up to Whitby Goth Weekend. It follows a girl who is struggling growing up a mum who's no longer around, and a dad who is dating a goth. Robinson will direct the piece which runs from 14 September to 7 October.

Di and Viv and Rose will get its regional premiere on 3 August. The play, about three women who are thrown together in their late teens, is written by Amelia Bullmore and will be directed by Lotte Wakeham. Bullmore is known for her portrayal of Steph Barnes in Coronation Street.