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SJT Floods Stage Upstream & Debuts Sister Sadie

Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre kicks off its autumn/winter season next week with two new in-house productions written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn, the theatre's artistic director and one of the UK's most prolific playwrights.

First up is Ayckbourn's 1981 comedy, Way Upstream, rarely revived due to its complicated staging which requires a boat floated on a flooded stage. Business partners Keith and Alistair are off on a boating holiday along with their reluctant wives, June and Emma. Back home their family firm is in crisis with labour relations at an all time low. So what could be better than a couple of weeks cabin cruising on a quiet English river to forget it all?

Way Upstream runs from 17 October to 15 November 2003. It's followed by the world premiere of Ayckbourn's 65th play, My Sister Sadie, a new family play which will have a Christmas season from 2 December 2003 to 3 January 2004.

In My Sister Sadie, Luke and his mother Avril eke out their existence tending to their run-down, isolated farm in a remote part of England. They both miss Luke's sister June so much and would give anything in the world to have her back with them, alive and well again. When a brand new, full-grown, large-as-life sister drops out of the night sky, she seems to be the answer to all their prayers.

- by Terri Paddock

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