A Small Family Business: A Timeline
The Timeline offers a chronological view of significant events in the history of the play A Small Family Business; it only lists major productions and does not include the vast majority of the many professional and amateur productions of the play.Circa late 1984
Sir Peter Hall makes the suggestion to Alan Ayckbourn he consider coming to the National Theatre as an associate director / company director.
3 June 1985
The Scarborough Evening News announces Alan Ayckbourn is to take a two year sabbatical from the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough, from mid-1986. No other details are published except to confirm the playwright will return to the theatre in 1988.
September 1985
It is publicly confirmed Alan Ayckbourn will be joining the National Theatre as an Associate Director for the duration of his sabbatical from Scarborough. It is announced he will direct three plays (he will actually direct four plays) including the world premiere of a new play written by him.
April 1986
Alan Ayckbourn writes A Small Family Business a year in advance of its premiere; the first time the playwright has written a play so far in advance of production.
30 October 1986
The first of Alan Ayckbourn's four productions for the National Theatre, Tons Of Money by Will Evans & Valentine, opens in The Lyttelton.
November 1986
Unsubstantiated media reports that Alan Ayckbourn will not be returning to the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round are firmly rebuffed by the playwright.
31 December 1986
The New Years Honours list announces Alan Ayckbourn is to be made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
12 February 1987
The second of Alan Ayckbourn's four productions for the National Theatre, A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller, opens in The Cottesloe.
21 May 1987
A Small Family Business premieres at the Olivier in the National Theatre, London, directed by Alan Ayckbourn. This is the third of Alan's four productions for the venue.
20 July 1987
Faber & Faber publishes A Small Family Business.
3 November 1987
Alan Ayckbourn's production of A View From The Bridge transfers from the National Theatre to the Aldwych Theatre in London's West End.
November 1987
A new cast takes over A Small Family Business at the National Theatre, directed by Alan Ayckbourn, as much of the original company have transferred with A View From The Bridge to the West End.
November 1987
A Small Family Business wins the Evening Standard Award for Best Play; Michael Gambon wins the Evening Standard Award for Best Actor for A View From The Bridge.
February 1988
Michael Gambon wins the Olivier Award for Best Actor and Suzan Sylvester wins the Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Alan Ayckbourn's production of A View From The Bridge. Alan Ayckbourn is nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Director for A View From The Bridge.
25 February 1988
The fourth of Alan Ayckbourn's four productions at the National Theatre, 'Tis Pity She's A Whore by John Ford, opens in The Olivier.
April 1988
Alan Ayckbourn returns as full-time Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough.
April 1988
Samuel French publishes the acting edition of A Small Family Business.
April 1988
Upstart, a controversial production company created by funds from the Art Council and private investment, announces it will launch with a touring production of the National Theatre's A Small Family Business in the autumn. The tour does not take place.
10 September 1988
A Small Family Business closes at the National Theatre, London.
1989
A Small Family Business is released for general professional production.
27 April 1992
A Small Family Business opens at the Music Box Theater, New York, directed by Lynne Meadow for a limited season.
7 June 1992
A Small Family Business closes at the Music Box Theater, New York.
17 July 1995
Faber & Faber publishes Alan Ayckbourn: Plays One; a collection of Ayckbourn plays including A Small Family Business.
25 July 2000
A Small Family Business opens at Chichester Festival Theatre, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh.
6 June 2003
A Small Family Business opens at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, directed by Ian Brown.
12 April 2009
The BBC broadcast a radio adaption on BBC Radio 3 of A Small Family Business, directed by Martin Jarvis.
30 April 2010
A Small Family Business opens at Cymru Theatr Clywd, directed by Terry Hands.
1 April 2014
A Small Family Business is revived at the National Theatre, directed by Adam Penford, with opening night on 8 April.
12 June 2014
NT Live digitally streams the National Theatre production of A Small Family Business to 1,100 screens in 40 countries.
27 August 2014
A Small Family Business closes at the National Theatre.
Article by Simon Murgatroyd. Copyright: Haydonning Ltd. Please do not reproduce without permission of the copyright holder.