Relatively Speaking: Significant Productions

This page contains details of significant productions of Alan Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking, 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 (1965)

First performance: 8 July 1965
World premiere: 8 July 1965
Final performance: 11 August 1965
Venue: Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round
Original Title: Meet My Father

Director: Stephen Joseph
Lighting: Clive Goodhead

Stage Manager: Valerie Fletcher
Character
Greg
Gina
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Peter King
Joanna Tope
David Jarrett
Catherine Naish
Note: In the original production of the play, Ginny was called Gina. This was altered for the West End production to Virginia (presumably shortened to Ginny in the play). The character is not credited as Ginny in a programme until Alan Ayckbourn's first production of the play in Leeds in 1970.

London Premiere (1967)

First performance: 29 March 1967
Premiere: 29 March 1967
Closed: 3 February 1968
Venue: Duke Of York's Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage

Director: Nigel Patrick
Design: Hutchinson Scott
Lighting: Michael Northern
Character
Greg
Virginia
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Richard Briers
Jennifer Hilary
Michael Hordern
Celia Johnson

London Recast (1968)

First performance: 29 March 1967
Premiere: 29 March 1967
Closed: 3 February 1968
Venue: Duke Of York's Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage

Director: Nigel Patrick
Design: Hutchinson Scott
Lighting: Michael Northern
Character
Greg
Virginia
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Philip Guard
Polly Adams
Colin Gordon
Judy Campbell
Note: No dates are known for when the new company took over the play, but it seems likely it would have been either six months or nine months after the play originally opened. Given the play began making substantial losses in December 1967, it seems plausible this was when the new company took over the play.

Tour (1968)

First performance: 6 February 1968
Venue: Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon
Staging: End-stage

Director: Donald Sinden
Design: Hutchinson Scott
Lighting: Michael Northern
Producers: Peter Bridge / Peter Elliott
Character
Greg
Virginia
Philip
Sheila
Actor
John Carlisle
Anne Lawson
Raymond Francis
Evelyn Laye

Revival (1970)

Premiere: 14 April 1970
Venue: Leeds Civic Theatre
Staging: End-stage
Note: Amateur production

Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Alan Ayckbourn
Lighting: Tony Braime
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Chris Ward
Sue Clarkson
Marion Walker
Bill Smith
Note: It is unusual for this website to carry details of amateur productions of Alan Ayckbourn's plays. This production marked the first time Alan Ayckbourn directed Relatively Speaking - at the time he was a BBC Radio Drama Producer in Leeds and he was the President of Leeds Art Theatre.

Tour (1974)

First performance: Unknown 1974
Venue: Unknown
Staging: End-stage

Director (Gardner Centre): John David
Director (tour): Roy Patrick
Design: Karen Mills
Producer: Cameron Macintosh
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Simon Williams
Lucy Williams
Moray Watson
Dora Bryan
Note: This was the second major UK tour of Relatively Speaking and produced by Cameron Macintosh and George Borwick in association with Paul Elliott and Duncan C Weldon. It was built around Dora Bryan and began life at the Gardner Centre in Brighton (a three week run which featured Dora Bryan and Moray Watson but with Jeremy Nicholas and Madeleine Cannon as Greg & Ginny). The tour ran through 1974 and 1975 during which the company changed to include Robert Flemyng (Philip), Christopher Neame (Greg) and Phyllida Nash (Ginny). Bizarrely, Dora Bryan was given to performing short cabaret revues after the curtain call at some performances!

Revival (1977)

First performance: 27 June 1977
Premiere: 27 June 1977
Final performance: 21 September 1977
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round, Scarborough
Staging: Round

Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Terry Brown

Stage Manager: Janet Fox
Deputy Stage Manager: Christopher Gray
Assistant Stage Manager: Anne Hawkins
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Robin Herford
Diane Bull
Robert Austin
Alison Skilbeck

Tour (1982)

First performance: Unknown 1982
Venue: Unknown
Staging: End-stage

Director: Salvin Stewart
Design: Julian Saxton
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Colin Baker
Prunella Gee
Gerald Flood
Eleanor Summerfield

New York Premiere (1984)

First performance: 7 August 1984
Premiere: August 1984
Venue: INTAR Theatre, 420 West 42nd Street
Staging: End-stage

Director: Rick Meyer
Design: Marc D. Malamud
Company: Artistic New Directions

Stage Manager: Peter Kent
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
James Kirsch
Kristine Niven
Thomas Barbour
Kathleen Claypool

Revival (1986)

First performance: 7 April 1986
Venue: Greenwich Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage

Director: Alan Strachan
Design: Glenn Willoughby
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Michael Simkins
Felicity Dean
Michael Aldridge
Gwen Watford

Revival (2000)

First performance: 27 November 2000
Venue: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Staging: End-stage

Director: Robin Herford
Design: Tim Shortfall
Lighting: Robin Carter
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Nick Haverson
Eleanor Remain
Brian Protheroe
Susan Hampshire

Revival (2007)

First performance: 19 July 2007
Premiere: 24 July 2007
Final performance: 14 September 2007
Venue: Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Staging: Round

Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Jan Bee Brown
Lighting: Kath Geraghty

Stage Manager: Fleur Linden Beeley
Deputy Stage Manager: Sue Volans
Assistant Stage Manager: Helen Williams
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Dominic Hecht
Katie Foster-Barnes
Philip York
Eileen Battye

Revival (2012)

First performance: 28 August 2012
Premiere: 28 August 2012
Venue: Malvern Theatre
Staging: End-stage

Director: Lindsay Posner
Design: Peter McIntosh
Lighting: Howard Harrison
Sound: Matt McKenzie
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Max Bennett
Kara Tointon
Jonathan Coy
Felicity Kendal

London Revival (2013)

First performance: 14 May 2013
Premiere: 16 May 2013
Venue: Wyndham's Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage

Director: Lindsay Posner
Design: Peter McIntosh
Lighting: Howard Harrison
Sound: Matt McKenzie
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Max Bennett
Kara Tointon
Jonathan Coy
Felicity Kendal

Tour (2016)

First performance: 29 August 2016
Venue: Grand Theatre, Leeds
Staging: End-stage

Director: Robin Herford
Design: Peter Macintosh
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Mike Walker
Assistant Director: C.P.Hallam
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Antony Eden
Lindsey Campbell
Robert Powell
Liza Goddard

Revival (2020)

First performance: 27 February 2020
Intended final performance: 18 April 2020
Actual final performance: 21 March 2020
Venue: The Mill at Sonning
Staging: End-stage

Director: Robin Herford
Design: Michael Holt
Costumes: Natalie Titchener
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Christopher Bonwell
Lianne Harvey
James Simmons
Rachel Fielding
Note: The Mill At Sonning revival of Relatively Speaking was intended to transfer to the Jermyn Street Theatre, London, from 21 April to 16 May 2020. However, the Cover-19 pandemic crisis closed all theatre in the UK during March 2020. As a result, the original run at the Mill at Sonning was curtailed and the London transfer initially cancelled. The production was rescheduled and revived at The Mill at Sonning during 2021.

London Revival (2021)

First performance: 15 September 2021
Final performance: 9 October 2021
Venue: Jermyn Street Theatre, London
Staging: End-stage

Director: Robin Herford
Design: Michael Holt
Costumes: Natalie Titchener
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Christopher Bonwell
Lianne Harvey
James Simmons
Rachel Fielding
Note: This production of Relatively Speaking was intended to transfer to the Jermyn Street Theatre, London, from 21 April to 16 May 2020. However, the Cover-19 pandemic crisis closed all theatre in the UK during March 2020. As a result, the original run at the Mill at Sonning was curtailed and the London transfer postponed until 2021.

Revival / UK Tour (2023)

First performance: 12 January 2023
Final performance: 11 March 2023 (TBC)
Venue: Theatre Royal Bath
Staging: End-stage

Director: Robin Herford
Design: Peter McIntosh
Costumes: Peter McIntosh
Lighting: Jason Taylor
Sound: Mike Walker
Assistant Director: Amy Wyatt Corner
Character
Greg
Ginny
Philip
Sheila
Actor
Antony Eden
Olivia le Anderson
Steven Pacey
Liza Goddard
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.