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Olivier for playwright with fresh stage plans
Louise Jury9 Mar 2009
Sir Alan Ayckbourn, one of Britain's most popular and prolific playwrights, is set to do more work in London after the huge success of his Norman Conquests trilogy at the Old Vic.
The 69-year-old author of more than 70 plays is writing a version of Uncle Vanya for director Matthew Warchus that is slated to run in the West End next year.
Speaking after he was honoured with a special award for his contribution to theatre at last night's Olivier Awards, the Hampstead-born playwright said his retirement from theatre management would free him to direct more in London.
He stood down two months ago as artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough after nearly 40 years in charge and said he needed the adrenaline rush of the rehearsal room.
"I'm freelance now so I'm up for offers. We've just transferred Woman in Mind [from Scarborough] to the Vaudeville and I'm hoping to do more," he said.
He said he hoped to direct new productions of Time of My Life and A Chorus of Disapproval. But he is also still writing with a new, as yet untitled play due to open in the autumn.
Sir Alan banned his work from the West End for several years and condemned producers for celebrity casting. But he relented for a production of Absurd Person Singular in 2007.
He praised Kevin Spacey, the Old Vic's artistic director, who presented him with his Olivier, for "sheer dogged determination" in converting the theatre to present the Norman Conquests as they were originally seen.
The Olivier Awards saw the Donmar Warehouse take four awards, including best actor and actress for Sir Derek Jacobi and Margaret Tyzack for Twelfth Night and The Chalk Garden respectively.
The Royal Shakespeare Company also secured four wins, including best company performance for the 35-strong cast seen in the history plays at the Roundhouse and best supporting actor for Patrick Stewart in Hamlet.
Black Watch, the National Theatre of Scotland production at the Barbican, was the single most lauded production with a haul of four.
But it was not a clear run for subsidised theatre with triumphs, too, for La Cage aux Folles, first seen at the independently run Menier Chocolate Factory.
Douglas Hodge, who starred as drag queen Albin, was named best actor in a musical and performed at the ceremony despite the death of his father, Harry, on Thursday.
Brett Haylock, the creative director of La Clique, the cabaret show that won best entertainment, warned guests that London was "in danger of losing another beautiful theatre" when its venue, the Hippodrome, closes this year to be turned into a casino.
And David Hare added another rare sombre note in a tribute to the brilliance and generosity of Harold Pinter, one of a list of playwrights that also includes Simon Gray and John Mortimer who have died in the past year.
But the ceremony at the Grosvenor House hotel was mainly in confident mood. London Mayor Boris Johnson began the congratulations with a video welcome praising West End theatre for being in "an advanced state of credit crunch denial".
Theatre producer Nica Burns, president of the Society of London Theatre, which runs the awards, said the stage was "a vital part of the life of this great capital city".
Main winners
Best actress - Margaret Tyzack for The Chalk Garden
Best actor - Sir Derek Jacobi for Twelfth Night
Best supporting actor - Patrick Stewart in Hamlet
Company performance - The Histories
Best new play - Black Watch
Best new comedy - God of Carnage
Best revival - The Histories
Best entertainment - La Clique
Best new musical - Jersey Boys
Best musical revival - La Cage Aux Folles
Best actress in a musical - Elena Roger for Piaf
Best actor in a musical - Douglas Hodge for La Cage Aux Folles
Best director - John Tiffany for Black Watch
Best theatre choreographer - Steven Hoggett for Black Watch
Best set design - August: Osage County, by Todd Rosenthal
Best costume design - The Histories by Tom Piper and Emma Williams
The Society's special award - Sir Alan Ayckbourn
