Stephen Joseph Theatre

Alan Ayckbourn's home theatre — Britain's first theatre-in-the-round, where he premieres his plays

The Stephen Joseph Theatre is one of England's most important regional theatres and the reason Scarborough has a cultural life far above what a seaside resort of its size might otherwise possess. Founded in the 1950s by Stephen Joseph as Britain's first theatre-in-the-round, it is now almost exclusively associated with Alan Ayckbourn, who has directed world premieres of his plays here for over 60 years.

The theatre operates in a converted former Odeon cinema on Westborough, with two auditoria. The main theatre-in-the-round seats around 400; the smaller McCarthy auditorium takes 165. Productions range from Ayckbourn world premieres to work by other British playwrights and touring productions. Booking is essential for popular shows; tickets are surprisingly affordable compared to London equivalents.

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Alan Ayckbourn has directed more than 80 world premieres at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, making Scarborough the unlikely theatrical capital of British comedy. He came to the town as a stage manager in 1957 and stayed, building a career as Britain's most performed living playwright while remaining in Scarborough rather than moving to London. The theatre holds around 400 in a round configuration, which means no seat is more than a few metres from the stage.