Absurd Person Singular: A Timeline

The Timeline offers a chronological view of significant events in the history of the play Absurd Person Singular; it only lists major productions and does not include the vast majority of the many professional and amateur productions of the play.

Circa 1971
In an elevator to the London producer Michael Codron's office, Alan Ayckbourn thinks of the title Absurd Person Singular and notes it down for future use.

Circa late 1971
Alan begins work on a play with the title Absurd Person Singular, but abandons it and later decides to use the title for his summer 1972 production at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough.

Early June 1972
Rehearsals begin for Absurd Person Singular at the recently opened Crucible Theatre in Sheffield before moving to Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre in Scarborough.

Circa 30 May 1972
Alan Ayckbourn begins work on the initial 'abandoned draft' of Absurd Person Singular, completing 40 pages set in the living rooms.

Circa 1 June 1972
Alan Ayckbourn completely rewrites Absurd Person Singular now set in three kitchens.

26 June 1972
World premiere of Absurd Person Singular at Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough, directed by Alan Ayckbourn.

14 July 1973
London premiere of Absurd Person Singular at the Criterion Theatre, London, directed by Eric Thompson.

22 January 1974
Absurd Person Singular receives the Evening Standard Award For Best Comedy; Alan Ayckbourn's first major award.

1974
Absurd Person Singular acting edition published by Samuel French Ltd.

30 September 1974
The London production of Absurd Person Singular transfers to the Vaudeville Theatre, London.

8 October 1974
Broadway premiere of Absurd Person Singular at the Music Box Theater, New York, directed by Eric Thompson.

1975
Simultaneous with its run on Broadway, a North American tour of Absurd Person Singular, directed by Eric Thompson, is launched.

10 September 1975
Absurd Person Singular is released for general professional performance with its first regional production at the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.

1 November 1975
Absurd Person Singular closes at the Vaudeville Theatre, London.

3 February 1976
The first major tour of Absurd Person Singular is launched at Wimbledon Theatre, directed by Paul Eddington.

6 March 1976
Absurd Person Singular closes at the Music Box Theater, New York, having broken the record for the longest running comedy by a British playwright on Broadway.

5 March 1977
BBC Radio 4 broadcast a radio adaptation of Absurd Person Singular, directed by Kay Patrick; Alan Ayckbourn gives her permission to write additional material to convey Eva's thoughts as she contemplates suicide in the second act, given in the play she is silent throughout most of the act.

1 September 1977
Absurd Person Singular is made available for amateur production.

1 January 1985
BBC1 broadcast a television adaptation of Absurd Person Singular, directed by Michael Simpson.

20 December 1989
Alan Ayckbourn revives Absurd Person Singular at the Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round, Scarborough.

1990
Alan Ayckbourn’s revival of Absurd Person Singular goes on tour.

15 May 1990
Alan Ayckbourn’s revival of Absurd Person Singular opens at the Whitehall Theatre, London.

16 March 1991
Absurd Person Singular closes at the Whitehall Theatre, London.

25 January 1994
21st anniversary of the West End production of Absurd Person Singular marked by a touring production staged by Mobil Touring Theatre.

18 October 2005
Absurd Person Singular is revived on Broadway, directed by John Tillinger at the Biltmore Theater.

4 December 2005
Absurd Person Singular closes at the Biltmore Theater, New York.

30 October 2007
Absurd Person Singular opens at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, directed by Alan Strachan.

27 November 2007
The Windsor production of Absurd Person Singular transfers to the Garrick Theatre, London, for a limited season.

March 2008
Absurd Person Singular closes at the Garrick Theatre, London.

1 September 2008
UK tour of Absurd Person Singular opens at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, directed by Alan Strachan.

14 September 2009
UK tour of Absurd Person Singular opens at Theatre Royal, Brighton, directed by Alan Strachan.

1 October 2011
Alan Ayckbourn confirms at the Ayckbourn Weekend 2011, he will be reviving Absurd Person Singular at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, in 2012 in repertory with his new play Surprises.

12 June 2012
The 40th anniversary revival of Absurd Person Singular, directed by Alan Ayckbourn, opens at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.

8 August 2012
Alan Ayckbourn's revival of Absurd Person Singular opens at Chichester Festival Theatre.

14 April 2018
The Times names Absurd Person Singular as one of the 50 greatest plays ever written.

26 June 2022
The 50th anniversary of Absurd Person Singular is celebrated with a rehearsed reading of the play, directed by Alan Ayckbourn, in Scarborough.