Frequently Asked Questions
This page answers some of the questions I'm most frequently asked about my career.
○ Do you actually work for Sir Alan Ayckbourn? I am directly employed by Sir Alan and my office is based in his home in the old town in Scarborough. I am in direct contact with the playwright and frequently meet with him.
○ How long have you been Sir Alan's Archivist? Sir Alan began my employment in 2004, although I had been working on his official website since 2001.
○ What does your role as Archivist involve? For a more detailed explanation, visit the Archivist pages, but - briefly - I maintain and organise the playwright's personal archive & the Ayckbourn digital archive. I administer, research and write for his official website, I handle all the playwright's social media and act as his media liaison as well as undertaking research relating to the playwright and his plays.
○ Do you take commissions / public speaking appointments / research work etc? : Yes, I take writing and public speaking commissions as well as commissioned research relating to my areas of interest. For further details, please contact me.
○ What is your relationship with the Stephen Joseph Theatre? I was the SJT's Archivist between 2003 and 2022 as well as a consultant and copywriter between 2006 and 2022. I still maintain a strong relationship with the theatre with regard to Alan Ayckbourn.
○ How long have you been writing professionally? I have been writing professionally since I graduated in 1999, initially as a journalist at the Scarborough Evening News for seven years. Subsequently my articles about Alan Ayckbourn and his plays have been published extensively for world, West End and New York premieres as well as around the world.
○ What social media channels are you responsible for? I'm responsible for all the official Alan Ayckbourn social media channels. These can be found on Instagram, YouTube, WordPress and Facebook. There are no other official or officially endorsed social media channels or pages. Accounts previously held with Twitter / X (@ayckbourn & @archivingalana) have been closed due to the level of offensive and extreme speech found relating even to Alan Ayckbourn.
○ What is your favourite Ayckbourn play? There are too many to say! If I could pick one from each decade - still difficult - they would be: Standing Room Only (1960s); Just Between Ourselves (1970s); Henceforward… (1980s); Comic Potential (1990s); Private Fears in Public Places (2000s); Neighbourhood Watch (2010s); Family Album (2020s).
If you have any questions regarding my work, please write to me via the Contact Me page.
○ Do you actually work for Sir Alan Ayckbourn? I am directly employed by Sir Alan and my office is based in his home in the old town in Scarborough. I am in direct contact with the playwright and frequently meet with him.
○ How long have you been Sir Alan's Archivist? Sir Alan began my employment in 2004, although I had been working on his official website since 2001.
○ What does your role as Archivist involve? For a more detailed explanation, visit the Archivist pages, but - briefly - I maintain and organise the playwright's personal archive & the Ayckbourn digital archive. I administer, research and write for his official website, I handle all the playwright's social media and act as his media liaison as well as undertaking research relating to the playwright and his plays.
○ Do you take commissions / public speaking appointments / research work etc? : Yes, I take writing and public speaking commissions as well as commissioned research relating to my areas of interest. For further details, please contact me.
○ What is your relationship with the Stephen Joseph Theatre? I was the SJT's Archivist between 2003 and 2022 as well as a consultant and copywriter between 2006 and 2022. I still maintain a strong relationship with the theatre with regard to Alan Ayckbourn.
○ How long have you been writing professionally? I have been writing professionally since I graduated in 1999, initially as a journalist at the Scarborough Evening News for seven years. Subsequently my articles about Alan Ayckbourn and his plays have been published extensively for world, West End and New York premieres as well as around the world.
○ What social media channels are you responsible for? I'm responsible for all the official Alan Ayckbourn social media channels. These can be found on Instagram, YouTube, WordPress and Facebook. There are no other official or officially endorsed social media channels or pages. Accounts previously held with Twitter / X (@ayckbourn & @archivingalana) have been closed due to the level of offensive and extreme speech found relating even to Alan Ayckbourn.
○ What is your favourite Ayckbourn play? There are too many to say! If I could pick one from each decade - still difficult - they would be: Standing Room Only (1960s); Just Between Ourselves (1970s); Henceforward… (1980s); Comic Potential (1990s); Private Fears in Public Places (2000s); Neighbourhood Watch (2010s); Family Album (2020s).
If you have any questions regarding my work, please write to me via the Contact Me page.
