Award-winning playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn visits CU Scarborough

Internationally-acclaimed playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn has visited Scarborough's new university campus to speak about his career and what has inspired him through the years after completing his 81st play.

Sir Alan visited students and staff at CU Scarborough to give a talk delving into his life, the world of theatre and the vast amount of careers that are available in the industry.

Facilitated by Geoffrey Proudlock, Tutor in Business and Management from CU Scarborough, the Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright began by telling a captivated audience how his first memories were of writing stories as a child and how he then became fascinated by the theatre.

Sir Alan went on to relay humorous stories about the highs and lows of the industry, the varying job roles he has had and the process he undertakes when writing plays.

He finally spoke about what he has coming up in Scarborough this year, including his new play A Brief History of Women as well as the revival of Taking Steps, which he originally wrote in the 1970s.

The talk was one of the extra-curricular activities on offer at CU Scarborough, which is part of Coventry University Group, and comes as the £14 million campus marks one year since its topping out ceremony.

Craig Gaskell, Provost of CU Scarborough, said it was excellent to welcome such a high-profile Scarborough figure to the campus as part of its calendar of interesting events to inspire students.