Right at the moment I am in the throes of final rehearsals for Woman in Mind by Alan Ayckbourn. It is being produced by Bolton Little Theatre and will run for eight performances between Saturday 24th to Saturday 31st October, including a Sunday matinee. I play Dr Bill Windsor, a family friend.
The play concerns Susan, a middle-aged woman who seems to have the perfect family: a devoted and supportive husband, a funny and affectionate brother and her trusting and cheerful daughter… but who, then, are the neglectful husband, silent son and self-centered sister-in-law who invade her thoughts? Where does the hapless Dr Windsor fit into the picture? Struggling to understand which is real and which is illusion, Susan finds herself battling with her own sanity.
Master playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn explores themes of love, identity, and emotional security in this darkly observed comedy. Ayckbourn is one of the most successful and prolific playwrights of modern theatre. Although best known for his comedies set in the English suburbia, of which Woman in Mind is a good example, his work has encompassed science fiction, horror, straight drama and musicals. Quite a few are shot through with a vein of fantasy and this play is one of those too. It has some excellent meta theatre jokes about Susan’s reality and viewpoint, as the fantasy and real characters seem to draw on each others dialogue.
Ayckbourn wrote the play in 1985. It was his last premiere at his beloved Stephen Joseph Theatre In The Round in Scaborough before he left to be visiting director at the National Theatre in London for a time, and at the time it surprised audiences and critics with its darkness. The author later commented: “…there are always going to be those who find the tragedy outweighs the comedy and vice versa. And, depending on the night of the week, this balance will alter quite drastically.” At the time he was regarded as just a light comedy writer. In the years since it has become regarded as one of his key works. During its West End premiere, Julia McKenzie won the Evening Standard award for Best Actress, for Susan. In 2025 it was revived on its 40th anniversary with Sheridan Smith in the central role. Meanwhile Bill Windsor has been played by actors including Simon Jones, Ben Miller, and Romesh Ranganathan.
It’s my first stage performance in about two years, since Hangmen, and I must admit I’m finding the line learning harder this time around. I’m just about there but its been a struggle and its a relief that there are a couple of sections when I can improvise a little. Bill Windsor is an essentially a good, well-meaning person, but his lack of confidence and subsequent apologetic personality makes him something of a fall guy. We gradually learn some ambiguities about his character and what he really thinks for some matters as the play progresses. Ayckbourn’s clever dialogue is filled with details and places for humour, whilst some of the biggest laughs come from the entrances and exits.
Carol Butler is directing and she is a gifted veteran with decades of experience. I’ve worked with Carol on several plays over the years and also a short film during the COVID lockdown, but this is my first time being directed as part of the cast and it has been a fruitful experience.
Looking forward to putting this play on for an audience. Love you to see it 🙂
Book tickets online via TicketSource
Photographs by Ania Pankiewicz
For more information on Woman in Mind visit the official Alan Ayckbourn website
