The Stephen Joseph Papers at The John Rylands Library

These pages relate to tThe Stephen Joseph Papers at The John Rylands Library at the University of Manchester. This is the largest single collection of material relating to there British theatre pioneer who was also the single most influential figure in Alan Ayckbourn's life.

The Stephen Joseph Papers

The John Rylands Research Institute and Library at the University of Manchester holds The Stephen Joseph Papers; the most significant collection of material pertaining to the British theatre pioneer and the founder of Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre.

Stephen Joseph had close connections with the University of Manchester and, following his death in 1967, his papers were gifted to The John Rylands Library by the playwright and Joseph's close friend, David Campton. This was particularly significant as Stephen was closely associated with The University of Manchester and had been instrumental in founding its pioneering drama department.

The Stephen Joseph Papers relate to Stephen Joseph's entire life including the formation of the Studio Theatre Company, which formed the basis for Theatre in the Round at the Library Theatre, Scarborough (now the Stephen Joseph Theatre) and the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent (now the New Vic).

The wide-ranging collection includes correspondence, notes, programmes, designs and play scripts amongst others with material relating to Scarborough between 1955 and Stephen Joseph's death in 1967.

The Stephen Joseph Papers are regarded as one of the most important collections of material relating to this pioneer of British Theatre during the 1950s and 1960s.

If you are researching Stephen Joseph, you can find significant information about his life and work as well as information relating to resources and archives on the A Round Town website.