Chester Theatre Group

The Chester Theatre Group, in residence at the Black River Playhouse, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a series of events centered on its most produced playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn.  In 2009 Ayckbourn will mark his 50th year of playwriting and his 70th birthday.  The Chester group has produced 15 productions of the prolific author’s 71 plays, including four American premieres.  The group is one of the few theatre companies in the country to produce the full NORMAN CONQUESTS trilogy – in both 1986 and 2006. This year they will offer four readings of ‘lesser known’ Ayckbourn plays, starting on Sunday, January 25th with SUGAR DADDIES, Ayckbourn’s rarely performed 2003 comedy.  The reading series will continue throughout 2009 and will be performed by the 4A’s (Alan Ayckbourn Aficionados of America), a group named by Ayckbourn himself and dedicated to his work.

The year-long series of events will also feature the American premiere of IMPROBABLE FICTION, Ayckbourn’s 69th play, a fast-paced look at a writer’s circle that suffers from collective writer’s block – until their creations come to comically life onstage.  The anniversary year will conclude with a fall workshop titled “50/50″ – a look back at the 15 Chester productions featuring scenes, monologues, and anecdotes from the author’s life.   Michael T. Mooney, who studied with Ayckbourn in Scarborough, England, will helm the year’s events.

Sir Alan Ayckbourn, who turns 70 on April 12th, has endorsed the Chester festivities, saying “How splendid and how touching that you have chosen to share your 50th with mine. My message to Chester is this: Life begins at 50! So onwards and ever upwards.”

Chester Theatre Group is offering a special “Ayckbourn All-Access Pass” for theatre-goers wishing to participate in all the year’s events.  To order a Pass or for further information on the events, please call 908.879.7304.  The Black River Playhouse is located at the corner of Grove and Maple Streets in Chester, New Jersey.