Anno Domino: Frequently Asked Questions

Alan Ayckbourn's Archivist Simon Murgatroyd answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Alan Ayckbourn's Anno Domino. If you have a question about this or any other of Alan Ayckbourn's plays, you can contact the website via the Contact Us page.

What is Anno Domino?
Anno Domino is a full-length, full-cast play written by Alan Ayckbourn, which - due to the unusual circumstances of 2020 during the Covid-19 theatre lockdown - was premiered as an audio stream directed by Alan Ayckbourn, who also played all the males roles alongside his wife, Heather Stoney, playing all the female roles.

So it's an audio drama?
No. Anno Domino was written as a stage-production during 2018 and is still intended to be performed as such. Circumstances led to Alan Ayckbourn suggesting it could be done as an audio stream during the UK lockdown of 2020. The playwright hopes it will go on to be produced as intended on stage with a full company.

Is it still available to stream?
Currently, Anno Domino is not available to stream.

Is Anno Domino available to stage?
Not currently. The playwright would like to direct the first 'stage' production of the work, but that will depend on the opportunity arising to produce the play. Until the first 'stage' production has taken place, the play will not be made available to stage.

Why is Anno Domino listed as Alan Ayckbourn's 84th play? Wasn't that supposed to be Truth Will Out?
Alan Ayckbourn's plays are numbered by their actual production order, not the order they were written. So whilst Truth Will Out was advertised as Alan Ayckbourn's 84th play, the world premiere production was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic during 2020 and - as of writing - hasn't been produced. As a result, it is not included in Alan's play canon. Anno Domino, which was actually written during 2018, was produced in its place and thus became the actual 84th play in the canon. Truth Will Out - alongside several others completed plays - will only be included in the official play canon (and then numbered accordingly) once it has actually been produced.

Was the original audio stream a Stephen Joseph Theatre production?
No. The play is a Haydonning Ltd production which was exclusively presented by the Stephen Joseph Theatre for its world premiere run. Haydonning Ltd is Alan Ayckbourn's company and thus the production could potentially be streamed on other websites in the future.

All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.