Dukes Archives

History
Productions retrospective

History of the Dukes

In 1971, with the support of Lancaster Council, the former St. Anne's Church opened its doors as The Duke's Playhouse. This, however, was only the name of the building. The actors who took up residence were members of the Century Touring Theatre Company - a company who had since the Fifties toured the country with a unique mobile theatre. Under their artistic director, Peter Oyston, Century began performing a series of plays in the new Duke's Playhouse. In their first season they presented 8 plays, including Twelfth Night and plays written by the company's publicity officer-cum-playwright, David Pownall.

Century Theatre Company continued to perform on Moor Lane until 1973 when The Duke's Playhouse Company was formed from members of the Century company. Since that time the company has presented over two hundred and fifty shows- rehearsed and built in Lancaster.

In 1987, "The Duke's Playhouse" presented the first of its famous outdoor productions in Lancaster's Williamson Park. An eagerly-awaited fixture throughout the North-West and for many national and international tourists, this event combines elaborate settings, spectacular costumes, and a fun atmosphere. It has become the biggest annual walkabout theatre event in the UK - and so far as we know, the world.

Uniquely for a producing theatre, the Dukes has also been a cinema since it opened its doors in 1971. Dukes independent Cinema provides the best selection of cultural cinema between Manchester and Glasgow. Dukes Cinema also has the largest screen in the region and the latest Dolby Digital EX Surround-Sound system.

Productions Retrospective

From Dukes productions 1999-2005

Production	Playwright	Director	Location	Dates
A Christmas Carol	Charles Dickens adapted by David Holman	Robin Belfield	Dukes theatre one	25 November - 7 January 2006
The Accrington Pals	Peter Whelan	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	27 October - 19 November 2005
Under Milk Wood	Dylan Thomas	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	22 September - 15 October 2005
Tom Thumb & Other Giant Stories	Gareth Machin	Ian Hastings	Williamson Park Lancaster	7 July - 14 August 2005
Betrayal	Harold Pinter	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre two	11 March - 2 April 2005
Blue Remembered Hills	Dennis Potter	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	2 - 26 February 2005
The Lost Warrior	Neil Duffield	Eileen Murphy	Dukes theatre one	26 November 2004 - 1 January 2005
The Talented Mr Ripley	Phyllis Nagy, adapted from the novel by Patricia Highsmith	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	29 October - 20 November 2004
Abigail's Party	Mike Leigh	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	24 September - 16 October 2004
The Canterbury Tales	Geoffrey Chaucer, adapted by Gareth Machin	Ian Hastings	Williamson Park, Lancaster	2 July - 7 August 2004
True West	Sam Shepard	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre two	12 March - 3 April 2004
Kafka's Dick	Alan Bennett	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	6 - 28 February 2004
The Snow Queen	adapted by Neil Duffield from the story by Hans Christian Andersen	Eileen Murphy	Dukes theatre one	27 November 2003 - 3 January 2004
Bram Stoker's Dracula	adapted by Jane Thornton & John Godber	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	31 October - 22 November 2003
What the Butler Saw	Joe Orton	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	26 September - 18 October 2003
Grimm Tales	adapted by Carol Ann Duffy, dramatised by Tim Supple	Ian Hastings	Williamson Park, Lancaster	4 July - 9 Aug 2003
Oleanna	David Mamet	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre two	27 Feb 2003 - 28 March 2003
Educating Rita	Willy Russell	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre two	14 Feb 2003 - 29 March 2003
The Emperor & the Nightingale	Hans Andersen, adapted by Neil Duffield	Eileen Murphy	Dukes theatre one	28 Nov 2002 - 4 Jan 2003
Children of the Wolf	John Peacock	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	1 Nov 2002 - 23 Nov 2002
Mojo	Jez Butterworth	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	4 Oct 2002 - 26 Oct 2002
Fandango	Pedro Antonio de Alarcon, dramatised by Les Smith	Ian Hastings	Williamson Park, Lancaster	4 Jul 2002 - 10 Aug 2002
Closer	Patrick Marber	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	8 Mar 2002 - 30 Mar 2002
Burn This	Lanford Wilson	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre two	8 Feb 2002 - 2 Mar 2002
The Jungle Book	Rudyard Kipling. Adapted by Neil Duffield	Eileen Murphy	Dukes theatre one	30 Nov 2001 - 5 Jan 2002
Dancing at Lughnasa	Brian Friel	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	2 Nov 2001 - 24 Nov 2001
Two	Jim Cartwright	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	5 Oct 2001 - 27 Oct 2001
Arabian Nights	dramatised by Les Smith	Ian Hastings	Williamson Park, Lancaster	6 Jul 2001 - 11 Aug 2001
Moll Flanders	Daniel Defoe, dramatised by Les Smith	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	16 Mar 2001 - 5 May 2001
Skylight	David Hare	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre two	16 Feb 2001 - 10 Mar 2001
The Firebird	Neil Duffield	Eileen Murphy	Dukes theatre one	1 Dec 2000 - 6 Jan 2001
The Lodger	Marie Belloc Lowndes, adapted by Patrick Prior	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	3 Nov 2000 - 25 Nov 2000
The Glass Menagerie	Tennessee Williams	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	6 Oct 2000 - 28 Oct 2000
Don Quixote	Miguel de Cervantes, dramatised by Les Smith	Ian Hastings	Williamson Park, Lancaster	14 Jul 2000 - 19 Aug 2000
Talking Heads	Alan Bennett	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	17 Mar 2000 - 8 Apr 2000
American Buffalo	David Mamet	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre two	18 Feb 2000 - 11 Mar 2000
The Ugly Duckling	Hans Andersen, adapted by Neil Duffield	Eileen Murphy	Dukes theatre one	25 Nov 1999 - 30 Dec 1999
How the Other Half Loves	Alan Ayckbourn	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	28 Oct 1999 - 20 Nov 1999
Driving Miss Daisy	Alfred Uhry	Ian Hastings	Dukes theatre one	30 Sept 1999 - 23 Oct 1999

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