Alan Ayckbourn: Television Adaptations

This page contains basic details of the english language television adaptations of Alan Ayckbourn's plays. Click on a title below to find out more details about the adaptation.

NOTE: Most of these adaptations have not been made commercially available and are otherwise unavailable to obtain. Please do not contact the website or The Ayckbourn Archive about obtaining them as neither holds copies of the adaptations.

Channel

BBC2
BBC1
ITV
CBC
BBC2
BBC2
BBC1
BBC1
ITV
ITV
BBC1
ITV
BBC1
BBC1
BBC2
BBC2
BBC2
ITV
BBC1

First Broadcast

29 September 1985
1 January 1985
28 September 1980
2001
16 December 1972
21 January 1984
2 March 1984
11 November 1987
1969 - 1970
23 July 1978
2 February 1979
5 October 1977
21 July 1967
2 March 1969
24 December 1989
24 December 1986
20 May 1974
18 May 1976
1 January 1988

Why are the television adaptations of Alan Ayckbourn's plays not available to buy?

'Why are the television and film adaptations of Alan Ayckbourn's plays not available?' is one of the most frequently asked questions of Alan Ayckbourn's official website.

There is no quick - or even obvious - answer to this, but the decision largely rests with the commercial rights holders themselves, not with Alan Ayckbourn.

It is worth clarifying that Alan Ayckbourn has no objection to the majority of these adaptations - such as the BBC's Absent Friends, Season's Greetings and Absurd Person Singular - being released. But the initial decision regarding a commercial release lies purely with the producers and commercial rights holders and is not something Alan Ayckbourn has any influence over.

Presumably the main reason they have not been released is largely a commercial one, taken by the rights holders. If you feel strongly about seeing these films, the website can only advise you contact the relevant production company or rights holder to express your interest in the films.

Illegal Copies of Ayckbourn Television Adaptations & Reporting Piracy

If you come across any DVD, video or stream of a television adaptation of an Ayckbourn play for sale - particularly in auction sites such as Ebay or on Youtube - it will in all likelihood be an ILLEGAL copy.

These adaptations are not in the public domain (with the exception of the commercial releases of By Jeeves and The Norman Conquests), have not been authorised by the copyright holders and are being illegally sold with proceeds going to people acting illegally. Piracy is a crime and the sellers of these items are not providing a benefit for collectors; they are selling these items for their own profit, none of which goes to the people who created these films.

This website cannot condone piracy and under British law, there is no grey area. To make copies of copyrighted material is illegal as is distributing, selling, receiving and buying such copies. While it is frustrating for fans of Alan Ayckbourn's work, this website takes the view that illegal activity should not be supported and that piracy and copyright theft is a crime.

If you see a film for sale that you believe is illegal, please report it to either Ebay, which has its own complaints procedure, or the Federation Against Copyright Theft (www.fact.org.uk) which also pursues infringements.

All research in this section is by Simon Murgatroyd and should be credited if reproduced.