He was appointed a CBE in 1987 and in 1997 became the first playwright to be knighted since Terence Rattigan. A lan Ayckbourn would perhaps regard his greatest achievement to be the establishment of a permanent home for the company of which he has been Artistic Director since 1971 - the Stephen Joseph Theatre. Six years of fundraising and hard work culminated in the opening on 30th April 1996 of a splendid two auditoria arts complex. Fashioned from a former Odeon cinema, it stands in the centre of Scarborough and is the realisation of a 40 year dream. For more information on Alan Ayckbourn please visit our archives .
Dreams Can Come True.