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Yorkshire opera lover takes over Ayckbourn theatre
The successor to Sir Alan Ayckbourn as artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough is to be Chris Monks – a man with a reputation for inspiring a popular revolution in opera.
Mr Monks, who takes up his new position next January, is a freelance theatre director and writer and an associate director of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.
Among his radical reworkings is a version of Carmen in which the action was transposed from 19th century Seville to a contemporary city in the North of England. Carmen worked in a supermarket and Escamillo, the toreador, became a star Italian footballer. Her lover, Johnny, was a security guard.
Born and brought up in Sheffield, Mr Monks studied in Leeds, and his theatrical career has seen him adapt a range of operas at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
Since 1995, he has transformed opera for thousands of ordinary theatregoers. By adapting classical pieces, he has successfully reinvented it as an accessible art form – without an expensive price tag.
Commenting on his treatment of works from Gilbert and Sullivan to Mozart, he said: "I suppose it is part crusade, part guilty pleasure. I love opera and would like more people to enjoy it, but it's moved a long way from where it started."
Sir Alan, 69, has held the post for 37 years since way before the Stephen Joseph Theatre was at its present home in the resort's former Odeon Cinema.
He built up the company from its fledgling days in Scarborough library, under mentor Stephen Joseph, and later a former school building in Westwood. In February 2006 he was admitted to hospital for the first time in his life.
Sir Alan has written more than 70 plays to become the country's most prolific comedy playwright. Many of his works have been staged in London's West End and on Broadway. He is to continue to direct revivals of his plays and premiere new work at the Scarborough theatre.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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