Alan Ayckbourn interview: Show & Tell (The Telegraph)

The 85-year-old talks about the future of theatre, why he writes strong female roles and how the world is now entering ‘full farce mod

“I’m fuelled by anger,” Alan Ayckbourn tells me, spilling the secrets of his exceptional longevity. “I’ve known writers who’ve lost their anger – they become Mister Peaceful. Not me. I just get p—ed off with bloody life! You go, ‘What the f— is going on?’ It’s like steam comes out of my ears. Yeah … I’m an angry old git now!”

Actually, I can’t see much steam coming out of Ayckbourn’s ears when we meet at his Scarborough home, ahead of his 90th full-length work, Show & Tell which will be premiered, as is customary, at the local Stephen Joseph Theatre (Britain’s first in-the-round playhouse)…