Bedroom Farce: Frequently Asked Questions
Alan Ayckbourn's Archivist Simon Murgatroyd's answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce. If you have a question about this or any other of Alan Ayckbourn's plays, you can contact the website via the Contact Us page.Is Bedroom Farce a farce?
No. The title is a play on the phrase 'bedroom farce' but it is not actually a farce. The playwright prefers not to label his work as anything other than 'palays', but Bedroom Farce is a comedy rather than a farce. It does not meet the traditional prerequisite elements to be classified as a farce - there are no mistaken identities or general farcical behaviour. It should also never be approached as a farce from a director's point of view as it will completely misrepresent the play's intentions and, in all likelihood, fail as a production.
Can I update Bedroom Farce to a contemporary setting?
No. Alan Ayckbourn firmly believes all his plays are - essentially - period pieces and reflect the time they were written. Bedroom Farce was written in 1975 and reflects that era in the attitude of the characters, their social situations and the technology. The whole premise of Bedroom Farce becomes untenable if set in the present day as the whole play can essentially be solved by a mobile call - it is this lack of easy communication that drives the play forward. It is also a play which reflects attitudes of the times it was written, to update it for a contemporary setting would involve rewriting large sections of the play which a) the playwright would never allow and b) would completely alter the play.
Where can I obtain the television or radio adaptations of Bedroom Farce?
Unfortunately, neither the television nor radio adaptations of Bedroom Farce are not available to buy. These adaptations have never been released commercially and the playwright is aware of no intention by any media company to release Bedroom Farce in the foreseeable future.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.
