THE archive of one of the country’s leading playwrights has been saved for the nation by the University of York.
The archive of Scarborough-based Sir Alan Ayckbourn has been bought for £240,000 and will become part of the university’s internationally-important Samuel Storey Writing and Performance Collection.
It contains thousands of items from the playwright’s long career including original stage sketches, working manuscripts, plot diagrams and correspondence.
The purchase was made possible by financial assistance from a number of sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Fund’s regional head, Fiona Spiers, said: “The Ayckbourn Archive is a fascinating collection and resource which will enable everyone to learn more about one of the greatest playwrights of our time for many years to come.”
The Samuel Storey Collection contains work by a wide range of writers. It currently contains around 5,000 published volumes, and new titles are added almost daily. Its aims include buying a copy of every new play published in English.
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