Things We Do for Love

by Alan Ayckbourn

A remarkable tragic comedy, Alan Ayckbourn's 52nd full-length play was first presented at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in 1997 and received its West End premiere in Spring 1998.

Things We Do For Love won the 1997 Lloyds Private Banking Playwright of the Year Award.

Genres: Plays, Drama

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Sir Alan Ayckbourn is a popular and prolific English playwright. He has written and produced seventy-three full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where all but four of his plays have received their first performance. More than 40 have subsequently been produced in the West End, at the Royal National Theatre or by the Royal Shakespeare Company since his first hit Relatively Speaking opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1967. Major successes include Absurd Person Singular (1975), The Norman Conquests trilogy (1973), Bedroom Farce (1975), Just Between Ourselves (1976), A Chorus of Disapproval (1984), Woman in Mind (1985), A Small Family Business (1987), Man Of The Moment (1988), House & Garden (1999) and Private Fears in Public Places (2004). His plays have won numerous awards, including seven London Evening Standard Awards. They have been translated into over 35 languages and are performed on stage and television throughout the world. Ten of his plays have been staged on Broadway, attracting two Tony nominations, and one Tony award.

Reviews

[Sophie Maria Wojna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love it when I’m reading something and I have to stop and ask: “What the fuck have I just read?” Reading this play really does that, especially when going in not knowing a thing about it’s premise. I really enjoy the way Ayckbourn creates such well-rounded characters, and how he can make such horrible situations hilarious. I was shocked, at times, to find myself thinking “Wait, that’s funny. That’s really funny,” at the most bizarre of situations in the play.

The only thing I’d say that annoyed me was how I couldn’t for the life of me understand Hamish’s motives. If I had to play him, I’d find it incredibly difficult. But, oh well, maybe it’s because of the state of mind I read this in rather than Ayckbourn’s writing skills...?

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bitter tragi-comedy of the absurdity and damage "love" can wreak in people's lives, ending friendships and marriages, and placing unsuitable people together, who go on to hurt each other.

[Anton Segers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een mindere Ayckbourn, wat nog altijd amusement oplevert. Eens te meer over de waanzin van het slagveld dat liefde heet. De fatale onlogica van ons gevoelsleven en de slachtoffers die dat maakt, niet in de laatste plaats onszelf.
Een beetje bruusk qua evolutie, maar dat kan ook liggen aan de bewerking in dit BBC-hoorspel.

[Michael P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read/see a few Alan Ayckbourn plays and two scenes in/10 minutes in, you know exactly how it will end. Why do I bother?

[My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

lol, evil romcom

[Duncan Maccoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the few Ayckbourn plays that could not be produced in the round (see Theatre in the Round). The original Scarborough production was staged as end-stage.

The set is a Victorian terrace house divided into flats. We can see all of the middle level. The view of the top level is cut off at about knee height. Below we can see the top of the ground floor, only a foot or so of ceiling is visible (description much adapted from Act 1, scene 1, p1). We saw this at Pitlochry Festival Theatre and the set was brilliant. The play is equally good, read enjoy and, if you can, go and see it.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm... I have to admit that I'm not always that keen on Ayckbourn. When he's good he's alright, but when he's bad he really gets disturbing and well, just kind of icky. Here, for example, a couple randomly get together and betray their fiance/best friend for the sake of a completely undiscernable sexual connection. I'd hate to play these parts - they're utterly unbelievable.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books