The Jollies

Story

Something goes wrong at a magic show when members of the Jolly family enter the Sacred Cabinet of Shadan. Billy Jolly ages 25 years while his mother emerges 20 years younger. 11 year old Polly must deal with the consequences – encounters with the police and social workers, going on the run and finally braving the cabinet herself to try to find her real mother and brother.

Why we chose it

Alan Ayckbourn is an highly acclaimed playwright who, as well as writing for adults, has written a number of plays for children and young people. The Jollies was written as a family show for Christmas and was enthusiastically received by family and school audiences.

Where it came from

Ayckbourn was born in London in 1939. As of 2020, he had written 84 plays - The Jollies is his 62nd. It was originally the title for a completely different play which was to be set in the world of reality television and the theatre had already started on posters and marketing but Ayckbourn couldn’t get started on his original idea so he came up with another.

Associated stories

Alan Ayckbourn’s first play for a family audience was Mr A’s Amazing Maze Plays.

He explored time travel in a number of other plays including Communicating Door, Miss Yesterday, Surprises and Whenever.