His first two plays aimed at family audiences were Dad’s Tale (1961) and Christmas V Mastermind (1962). Both were, it would be fair to say, disasters. Each has just had one production and have never been subsequently produced again – both have been long withdrawn by the playwright. Following their failures, Alan vowed never to write for children again as he felt it wasn’t something he was capable off doing successfully. The plot is very simple and concerns Ernie being taken to see a doctor by his parents, who are concerned about their sons hallucinations – or ‘illucinations’ as Ernie has it. The introduction to its publication describing it thus: Intriguingly, the play was part of BBC Radio For Schools’ Listening and Writing programme and the text is reproduced within the Spring 1974 teacher’s guide. Research suggests it was recorded as a radio play and broadcast on 25 January 1974 on BBC Radio 4 VHF at 11.20am. Sadly, no other information has been discovered and no further details or confirmation of this broadcast have been discovered.

A vibrant and lively cast were crucial to the play’s success. Owais Khan relished the opportunity to open the play in the role of a German officer, who threatened that the audience would ‘never be seen again’ if they did not turn off their mobile phones! Ernie was expertly played in a bright and knowingly mischievous manner by Marcus Ashall-Payne and he was well supported by Matthew Settle and Thomas Hothersall in the role of Ernie’s parents. The repartee between the two was highly amusing with Thomas, the gruff and broad Northerner alongside Matthew’s elderly and rather fussy character. The supporting cast added a real sense of fun to the play, with several boys taking on a variety of roles. The Fairground Touts were particularly convincing in persuading the crowds of the spectacles and acts available at the fair, and acted with both confidence and sheer enjoyment.

The idea to write this play came about firstly because I was asked by Alan Durband, who was collecting a number of short plays for children for publication in a book he had been commissioned to do. He wrote, amongst a number of other playwrights, to me to ask if I’d be interested. I’d done very little writing for younger children but decided to have a go and Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations was the result. I tried to write a play which a large class of children could perform – a play that everyone could take part in. I also wanted to write something that would draw on the imagination of children and cause them possibly to explore other ‘Ernie’ situations of their own.” The play was definitely adapted fo television though by the BBC and broadcast on BBC1 on 11 November 1987. Directed by Colin Cant, it starred Anthony Flynn as Ernie with Melanie Kilburn and Tim Barker as his Mum and Dad. It has been screened at least three times by the BBC but sadly has never been released commercially or made available elsewhere.

The play was published in Playbill One by Hutchinson Educational during 1969 alongside plays by David Cregan, David Campton, Donald Howarth and Beverley Cross and would go on to be published in a number of different publications over subsequent years including as a single playtext by Samuel French. Pembina Inc., The Master Playwright Festival, Lyndon Berg / Veritas Carpentry, UMFM 101.5, Justin Olynyk / "Play It Again", John David Gordon / "Infusion", Broose Tulloch / "Beer for Breakfast", Tom Dercola / CJNU 93.7 FM, KidFriendlyManitoba.com, The Webster Family, Daniela Petrovski, Randy Villacis, Steve Greyeyes, The Thiessen Family, Grant Thiessen, Julian Saray, Nancy Curnew, Sandy Marie Tirleroux The short play, conceived with performance by schools in mind, was written in 1969 and continues to be popular to this day. Whilst Alan’s writing for children and young people is now an accepted and extensive part of his playwriting canon, in 1969 he had only had negative experiences writing in this area.

PRODUCTION CAST