Following an invitation to direct in Lancaster, Simone Vause established the Quayside Theatre Company Lancaster in 1979, and formed an alliance with artist Ewart Johns, who was then Head of Visual Arts at Lancaster University.

Quayside's prestigious list of patrons featured Clementine Allen, the late Terry Hawkins, Ewart Johns, Sarah Omond, David Pownell, Victoria Wood and Barbara Wright.

The photographs shown here are by Arthur Thompson, who produced many wonderful images during his long association with Duke's Playhouse.

The Signal (Maupassant) (adaptation by Simone Vause): Quayside's first production in 1979.

Click the image below for the text of an article in The Stage, promoting the Quayside initiative.

Ruffian on the Stair (Joe Orton) (1980).

Hello from Bertha (Tennessee Williams) (1981)

Coronation Street writer Peter Whalley asked Simone Vause to direct his first stage play, Last Tango in Salford, at Quayside Lancaster in 1981.

Click below for the programme for a poetry and music evening in aid of Amnesty International.

Other productions directed by Simone Vause at Quayside Lancaster included Huis Clos (Jean Paul Sartre) (1982) ...

... and the premiere production of Lily on the Grave (Elisabeth Bond) (1982).

In 1985, Andrew Wade formed Quayside London with Simone Vause as course director and Vanessa Ewan as movement director.

Productions included Book Now for Xmas, a Christmas miscellany whose title was suggested by Victoria Wood, based on books in which Christmas Day is depicted.

Quayside London was disbanded in 1986, when Andrew Wade was appointed Head of Voice at RSC Stratford.