★★★★★
“THE BEST FUN TO BE HAD IN THE WEST END TODAY” The Sunday Telegraph
“MOVINGLY PAINFUL AND HONEST” The Sunday Times
“SUPERBLY FUNNY” The Times
“AYCKBOURN’S BLEAKEST, MOST HILARIOUS PLAY. PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP LAUGHING” The Daily Telegraph
Jeremy Herrin directs David Armand, Elizabeth Berrington, Katherine Parkinson, Steffan Rhodri, Reece Shearsmith and Kara Tointon in the classic comedy of manners and social embarrassment Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn.
When their dear old friend Colin loses his fiancée, his married friends invite him round to cheer him up over tea and sandwiches. As the tea starts to pour, it's clear that trouble is brewing with a wickedly funny blend of jealousy, infidelity and barely concealed loathing. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Alan Ayckbourn’s exquisite comedy ABSENT FRIENDS is being heralded by the critics as “the best fun you can have in the West End today” (The Sunday Telegraph). With an outstanding cast of award-winning comedy talents including David Armand (The Armstrong and Miller Show, ‘Torn’ YouTube sensation), Elizabeth Berrington (In Bruges, Waterloo Road, Lapland, The Office), Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd, Season’s Greetings, Bleak Old Shop of Stuff), Steffan Rhodri (Gavin and Stacey), Reece Shearsmith (The League of Gentlemen, Betty Blue Eyes, Psychoville) and Kara Tointon (Pygmalion, EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing Winner 2010), critically-acclaimed director Jeremy Herrin’s production has audiences laughing out loud as this well-intentioned tea party turns into utter chaos.