Theatre News

Cast announced for London Classic's Absent Friends tour

The production of Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy visits 16 venues from April

Editorial Staff

Casting has been announced for London Classic Theatre's production of Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends, which runs as part of their 15th anniversary season.

The tour opens at Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne with a press night on 29 April and will tour to a total of 16 venues, including Blackpool, Aylesbury, Bury St Edmunds, Coventry, Richmond, Greenwich and Cheltenham.

There will be a second press night at Richmond Theatre on 15 June.

Michael Cabot directs Ashley Cook (Colin), John Dorney (John), Kevin Drury (Paul), Catherine Harvey (Diana), Kathryn Ritchie (Evelyn) and Alice Selwyn (Marge).

Set in 1974, the play sees a well-intentioned tea party descends into chaos as wealthy, unfulfilled housewife Diana arranges a gathering of old friends to cheer up bereaved Colin, whose fiancée drowned two months earlier.

Absent Friends was seen in the West End in 2012 starring Reece Shearsmith.