In the second of my two post-show Q&As for the West End transfer of ABBA-tastic comedy The Way Old Friends Do, I’ll talk to the full cast, including writer Ian Hallard. This follows my event with Hallard and director Mark Gatiss on 21 August.

In the late 1980s, two school friends from Birmingham tentatively come out to one another: one as gay, the other as an ABBA fan.

“Joyous, heartwarming & riotously funny” – Attitude

Nearly thirty years later, a chance meeting sets them on an exciting new path, and they decide to form the world’s first ABBA tribute band – in drag. But can their friendship survive the tribulations of a life on the road; one full of platform boots, fake beards and a distractingly attractive stranger?

“Sparkles with one-liners… hugely enjoyable” – BritishTheatre.com

Tender and laugh-out-loud funny in equal measures, this heartfelt story will appeal to anyone who understands how it feels to be a fan: of ABBA or of anyone.

The Way Old Friends Do is written by Ian Hallard (The Boys in the Band, Scenes From An Execution), and directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Dracula, Doctor Who, The League of Gentlemen), whose other directing credits include Steven Moffat’s The Unfriend, which transfers to Wyndham’s in December after its West End premiere at the Criterion earlier this year.

“So much to love… whether you’re an ABBA fan or not” – Reviews Hub

Hallard also features in The Way Old Friends Do cast, reprising his performance alongside Donna Berlin, Sara Crowe, Andrew Horton, Rose Shalloo and Anton Tweedale.

Following the 7.30pm performance of The Way Old Friends Do on Monday 4 September 2023, I’ll talk to cast about ABBA and their journey with the production. Any questions? Join us!

(My first West End Q&A for The Way Old Friends Do, on 21 August, will be with writer Ian Hallard and director Mark Gatiss exclusively.)