No longer booking
  • Venue Criterion Theatre, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 9 September 2023
  • Running time 2 hours (including interval)
  • Age guidelines 14+

★★★★ “Riotously funny” – Attitude

A new comedy about devotion, desire and dancing queens comes to the West End

The Way Old Friends Do is a tender, uplifting, laugh-out-loud new play about two school friends in the 80’s who come out to one another: one as gay, the other – more shockingly – as an ABBA fan!

This heartfelt story will appeal to anyone who understands how it feels to be a fan: of ABBA or of anyone.

Directed by Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentleman, The Motive and the Cue), The Way Old Friends Do is written by and stars Ian Hallard (The Boys in the Band).

“This Abba comedy by Mark Gatiss is jolly good fun” – Sunday Times

“Incorrigibly entertaining… A must-see for Abba fans; fun and laughs for the rest of us” – The Guardian

The Way Old Friends Do is playing at the Criterion Theatre in London from 17 August to 9 September 2023.

In 1988, two school friends tentatively come out to one another: one as gay, the other – more shockingly – as an ABBA fan. Nearly thirty years later, a chance meeting sets them on a brand-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 which includes platform boots, fake beards and a distractingly attractive stranger?

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Performance Information

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Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of The Way Old Friends Do?

The show stars Ian Hallard (The Boys in the Band) as Peter, Donna Berlin (Doctors) as Sally, Anton Tweedale (The Mousetrap) as Edward, Sara Crowe (Olivier Award winner for Private Lives) as Mrs Campbell, Andrew Horton (Jupiter’s Legacy) as Christian and Rose Shalloo (Call The Midwife) as Jodie. The play also features the voices of Miriam Margolyes and Paul O’Grady, and Toby Holloway, Tariye Peterside and Joe Sargent complete the cast.

Who are the creative team of The Way Old Friends Do?

The Way Old Friends Do is wirtten by Ian Hallard and directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Dracula, Doctor Who, The League of Gentlemen).

The creative team also includes Set & Costume Designer Janet Bird, Lighting Designer Andrew Exeter, Sound Designer Ben Harrison, Casting Director Marc Frankum and Assistant Director Gavin Joseph.

Venue Information

Criterion Theatre , Piccadilly Circus, London, SW1Y 4XA

Nearest Tube or Train: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly line, Bakerloo line)

Nearest Buses: 3, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 22, 23, 38, 88, 94, 139, 159, 453

Directions

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Critics' reviews of The Way Old Friends Do

★★★★ "Full of heart" - The Stage

★★★★ "Riotously funny" - Attitude

★★★★ “A super trouper of a show” - What's On Stage

★★★★ “A genuine love letter to ABBA" - Broadway World

"This Abba comedy by Mark Gaitis is jolly good fun" - Sunday Times

"Ian Hallard’s witty play... Exuberantly directed by Mark Gatiss" - The Guardian

" Ian Hallard’s extremely endearing comedy-drama" - TimeOut

Also see: The Way Old Friends Do Reviews Round-up

Frequently Asked Questions

The Way Old Friends Do is playing at the Criterion Theatre in London
The running time of The Way Old Friends Do is 2 hours (including interval)
The age recommendations for The Way Old Friends Do are: 14+
Yes, The Way Old Friends Do has matinee performances on the following days: Thursday, Saturday
No, sorry, The Way Old Friends Do has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

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