Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends will stir magic memories from Greenwich Theatre’s recent history when it plays at the theatre for four performances at the end of this month.

Back in 1974 the theatre produced Ayckbourn’s Norman Conquests with Tom Courtenay alongside the then lesser known Michael Gambon, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Wilton and Penelope Keith. The play became a defining moment in the theatre’s heritage.

“It achieved astonishing ticket sales and transferred to the West End,” said James Haddrell, the theatre’s Artistic and Executive Director, “Now we’re proud to be hosting a touring production of Alan’s Absent Friends by London Classic Theatre, who have been to Greenwich several times, most successfully with a production of Abigail’s Party, which I programmed when I took over seven years ago.”

The painfully funny Absent Friends is set in the summer of 1974, the year that Greenwich first became associated with Ayckbourn, and will be performed as such with no updating.

“You can’t beat an Alan Ayckbourn script or tamper with its setting,” said James. “Many of the plays offer a kind of modern example of ‘timeless theatre’, in the way that people describe Shakespeare as timeless. In a hundred years I think people will still be doing Ayckbourn in that way.

“Tickets are selling well and I have to say we are enjoying one of our best years in a long time for ticket sales. Germaine Greer on Thursday, July 2, is now sold out. Those who missed out might like to know that Ruby Wax presents Sane New World on Sunday, November 8, but almost half of the house has already sold for that as well.

“We have also just announced at fairly short notice a one-off comedy variety night on June 18 with Richard Herring, Mitch Benn, Maureen Younger and Mark Dolan. We had a spare night and wanted to have some fun!”

*Absent Friends – Thurs-Sat, June 25-27, eves 7.30pm, Sat mat, 2.30pm. Tickets £18.50, cons £16 (inc £1 booking fees). Box office: 020 8858 7755 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk