Following the news of Paul O’Grady’s unexpected death, this specific performance of The Way Old Friends Do at London’s Park Theatre was dedicated to the comedian and drag legend, whose voice opens the show. Writer and star Ian Hallard paid tribute to O’Grady before curtain-up, and we started the post-show talk with Ian and director Mark Gatiss recalling how enthusiastically O’Grady recorded his voiceovers – despite not loving ABBA.
It was Ian’s own love of ABBA that inspired him to pen The Way Old Friends Do, and his lifelong desire to play Agnetha, with her long blonde locks, that inspired him to centre the story around the world’s first drag ABBA tribute band.
The new comedy, which premiered at Birmingham Rep last month before transferring to London’s Park Theatre, centres on two school friends from Birmingham who, in the 1980s, tentatively came out to one another: one as gay, the other as an ABBA fan. Nearly thirty years later, a chance meeting via Grindr leads them to form the world’s first ABBA tribute band – in drag.
But can their friendship survive the tribulations of life on the road; one full of platform boots, fake beards and a distractingly attractive stranger? 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 directed by Hallard’s real-life husband Gatiss (Sherlock, Dracula, Doctor Who, The League of Gentlemen). It was great to reunite with the couple for another Park Theatre Q&A after the 2016 revival of Mart Crowley’s 1968 gay classic The Boys in the Band, in which they both appeared.
At the post-show talk, in addition to them, we were joined by Hallard’s fellow The Way Old Friends Do cast members Sara Crowe, Rose Shalloo, Donna Berlin, James Bradshaw and Andrew Horton – as well as Ian and Mark’s exceptionally well-behaved Labrador Bob.
Paul O’Grady, ABBA, couple co-working, friendships, the precariousness of theatre post-pandemic, booing baddies, why Birmingham deserves more representation, and the joys of fandom were amongst the many topics covered.
The Way Old Friends Do runs at London’s Park Theatre until 15 April 2023 and then continues on tour until 10 June.
Q&A video
Q&A photos
Event photography by Peter Jones.
On Twitter
Before @ParkTheatre, @WayOldFriendsDo premiered at @BirminghamRep in @IanHallard’s hometown where the story is set.
It’s been receiving raves from critics + audiences – especially #ABBA fans – &, post London, it heads out on tour. pic.twitter.com/qiT7tb7WKP
— Terri Paddock (@TerriPaddock) March 29, 2023
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Interval of wonderfully funny @WayOldFriendsDo at @ParkTheatre.
Before the show, writer & star @IanHallard dedicated tonight’s perf to Paul O’Grady – to big applause.
Any Qs for Ian, @Markgatiss & the cast? #postshowtalks #RT pic.twitter.com/feKcHCA0iO
— Terri Paddock (@TerriPaddock) March 29, 2023
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The post The Way Old Friends Do post-show video and photos: Celebrating ABBA, friendship and Paul O’Grady appeared first on Terri Paddock.
Terri Paddock founded WhatsOnStage.com and the WhatsOnStage Awards, running the company and its events from 1996 to 2013. Terri is also the author of two novels, Come Clean and Beware the Dwarfs, and has previously written for the Evening Standard, Independent, The Times and other national publications. She is renowned for her 'legendary' post-show Q&As and also produces the annual Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and acts as a digital, content strategy and event consultant for theatre, producers and other clients. She tweets about theatre at @TerriPaddock.
