Vidar Hjardeng MBE - The Way Old Friends Do, AD Theatre Review
Season 1, Episode 1612, Mar 10, 2023, 03:00 PM
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews.
This week Vidar was reviewing a new comedy about devotion, desire and dancing queens with The Way Old Friends Do at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Tuesday 28 February at 7.45pm with description by professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Carolyn Smith.
In the late 1980s, two Birmingham school friends tentatively come out: one as gay, the other — more shockingly — as an ABBA fan. Thirty years later, they reunite to form the world’s first ABBA tribute band — in drag. Can their friendship survive the tribulations of a life on the road; one full of platform boots, fake beards and a distractingly attractive stranger?
Simultaneously tender and laugh-out loud funny, this heartfelt story will appeal to anyone who understands how it feels to be a fan: of ABBA or of anyone.
Written by and starring Ian Hallard (The Boys In The Band), this world premiere is directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Dracula, Doctor Who, The League of Gentlemen). Cast includes Donna Berlin (Doctors) James Bradshaw (Endeavour), Sara Crowe (Olivier Award winner for Private Lives), Andrew Horton (Jupiter’s Legacy) and Rose Shalloo (Malory Towers).
Also featuring the voices of Miriam Margolyes and Paul O’Grady.
Presented by Birmingham Rep and James Seabright in association with Jason Haigh-Ellery and Park Theatre
For more about the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and their access provision including audio described performances do visit the access pages of their website-
https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/
(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)
This week Vidar was reviewing a new comedy about devotion, desire and dancing queens with The Way Old Friends Do at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Tuesday 28 February at 7.45pm with description by professional Audio Describers Julia Grundy and Carolyn Smith.
In the late 1980s, two Birmingham school friends tentatively come out: one as gay, the other — more shockingly — as an ABBA fan. Thirty years later, they reunite to form the world’s first ABBA tribute band — in drag. Can their friendship survive the tribulations of a life on the road; one full of platform boots, fake beards and a distractingly attractive stranger?
Simultaneously tender and laugh-out loud funny, this heartfelt story will appeal to anyone who understands how it feels to be a fan: of ABBA or of anyone.
Written by and starring Ian Hallard (The Boys In The Band), this world premiere is directed by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Dracula, Doctor Who, The League of Gentlemen). Cast includes Donna Berlin (Doctors) James Bradshaw (Endeavour), Sara Crowe (Olivier Award winner for Private Lives), Andrew Horton (Jupiter’s Legacy) and Rose Shalloo (Malory Towers).
Also featuring the voices of Miriam Margolyes and Paul O’Grady.
Presented by Birmingham Rep and James Seabright in association with Jason Haigh-Ellery and Park Theatre
For more about the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and their access provision including audio described performances do visit the access pages of their website-
https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/
(Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)