Miss Marple has very big boots. To fill them, in light of previous wearers, is no mean feat and one not without certain dangers . . . Miss Marple is usually played as rather prim and proper or, in the case of Margaret Rutherford, as a battle axe. Judy Cornwell has found a new way of presenting her – frumpy, dowdy even – all cardigans, charity-shop tweeds and trilby hats . . . Entertaining stuff, but you have to pay attention. All in all it was what it said on the tin, no more, no less and if you like a good Agatha Christie who-dunnit then you’ll enjoy this one.

Absent Friends was written in 1974, arguably when Ayckbourn was at his peak – his previous two plays had been The Norman Conquests and Absurd Person Singular. So, although I had not seen Absent Friends before, it was with a light heart and carefree spring to my step that I arrived at the Everyman in the hope and anticipation of seeing vintage Ayckbourn at its very best. And, I am pleased to announce, it was.

“. . . I am not a dance aficionado but I can find a night watching a good modern ballet company as satisfying as seeing a great play and wonderful acting. So, it may be just my uninformed imagination, but there seem to be rather a lot of small(ish) independent dance troupes around at the moment . . . New English Ballet Theatre is certainly a company to keep an eye on and one which, when they become fully aware of their strengths, will no doubt become major players.