Brave New World, although dealing with similar themes to 1984, was sensible enough not to identify itself in a time period so specific as to make watching a play about what we all know didn’t happen thirty years ago a bit daft (à la 2001 – A Space Odyssey). The world depicted in the story is one where people are created in laboratories to fulfil certain tasks – top of the pile are the Alphas (no, not cars) and at the bottom are the Epsilons who are created without a sense of smell so they can work in the sewers.

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.