Alan Ayckbourn’s Joking Apart is played out in the same back garden over a 12-year period.

This painfully funny play explores the unrelenting themes of ageing, jealousy and unrequited love.

Richard and Anthea are the ideal couple — charming, generous and successful.

They can’t help but attract loyal and loving friends or can they?

Is it possible that being friends with such a golden couple can have its downfalls?

Could you actually come to loathe such lovable people, especially when they are nice?

Richard, Anthea and their friends repeatedly gather to relax and compete, both on and off the tennis court, as their private agonies emerge to devastating effect.

Of all his 76 plays written so far, Sir Alan has frequently said that Joking Apart is one of his favourites.

The cast comprises Robert Curtis as Richard, Emily Pithon as Anthea, Edward Harrison as Hugh, Sally Scott as Louise, Thorston Manderlay as Sven, Natasha Byrne as Olive, Will Barton as Brian, and Katie Brayben as Melody, Mandy, Mo and Debbie.

It is directed by Lucy Pitman-Wallace.