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Adaptations In Other Media

This page lists adaptations of Absent Friends in other media. Neither the radio nor television adaptations are available commercially.

Radio (1977)

Broadcast: 1977 | Time: TBC
Channel: BBC World Service | Production: BBC World Service
Duration: 60mins

Director: Dickon Reed | Adaptation: Peter King

The Company (character in bold)
Diana: Jo Manning Wilson | Evelyn: Angela Pleasance | Marge: Miriam Margoyles | Paul: Anthony Jackson | John: John Ball | Colin: David Jason
Note: For reasons not fully ascertained from archive, this adaptation of Absent Friends was not approved by Alan Ayckbourn (who may not actually have been aware of it until 1978). Unhappy with the dramatic cuts to the play, he requested the play be withdrawn and not broadcast again. It has subsequently been broadcast but the BBC has now officially been requested to not broadcast the adaptation in the future.

Television (1985)

Broadcast: 29 September 1985 | Time: 8.35pm
Channel: BBC2 | Production: BBC
Duration: 90mins

Director: Michael Simpson | Lighting: Dave Sydenham | Design: Don Homfray | Music: Harry Rabinowitz | Producer: Shaun Sutton

The Company (character in bold)
John: Hywel Bennett | Colin: Tom Courtenay | Paul: Dinsdale Landen | Marge: Maureen Lipman | Evelyn: Kate Lock | Evelyn: Julia McKenzie
Notes: The original transmission of Absent Friends was preceded by an introduction from the actress Julia McKenzie.
All research for this page by Simon Murgatroyd.