Words from Ian McKellen

I was newly out as a gay man. Henceforward was a chance to declare I was still the same actor who enjoyed mainstream theatre. There's nothing gay about Alan Ayckbourn's play, except in the old sense. There was certainly plenty of jollity and social purpose about playing Jerome, estranged from his sometime in the future, getting entangled with a glamorous automaton.

Ayckbourn's 34th play was first seen at his theatre in Scarborough and two of the original cast came with him to London.