Stephen Tompkinson, best known for his television roles in Ballykissangel, Drop the Dead Donkey and Wild At Heart, shows what a great stage performer he is in Sign Of The Times.

Tompkinson brings the right mixture of comedy and pathos to the role of the pedantic Frank, who has spent more than 25 years putting up giant illuminated letters on the sides of buildings while dreaming of becoming a writer.

The truth that his ambitions will never be realised hits home when he tries to teach the job to Alan, a sullen, hoodie-wearing lad on work experience.

Tom Shaw, who plays Alan, is an excellent foil for Tompkinson and the two exchange some witty repartee as their relationship develops 60ft up on a roof top.

Alan, also unfulfilled as an artist and musician, at first seems to be slow to connect, but it is he who realises the letters they are putting up spell “For Sale” and Frank is about to be made redundant.

Frank is given a lesson by his apprentice and, ironically, their roles are reversed in the second act when Alan tries to teach his old boss how to be a salesman.

Tim Firth, the writer of Calendar Girls, has come up with a humorous, meaningful script but, as with most two-handers, there is inevitably the odd lull when the pace slackens.

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