In Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s plays there are no “stars”.

Aided by a walking stick, the playwright entered the packed lecture hall at Warwick Art Centre’s Woods-Scawen Room to rapturous applause.

Talking to biographer Paul Allen about his feud with the West End over their insistence on “star casting”, he said: “My works are written for five, not one plus four.

“I have had beautiful performances from star actors, but it becomes overburdened by expectations from the audience. If Jude Law was to walk on stage desperately trying not to look like himself the audience are disappointed and say ’oh he doesn’t look like he does on telly’.”

The 75-year-old writer/director, who suffered a stroke in 2006, was in good humour eloquently recounting amusing anecdotes about his life.

Arrivals and Departures is his 77th play. Sir Alan directs a 13-strong cast, including two children, from the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborourgh, near his home.

Set in a railway station, this absorbing drama centres on the relationship between two strangers – Ez, a 23-year-old disenchanted female soldier and chirpy middle-aged Yorkshire traffic warden Barry.

Sir Alan Ayckbourn
Sir Alan Ayckbourn

The pair are caught in a top secret military operation to catch a terrorist who Barry ticketed in Harrogate. Artfully constructed, the first half tells Ez’s backstory revealing her distance and fragile state-of-mind; while in the second half the story is retold with Barry’s life in flashbacks.

But it is the conversation, or lack of it, between the mismatched couple that is really riveting to watch, uncomfortable and incredibly funny.

Arrivals and Departures cleverly blends comedy and tragedy, Sir Alan’s preoccupation with the passing of time, and an exploration of father-daughter relationships.

Kim Wall gives an outstanding performance as Barry, his comic-timing is impeccable, Elizabeth Boag as the stony-faced Ez is fascinating; while Peter Halpin's meticulous Major Quentin is hugely entertaining.

Arrival and Departures is on again today (Thursday) at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and again on February 15 at 7.30pm.