ABBA fans have plenty to celebrate with the arrival of a comic homage to the Swedish popsters in the West End, and news of the digitally remastered re-release of their 1977 movie.

Ian Hallard's The Way Old Friends Do runs at The Criterion following a successful tour which started out at Finsbury Park's Park Theatre.

Also starring the Islington actor, and directed by his husband Mark Gatiss, the comedy follows two old school friends who decide to form the world's first ABBA tribute band in drag.

Ham & High: Islington actor Ian Hallard has written and stars in the comedy which is directed by his husband Mark GatissIslington actor Ian Hallard has written and stars in the comedy which is directed by his husband Mark Gatiss (Image: Geraint Lewis)

Hallard said: "I couldn’t be more thrilled and delighted that my little comedy about a Brummie ABBA fan and his quirky friends is opening in the West End. The little boy dancing around his living room in blonde ‘Agnetha’ plaits gets to strut his stuff as a bona fide Dancing Queen. Proof positive that dreams can come true."

The Way Old Friends Do has been praised as heartfelt, joyous, packed with one liners, and appealing to anyone who knows what it's like to be a superfan. It starts in 1988 as two school friends confess secrets and share their love of ABBA, then fast forwards thirty years to a chance meeting which sets them on a journey of platform boots, fake beards, dancing queens and a distractingly attractive stranger.

Ham & High: The Way Old Friends Do castThe Way Old Friends Do cast (Image: Geraint Lewis)

Olivier Award winner Sara Crowe (Four Weddings and a Funeral) is among the cast, who perform at The Criterion until September 9, with post show Q&As taking place on August 21 with Mark Gatiss and Ian Hallard, and the whole cast on September 4.

To celebrate the announcement that ABBA the Movie is to be re-released in cinemas for two nights only on September 17 and 18, tickets are available at £19.77 reflecting the original year of release. The price covers tickets in bands C, D or E and can be booked by entering the code ABBA77.

Ham & High: The Way Old Friends Do The Way Old Friends Do (Image: Geraint Lewis)

ABBA The Movie, Fan Event has remastered the film, directed by Lasse Hallström, and starring Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Agnetha Fältskog. It goes behind the scenes of the band's successful 1977 tour of Australia, and features chart-toppers such as Dancing Queen, SOS, Name Of The Game, and Waterloo.