MOST people would be forgiven for thinking that the Cold War ended some time in the 1990s, yet over the past few months there have been ever increasing allegations of spying between Britain and Russia.

Litvinenko aside, there is the case of the British Council and Neil Kinnock's son, not to mention the notorious rock-cum-listening device. So it is quite timely that Alan Bennett's masterpiece Single Spies should find itself on tour.

Based on two of Britain's most infamous and notorious spies, Anthony Blunt and Guy Burgess, Bennett has created a well observed, cleverly scripted work that stands the test of time. Although, whether the history of the events portrayed may be missed by some younger audience members remains to be seen.

Single Spies is essentially two separate plays covering incidents in the lives of the two spies.

An Englishman Abroad is based on an incident in the life of actress Coral Browne, who meets the exiled Burgess in his flat and measures him up for a new suit from his British tailor, Russian suits and pyjamas not being fit for purpose.

While A Question of Attribution, finds Anthony Blunt, Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures and the notorious fourth man, trying to solve the mystery of a painting. Discussing the painting with the Queen, Blunt finds himself under scrutiny.

There is still some relevance with a lot of Bennett's script, as HMQ comments, "Governments come and go...or don't go..." Nigel Havers slipped effortlessly between the two characters of Burgess and Blunt, while Diana Quick's assured Coral Browne is absent as she takes over the role of HMQ.

Oh, and did I mention that Jack Ryder (aka Jamie from Eastenders) is in it?