We are always told to respect our elders but Tim Firth’s Sign of the Times explores what older generations can learn from today’s youth.

This two-hander, which originates from Bury St Edmunds’ Theatre Royal, stars Robert Gill (Frank) alongside Thomas Pickles (Alan), whose chemistry is there for all to see.

The first act sees Frank lecture his teenage apprentice on the importance of taking pride in your work, as well as many character traits that can only be synonymous with a wizened Yorkshireman.

We discover Frank, despite 35 years at Forshaw’s, is really a frustrated espionage author, while all Alan wants to do is shrug his shoulders and listen to his iPod.

It is a touching and gentle easy watch, which, despite a fairly docile start, springs into life as it becomes clear Firth, who wrote Calendar Girls, is portraying more than just two unlikely pals.

A respect between the pair develops throughout the act and it ends with a sign that young and old, despite coming from different worlds with different values, really do have a lot in common.

Act two goes one step further, flipping the narrative on its head – Alan is now a deputy assistant trainee manager (or something of the sort) at an electrical company.

His path crosses with Frank again when the aging sign engineer comes knocking on Alan’s door for work – the pair reminisce and it is clear lessons really were learnt five years previously.

Sign of the Times has a very small and modest undercurrent to it, fitting with the small and modest – but ever-changing – world in which it is set.

For me, the two actors give the play the warmth which Firth set out to depict – a gentle tale, with a consistent message throughout.

Sign of the Times at the Rose Theatre, Kingston. Visit rosetheatrekingston.org for details.