Times 25,689

Reasonably straightforward today with only the Noel Coward work unknown to me. Most of the definitions are well signposted so that 10A for example can be entered without working out the cryptic. 20 minute solve.

Today is National Hug Day so proceed with care

Across
1	RECOURSE - RE-COURSE; an economic clue;
5	PACK,UP - group=PACK; achieving success=UP;
10	COMPANY,DIRECTOR - COR surrounds (part in comedy)*; must be Paul Allen as today is his birthday;
11	CAPTAINING - CA(PTA-I)NING; school team perhaps=PTA=Parent Teachers Association;
13	SHIN - S(H)IN;
15	DASHERS - (harassed - a)*; "a" from (r)A(ce);
17	THINNER - TH(INN)E-R;
18	PAPRIKA - PAP-"reek"-A;
19	EMIRATE - E-M(IR)ATE;
21	RORY - R-O-RY; McIlroy perhaps although it's Jack Nicklaus' birthday;
22	INSTRUMENT - coach=instru-c-t then change c=circa=about to "men"; Joanna=piano;
25	PRESENT,LAUGHTER - show=PRESENT; LAUGHTER=scorn; not a play I'm familiar with;
27	TITBIT - TIT-BIT;
28	HERTFORD - HER-(DR-OFT reversed); where stags (harts) crossed the river Lea;
Down
1	ROCK,COD - ROC-(DOCK reversed);
2	CAM - CAM(ber); tributary of the Great Ouse that can be crossed at Cambridge;
3	UNACADEMIC - (I'm a dunce)* surrounds C=modest exam grade;
4	SPY,ON - S-(pony)*; what the US does to all of us?;
6	AXES - (t)AXES;
7	KITCHENWARE - KIT-C(HEN-WAR(m))E; CE from C(h)E(f);
8	PARTNER - RENT-RAP reversed; who you must hug as today is National Hug Day;
9	VIGNETTE - (given)*-T(i)T(l)E; Hollande's recent press conference;
12	PAST,PERFECT - PA-(FRETS reversed surrounds P)-ECT; P from P(ills); ECT=Electro-convulsive Therapy (kill or cure?);
14	MINI-BUDGET - MIN(I-BUDGE)T; much trumpeted admission of previous failures;
16	STAGNATE - E(TANG)ATS all reversed; what economy does after 14D?;
18	PARAPET - PARA-PET;
20	ENTERED - ENT-ERE-D;
23	TEASE - TEAS-E;
24	LEVI - hidden (humb)LE-VI(llage);
26	TAO - T(hat)-A(ttracts)-O(ne);