Poet’s epic novel Gaudete comes to life in town theatre

Huddersfield: He’s been seen on The Royal Variety Performance, Live at the Appollo and other big venues, now he’s on a tour asking Is That Chris Ramsey? His new stand-up show is in town for just one night. Tickets are £20 from thelbt.org.uk or 01484 430528. ■■The Graduate, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds: Based on the Charles Webb novel and famous film starring Dustin Hoffman, the stage production features a memorable soundtrack of Sixties songs while telling the tale of a promising young middle American graduate who rebels against convention. Tickets are £13.50 to £30 from wyp.org.uk or 0113 2137700. ■■Reginald D Hunter, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield: The American-born stand-up, who made him home in the UK 15 years ago, is a controversial figure in the world of comedy but is a familiar figure on British television series such as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and his own series Songs of the South. He has a new show, Some People v Reginald D Hunter. Tickets are £21 from thelbt.org.uk or 01484 430528. GAUDETE, a startling stage adaptation of Ted Hughes’ poetic novel, is to have its world premiere at the Lawrence Batley Theatre on Tuesday, March 14.

It will be the first time the work, originally written as a film script back in 1964, has been seen on stage since the 1980s.

The Huddersfield theatre is a fitting place for the premiere as Hughes, who lived in Hebden Bridge, set his supernatural story in a Yorkshire village.

Eight performers from the OBRA Theatre Company will bring Acts I and II to life using dance, evocative images and a soundscape that includes live junkyard percussion and Yorkshire-born actors bringing Hughes’ language to life.

Gaudete (originally the title of a late medieval Christmas carol, and meaning ‘rejoice’) tells the tale of how life in a quiet village is shattered when the parish priest is replaced by a changeling and interprets the Christian gospel of love in his own alarming fashion.

Director Kate Hannah Papi says the work is powerful and passionate. She said: “I began reading Gaudete one cold winter morning... four hours later I came up for air, totally transformed. I want to share the beauty of Hughes’ language through work this is visually stunning and transformative.”

There will be two performances in Huddersfield – on March 14 and 15 at 7.30pm – before the show goes on tour. Tickets are £10 to £16 from thelbt.org.uk or 01484 430528.