KAFTA'S Dick is regarded as Alan Bennett at his most thought-provoking - and hilarious.

Apparently playwright Mr B is a big fan of Franz Kafta, and the play - first presented in 1986, revised in 1992 - received great acclaim in 1998 at London's Piccadily Theatre, directed by Peter Hall, and starring Julia McKenzie, John Gordon Sinclair and Eric Sykes.

This time out it's the turn of Lancaster's popular professional outfit Freehold Theatre to bring Alan Bennett's modern classic to life with a tour that kicks off at Gregson Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 6/7 (7.30pm, tickets 01524-849959), heading north to Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday, February 9/10 (8pm, 01539-725133).

As well as other dates in Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, and surrounding Lancashire towns, Freehold call in at The Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth, on March 2/3; The Heron Theatre, Beetham, March 16/17, and The Dukes, Lancaster, March 30/31.

The surreal comedy opens in 1920s Prague, with Kafta on his deathbed, persuading his friend Max Brod to burn all his manuscripts.

Suddenly the action switches to present day Leeds.