Spot on with the comedy

He Wore A Red Hat, from renowned theatre company New Perspectives, will travel to St Joseph’s Parish Hall tomorrow, at 7pm.

The show is a festive noir comedy, full of sleuthful surprises that is suitable for everyone aged 12 and over.

It tells the story of a group of amateur detectives formed to help solve crimes in a village, but when part-time unpublished poet Joshua Rogan’s applications are repeatedly turned down, he decides to take sleuthing into his own hands.

Believing he’s one step ahead, he begins to piece together what he thinks are a series of related crimes, enlisting an intern as his put-upon sidekick.

But just when he thinks he’s on to something, a series of parcels arrive and he’s in for a big surprise. Join Joshua for a spot of sleuthing as he attempts to restore faith in the festive season, share a few poems, and maybe even fall in love.

New Perspectives artistic director Jack McNamara, who wrote and directs the play, took inspiration for the story from a news article reporting that volunteers on horseback were to help police tackle rural crime by patrolling the countryside in Northamptonshire.

Taking this germ as an idea he swapped horseback for cycling to create the bike-riding poet-cum-detective for his central character.

McNamara said: “The article fired my imagination as I began to conjure up what kind of ill-equipped person might end up policing rural communities?

“As a result I conceived a character who was both a hopeful poet and a detective, but rather useless at both.”

The show forms part of Spot On Lancashire’s autumn season of rural touring, taking professional arts events to isolated rural communities.

Speaking ahead of the performances, Spot On’s Sue Robinson said: “This is one of the final shows of our autumn season and it’s a fantastically funny and festive way to welcome the holiday period. New Perspectives are a company with a lot of pedigree so this will undoubtedly be a fantastic night out for all involved.”

For more information about the show or to see the full Spot On season programme, visit www.spotonlancashire.co.uk.

Tickets for the performance can be booked by calling either 07900 695782 or 01254 852522.