THREE women, one man, known by some as the Hermit of Hull and by others as the Don Juan of Hull. Welcome to the juggling act of poet Philip Larkin, whose intriguing private life revolved around three very different women over a period of 30 years.

Ben Brown's touching and humorous play Larkin With Women, winner of the TMA Best New Play Award in 2000, reveals the influence each had on Larkin's work and how they were influenced by him.

Esk Valley Theatre artistic director Mark Stratton, who saw the 1999 premiere at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, is reviving Brown's work this summer at the Robinson Institute, Glaisdale, near Whitby. Charles Hutchinson discovers why.

In the year of Hull: UK City of Culture 2017, did that have a bearing on choosing Larkin With Women for this summer’s play, given Larkin's association with his adopted home city, Mark?

"We've been thinking about producing Larkin With Women for some years, and when we knew that Hull was going to be UK City of Culture we thought it would make perfect sense to do it this year. It's our small way of showing some support for Hull and celebrating the work of a great poet."

What else drew you to Larkin With Women?

"I saw the original production over at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough in 1999 and was knocked out by it. The great script, performances and direction had a lasting impact on me. I'm a big fan of Ben Brown's style of writing. He has a delicate touch and a gift for the understated. Not a lot seems to be happening, but it is, and I find it mesmerising."

What do you find most fascinating about Ben Brown’s portrait of Larkin, a kind of never-dull-in-Hull surprise of a play?

"I think the most fascinating aspect is Larkin's undoubted appeal to the women in his life. He comes over as a man who is weighed down by pessimism and yet women were attracted to him. You would think that would have the opposite effect. According to Larkin's secretary, Betty Mackereth, women swooned when he answered the phone, so that suggests some sort of powerful charisma at work!"

Do you enjoy Larkin’s poetry?

"Yes, I enjoy it very much and think it's worth reading again and again. Evidently Larkin agonised for long periods over which precise words to use, and many of his poems are beautifully crafted. He was also able to write from a personal view point that had universal appeal and perhaps that is why he remains so popular."

How did you come to settle on Jonathan Pembroke as your Larkin?

"As usual, we were inundated with submissions from actors' agents and we met some excellent people. It was tempting to go down the lookalike route, but we decided the only criteria should be quality of acting. Ben Brown was in on the audition process and we both agreed on Jonathan."

Do we learn as much about the three women as we do about Larkin?

"I think so. Larkin's personality dominates the play, but the three women characters are beautifully drawn and each very different. We learn how much he needed them and how they needed him. It really is fascinating."

Finally, Mark, what is the significance of the wicker rabbit that Jonathan Pembroke is holding in the photo?

"We've had a wicker rabbit made for the show by Whitby sculptor Emma Stothard. Larkin had a similar one. He wrote touchingly about small animals and one of his poems is about a rabbit suffering from Myxomatosis. He and his long-term lover Monica Jones were also big fans of Beatrix Potter and his nickname for Monica was 'Bun'."

Esk Valley Theatre presents Larkin With Women at Robinson Institute, Glaisdale, near Whitby, until September 2, 7.30pm, except Sundays; 2.30pm matinees on August 12, 17, 19, 22, 24, 29 and 31. Box office: 01947 897587 or eskvalleytheatre.co.uk