HULL's year as the UK City of Culture for 2017 may be drawing to a close, but not at Hull Truck Theatre.

Instead, the year will be extended for James Graham’s reflective world premiere: The Culture: A Farce in Two Acts, wherein he takes a satirical look at Hull’s year in the spotlight.

Graham, an alumnus of Hull University, has been given special behind-the-scenes access to the running of the festival while writing the play, speaking to many people involved, such as Hull 2017 chief executive officer Martin Green, members of Hull City Council and employees of partner organisations.

The cast, which includes York actor Andrew Dunn, will be taking part in research and development sessions next week at Hull Truck with Graham and director Mark Babych, before rehearsals start in January.

Set in January 2018 in the offices of Hull 2017 on the busy day of the ceremonial handover to ambassadors the next UK City of Culture, Graham's new show takes a look at the culture behind the culture.

As Coventry awaits its turn in 2021, Hull's monitoring and evaluation team have to present The Audit: a measurement of the impact "the culture" has had on the city. Can their logic models, outcome evaluations and statistical analyses really judge its effect on the people of Hull? The visiting Minister from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport certainly expects so. What could possibly go wrong?

"The Culture: A Farce in Two Acts is the perfect end to our year of exceptional drama," says Babych, Hull Truck's artistic director. "James is a brilliant talent with two plays, Ink and Labour Of Love, currently running in the West End and a third, Quiz, transferring from the Chichester Festival Theatre to London in the spring.

"We have brought together a stellar cast, including the welcome return of Andrew Dunn as Dennis and great Hull actors Matt Sutton and Jordan Metcalfe, who last appeared in Richard Bean's play The Hypocrite.

"We have some wonderful comic actors alongside them and a talented creative team ready to deliver James’s hilarious script that will shine the satirical spotlight on this most incredible year as we hand over to our colleagues in Coventry."

The Culture will run from January 26 to February 17 at 7.30pm, plus 2pm matinees on February 3, 7,10 and 17. Box office: 01482 323638 or at hulltruck.co.uk