THE Royal National Theatre visits Harrogate Theatre next week for the only Yorkshire performances of Stephen Powell's production of Bertolt Brecht's The Good Woman Of Setzuan.

In Brecht's epic drama, three Gods descend on Setzuan, a province blighted by unemployment, homelessness and hunger. Hardly perfect themselves, the Gods must find one good person, and it is proving harder than they thought, although there may be hope in the form of a local prostitute. Never mind that she cross-dresses; she sells cigarettes, and she isn't actually that good!

Brecht's epic play has been given a "refreshing make-over" by Powell, winner of the 1998 London Weekend Television Comedy Writing Award, resulting in a travelling show with a "large helping of urban cool and a bit of audience participation".

Using a new translation by Tanika Gupta, Powell's production takes a street-wise approach to the 1940s text - modern costumes, language, music and all - and in keeping with Brecht's own manifesto for theatre, there will be chances aplenty for the audience to join in with the action and take sides.

A free interactive event will be held before each show and can be considered as the first act of the play. Led by cast members at 6pm, it will offer the audience the chance to gain more out of the performance by exploring the play. Audience members will make judgements, take decisions and become involved in the action in front of them in this aperitif to the 7.30pm performances.

For all the innovations, director Stephen Powell buckles at the publicity machine calling his show a "refreshing make-over". "I don't really think it requires a make-over, and it's not as if the play needs any help: it's a fantastic piece of writing," he says. "What we've tried to do is take Brecht at his word.

"The thing that people think they know about Brecht is that's he's rather dour, political and very serious, and yes it is very challenging, as it was in the 1940s, but there is more to him than that.

"A lot of the things that annoyed him in the German theatre of the Forties are still there now. Rather than being conservative and comfortable with itself, he wanted theatre to be intellectually and spiritually challenging, and in this show we do provoke an interaction with the audience which we hope will be intellectual and physical."

Powell believes that far from 'dumbing down' theatre, it is essential to raise standards, not least because younger audiences are more demanding, wanting to react rather than merely "sit and take it".

"While we're not a flagship, we have taken that on board," he says. "We feel there are moral and political issues worth taking on in the play and outside it. We want a reaction: it can be that people absolutely love this production or loathe it... it's when the reaction is one of indifference that you know you've failed, but we've had a very enthusiastic response."

The Good Woman Of Setzuan, Royal National Theatre, on tour at Harrogate Theatre, March 13 to 17; pre-show event 6pm nightly, performances 7.30pm. Tickets: £4.40 to £14; ring 01423 502116.