STAFF at the Grand Opera House are prepared for anything today – such as making an emergency hitchhike on a passing interplanetary ship as the Earth is destroyed.

They all have their towels with them, marking Towel Day, instituted in 2001 in honour of Douglas Adams, who died that year.

The author wrote the bestselling Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy series in which the hero Arthur Dent is told how rule one of interspace travel is “never go anywhere without your towel” shortly after he unexpectedly finds himself on board a spaceship which demolishes the Earth to make way for an interspace highway. The book was made into the popular radio and television series.

At the Opera House on July 5, members of both radio and TV casts will be reunited, with Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, in a series of highlights from the shows.

Directed by Dirk Maggs, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Live features many of the characters from the series – including the book itself!