THE Northern Broadsides theatre company returns to the RSC next Tuesday when Barrie Rutter directs Ted Hughes's final masterpiece Alcestis, which was completed shortly before the poet's death in 1988.

The Ted Hughes estate, in the knowledge that the company's unique style would bring the piece to life, gave Alcestis as a gift to Northern Broadsides.

Hughes's contemporary version of a Greek classic by Euripides is the story of King Admetos, doomed by the gods to die, who allows his wife Alcestis to take his place. It runs in Stratford until November 4. Pictured (right) are Andrew Cryer as Admetos and Joanne Thirsk in the title role.