ONE of the county’s most successful playwrights has taken a fresh look at a couple of famous puppets - just in time for a major milestone.

Elgar and Alice writer Peter Sutton latest work focuses on another couple: Punch and Judy, the bickering husband and wife who have amused adults and children alike for hundreds of years.

In fact, Punch has been around for almost 350 years - the name is first mentioned in Pepys diary from 1662 - which means next year is his 350th birthday.

Which means 2012 would be the perfect time for Sutton to debut the piece which he has been working on for 12 years.

Although those expecting a puppet show are likely to be disappointed.

“The Punch and Judy show as we know it is really a Victorian concept,” Sutton explained. “In this play the characters come alive and Punch goes to prison for violent offences and domestic abuse.

“The play centres on whether the prison system’s attempt at rehabilitation work and at Punch’s violent attitudes.”

This latest draft - which is hopefully the final draft - was adjusted to take into account comments made by local domestic abuse charities The Worcestershire Forum Against Domestic Abuse, Stonham and SupportWorks.

Ros Walker, strategic co-ordinator for the Worcestershire Forum Against Domestic Abuse, said : “Domestic abuse is often misunderstood and regularly misinterpreted. It can also be given subconscious credence as a social norm.

“Mr Punch challenges all of these and provides a forum for the issue to be confronted within our society. We hope it will be a resounding success for Peter.”

But - despite the heavy subject matter - the play does retain some of the comedy of the original seaside favourites.

“There’s still an awful lot of humour in it,” said Sutton, who yet has to confirm dates or venues for performances. “We hope people will have a laugh but also have something to think about.

“And if anybody leaves the theatre without tears in their eyes though, I haven’t done my job.”

- For more information about The Worcestershire Forum Against Domestic Abuse contact Ros Walker on 01905 822 357.