UNTIL AUGUST 6, BATH: THE world premiere of DH Lawrence's lost work, The Fight For Barbara, is now showing at the Theatre Royal Bath starring Jason Hughes, who will be familiar to most as Warren from the cult BBC2 series This Life, and Rebecca Hall, Best Newcomer 2003.

Audiences have the opportunity to enjoy Lawrence's scintilating story of laughter, tears and true love, in this lost classic, directed by Thea Sharrock.

When Barbara Tressider leaves her wealthy husband and elopes to Italy with the son of a coal miner she has known for only three weeks, she sparks a scandal which has a huge impact on her titled family.

In this drama, each of the affected parties makes their way to the isolated Italian villa to do battle in the fight for Barbara.

Their displays of jealousy, incomprehension, common sense and emotion are charged with the humour and pathos of real life,

As Barbara's past catches up with her, she receives visits from her mother, Lady Charlcote, followed closely by Barbara's incensed father, Sir William Charlcote and finally her distraught husband, Dr Frederick Tressider, forcing the lovers to question their relationship.

Barbara has to make a life changing decision whether to follow her head or her heart.

Jason Hughes plays Jimmy Wesson, the lowly coal miner Barbara elopes with.

"In a way The Fight For Barbara is autobiographical about D H Lawrence," he said. "I like Lawrence and I think it is amazing how well he knew relationships, considering this play was written in 1912.

"It is still so relevant today and although the social conditions and class divides have changed the relationship part of the story is still very real."

Jason is best known for playing Warren Jones, a gay lawyer, in This Life, which was a huge hit in the late 1990s.

Jason believes its success was all down to the fact that it was based around normal people.

"Audiences loved it because the characters were believable," he said. "They were flawed and had problems and insecurities so people could identify with them a lot because they were just normal human beings."

When Jason is away from the cameras and performing live on stage he believes rehearsing something over and over again is the key to avoiding nerves.

"The first time you do something live it's very nerve-racking," he said. "However, the more you do something the more you get used to it so it is a lot more relaxing.

"I still get energised and adrenalised before I go on stage but I'm not as nervous once I get used to it all."

The script from The Fight For Barbara was printed in a magazine in 1933 but they couldn't fit it all in so a lot of it was cut. Then the manuscript was lost completely and only rediscovered about three or four years ago.

"This is the first time the play has ever been seen or performed and so it is really exciting," said Jason.

This is his second time at the Theatre Royal in Bath. He appeared there in a touring production called The Herbal Bed several years ago.

"It's a lovely theatre and a great stage to perform on," he said. "I really like it at the Theatre Royal in Bath."

When Jason isn't acting he likes to spend time with his four-year-old daughter.

"It's not very relaxing but when you have children it's great to spend time with them," he said.

As well as This Life, Jason's other TV credits include Waking The Dead, The Harry Enfield Show, Casualty, Peak Practice and London's Burning.

Stage credits include Look Back In Anger at the National Theatre, Snake In The Grass at the Old Vic, London and The Illusion at the Royal Exchange in Manchester.

The Fight For Barbara is showing from now until August 6 as part of the Peter Hall Season.

For tickets call the Theatre Royal Bath box office on (01225) 448844.