AUSTRALIAN funny man Mark Little will be addressing the ways in which modern day men and women relate when his one-man show comes to Stevenage on Monday. Mark, 47, will be looking at why the battle of the sexes is still going strong in Defending the Cavem

AUSTRALIAN funny man Mark Little will be addressing the ways in which modern day men and women relate when his one-man show comes to Stevenage on Monday.

Mark, 47, will be looking at why the battle of the sexes is still going strong in Defending the Caveman - a play that won him critical and public acclaim.

Speaking about the show which won the 2000 Society of London Theatre 'Olivier Award', Mark said: "It's terrific because we have been given a second go at it. We have been given a chance to improve it, and it now has a real beauty to it."

The show asks the two sexes to enter each other's world and accept their differences.

Mark who lives in Brighton said: "The show addresses things about modern man that need to be talked about. It comes from so many different angles.

"The sexual politics of the last 40 years for example, seems to have man confused about what he is supposed to be.

"We have metrosexual men running around. They don't know if they are Arthur or Martha. Men are confused and women have been empowered.

"The caveman has got a bad reputation, but back then there wasn't a battle between the sexes - they were equal even though they were different, but the difference is where it gets confused."

Mark says the show has already had amazing responses

"The UK is more ready for the argument than six years ago because the issues the show brings up are more in the public eye," he said.

He does, however, admit that the one-man show is still a challenge.

"It takes a lot of energy to keep the audience captivated, but I search for ways to use humour to enlighten and surprise, so the audience can expect lots of laughs."

Mark, who is married with two sons, shot to fame in the 1980s as Joe Mangel in Australian soap Neighbours.

He said: "The 80s seemed to be a pivotal time for soaps.

"I have come to terms with the Joe Mangel status, and he still helps to put bums on seats."

But Mark would not want to go back to soaps.

"Soaps have lost the plot nowadays," he said.

Instead, Mark, will be concentrating on his 50-date spring tour which he hopes will progress to the West End later in the year.

The show starts at 7.45pm. For tickets, priced at £17.50 each, call the box office on 08700 131030, or visit www.gordon-craig.co.uk