As part of the theatre’s tenth birthday celebrations Hollywood actor Patrick Stewart (who officially opened the theatre a decade ago) is to unveil a bust of James Mason in a memorial ceremony taking place on Tuesday 16th November. The bust of Huddersfield-born James Mason has been specially sculpted and transported from Switzerland to take pride of place in the foyer of the theatre.

The bust is a cast taken from an original by Swiss sculptor Dennis Perret-Gentil which stands near Mason's former home, in Corseaux, near Lake Geneva - where he lived for the last 22 years of his life, and where his body is buried.

Born in Marsh, Huddersfield, Mason had a glittering stage and film career spanning 55 years, first in England and then in Hollywood and Europe. He starred in more than 150 productions, including major movies like Lolita, A Star is Born, The Prisoner of Zenda, Odd Man Out, North by Northwest and Rommel - Desert Fox.

Mason was a wine enthusiast, and liked nothing more than to discuss and taste the year's growths with the local winegrowers in their cellars. To commemorate the relationship, a special limited James Mason edition bottling of the famed Corseaux white wine has now been produced with a label bearing the actor's self-portrait. The unveiling of the bust will be followed by a buffet and wine reception in the LBT Cellar Theatre where guests will be able to toast the memory of this movie legend with the specially imported James Mason vintage Corseaux wine.

The Anglo-Suisse Artistic Foundation, an organisation devoted to fostering cultural links between the U.K. and Switzerland, will present the cast of this bust to the LBT and a delegation from Corseaux will attend the ceremony at the theatre to watch Star Trek and X-Men star Patrick Stewart perform the unveiling. Others invited to the event include the Mayor of Corseaux and members of James Mason's family.

The unveiling takes place at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Queen’s Square, Queen St, Huddersfield on Tuesday 16th November at 2.30pm