Hit comedy The Office is to have its world premiere on stage after winning direct approval from creators Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais.

The pair could have asked for a small fortune in rights – but generously accepted just a few hundred pounds.

Legendary scenes from the cult series, including the stapler in the jelly, are being adapted for a four-night performance.

It is 10 years since the comedy, a mock documentary about life in a Slough a paper merchants, was on TV.

But the dreary setting of Wernham Hogg, with Brent, his toadying colleague Gareth Keenan, receptionist Dawn Tinsley, sexist sales rep Finchy and long-suffering Tim Canterbury, will be recreated at the Netherton Arts Centre in Dudley from tonight.

Taking the lead role as David Brent is Dave Hutchins, who works in the advertising department at the Express & Star.

Dave, aged 40, of Brierley Hill, described the chance to play Brent in the first-ever stage adaption as a 'huge privilege'.

"He points at himself a lot and is king at cracking bad jokes – I'm looking forward to trying them all out on an audience this week," he said.

"I was a big fan of the show, so to re-enact it all is a lot of fun for us all.

"If people want to see something for a laugh and something which has never been done on stage before, they should come down and see us. Fact.

"We're all wondering if Ricky will be there in the audience to surprise us."

Gervais and Merchant granted direct permission to The Dudley Little Theatre Company for the first-ever stage version – for only a few hundred pounds.

In what will be the company's biggest ever scoop, just over 20 of its members will perform three episodes from the show's first series to an expected sell-out audience on each of the four nights.

Following the first, second and final episodes, the cast will use the exact same scripts, playing out scenes such as the stapler in the jelly and the photoshopped print-out of David Brent as a pornographic model.

Work to make the stage adaption began five months ago following approval from Gervais and Merchant, before rehearsals began in March with the actors practising their roles up to three times a week.

Agreement was reached for the show's go-ahead following months of emails and contacts between director Pru Warne.

She said: "The pair were busy in Hollywood and after months of trying I was about to give up. Then an email came through and it said they were both happy for us to do it.

"I couldn't believe it, I felt euphoria.

"I had been pushing it for so long. I would repeatedly ask, receive some questions and then hear nothing for weeks before receiving another email."

Warning: Some strong language:

Pru, of Brierley Hill, then spent the next couple of months watching the episodes to work out how to adapt the scenes to stage.

She said: "The characterisation and the script is a straight adaptation. What is slightly different is the layout of the office.

"Then we have a camera and sound man on stage who follow the characters to the front when they talk directly to the audience."

The show will be at the centre, in Northfield Road, from tonight to Saturday. Doors open 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Tickets cost £6 for concessions and £7 for adults. Call Dudley Council Plus on 01384 812812 or Chris Ridgeway on 01384 872583 for bookings. Visit www.dudleylittletheatre.org for details.

The wit and wisdom of David Brent (fact)

• A problem shared is a problem halved, so is your problem really yours or just half of someone else’s?

• Avoid employing unlucky people - throw half of the pile of CVs in the bin without reading them.

• You have to be 100 per cent behind someone, before you can stab them in the back.

• If your boss is getting you down, look at him through the prongs of a fork and imagine him in jail.

• If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven’t understood the seriousness of the situation.

• This is the accounts department, the number bods. Do not be fooled by their job descriptions, they are absolutely mad, all of ‘em. Especially that one, he’s mental. Not literally of course, that wouldn’t work. Last place you’d want someone like that is in accounts...

• (On how his band never made it to the big time) We’re both good in our own fields. I’m sure Texas couldn’t run and manage a successful paper merchants. I couldn’t do what - well, I could do what they do, and I think they knew that, even back then. Probably what spurred them on.

• Does a struggling salesman start turning up on a bicycle? No, he turns up in a newer car - perception, yeah? They got to trust me - I’m taking these guys into battle, yeah? And I’m doing my own stapling.

• Well, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that Neil will be taking over both branches, and some of you will lose your jobs. Those of you who are kept on will have to relocate to Swindon, if you wanna stay. I know, gutting. On a more positive note, the good news is, I’ve been promoted, so... every cloud. You’re still thinking about the bad news aren’t you?