AN actor from Sticklepath who went from behind the scenes to centre stage will be performing in a new play next month.

David Watkinson will be making his second appearance with the Particular Theatre Company in The Distance, a play based at some unknown point in the future in an uncertain and decaying world.

Mr Watkinson, whose real name is David Watkins, first started acting with the Belstone Players.

He said: 'I worked behind the camera in the film industry for 35 years.

'One day I thought how easy acting would be so I decided to change — and then I found out it wasn't so easy!

'It's very enjoyable though and I love it.'

The 65-year-old, who has appeared in many productions, including Fiddler on the Roof, The Government Inspector, A Comedy of Errors and Cold Comfort Farm, said he was glad he made the change.

'I have been doing it for ten years and I definitely prefer being in front of the camera.

'I remember being in the film business waiting outside in the cold and snow for actors to come out and that wasn't very nice!'

The Distance explores the fractured relationships between family members affected by the outside world and the pressures of getting older.

Mr Watkinson will play the role of Peter, the father of the troubled lead character whose military past leaves him unable to deal with his daughter's strong emotional journey.

Particular Theatre Company is a South West-based new writing company in the process of staging their second production.

The company aims to focus on local talent and plays have been chosen from a large number of submissions by South West playwrights.

Local actors have been cast, along with a group of artists, to work on re-modelling a currently disused restaurant into a brand new theatre space.

Mr Watkinson is due to work on a short play for the National Trust at Killerton House later this year.

The Distance will be performed on Monday, February 8 to Saturday, February 27 at the Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter.