YOUNG actor Joel Eley has been a familiar face with both CO2, the junior section of the Colchester Operatic Society and more recently Mad Hatter.

After featuring in Grease, Legally Blonde and Assassins, he's back with CO2 in their up-coming production of Carousel.

That runs at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, from September 8 to 17 and for tickets call the box office on 01206 573948.

What or who got you interested theatre? Did you take part in any productions at school?

I started in theatre because of my younger sister who did a show with a young players group on Mersea Island and after seeing her I really wanted in. The first show I did they had to physically throw me on stage but since then it has been hard to get me off.

Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in the theatre?

My sister obviously, and I think my mum may have dabbled in it when she was younger. I know her and my auntie (twins) were Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee in a school play they are pretty proud of.

Who is the most inspiring person you’ve worked with and why?

I wouldn't say I've had anyone make a huge impact just yet. I've definitely been shown few things by the guys at Mad Hatter. I am currently working with Matthew Morgan Stevens from the Colchester Institute and although I've only really started with him I've come on leaps and bounds already.

What formal training have you done?

None so far but would love to have the opportunity to. It's defiantly on my to do list.

Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your career to date?

It would have to be when I played Jack in Dick Whittington for the Mersea Island panto. It had been about three years since I had last been on stage and I got some of the old nerves I had and it took a lot for me to go up there and do my thing, But afterwards I had so much fun and most nights I was met with such a positive reaction I would leave the hall beaming. If all that hadn't of happened I wouldn't of plucked up the courage to go to CO2 for Grease and I wouldn't be standing in for Jigger in Carousel in a few weeks time.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?

When I was about 13 I did a show where we sung mainly Disney songs and pop hits. A friend of mine and I were great at doing Hakuna Matata so they decided to throw it in the show and to dress us up as the characters. They put me (as Pumba) in a Lycra body suit with a Pumba hat on my head which left nothing to the imagination if you know what I mean. What's worse is my dad has it all on film, so safe to say he has ammo for my wedding.

Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?

Many times but the best has to be my first. I was 12 and it was Hook. I was Smee and Captain Hook had just shot a parrot. It was on a piece of string so a member of the crew pulled it and it falls of its perch. The only problem was out of the corner of my eye I could see the bird was twitching as the backstage crew was still pulling the string and I couldn't helped myself.

Any big plans for the future?

Taking over the role of Jigger for CO2's Carousel for a couple of nights which I'm really looking forward to and after that I will be doing some short films with a group I have recently gotten involved with. I'm also working on a one man show some point next year.