WHILE James Potter has been steadily carving out a name for himself on the local theatre scene he's been hiding a little secret.

Because not only is he a very fine actor - he's a pretty mean scriptwriter too.

In fact over the years, writing has been a much bigger part of his life than acting has.

He says: "At school I was the kid who when the teacher asked us to do anything creative in class I always chose to write a story.

"Then when I went to university I took a minor in creative writing but the course, which was theatre and media drama, had a lot of writing as part of it too including writing for radio and television, general script writing, and writing for stage."

If that wasn't useful enough for his latest theatrical venture, his second year was taken up with writing for children, and that's exactly what he's been doing for Colchester's Chameleon's Web.

Following a number of successful open air theatre shows from the pens of more established writers, in recent years artistic director Suzanne Bailey has been keen to encourage the creative writing talent within her own group.

Up to now that has included Tammie Lightfoot's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland and Stuart Robinson's Robin Hood: Spirit of Sherwood, and this year it's James' turn with his own version of the Wizard of Oz stories.

"I started thinking about it a long time ago," he tells me. "While we were doing Alice actually back in 2013 and it started off with me coming up with the sort of gags you might have in something like the Wizard of Oz, and then of course how I would sort out the practical problems like flying monkeys."

According to James you make them suffer from vertigo.

"I started talking about it to Suzanne," James continues, "and she told me to go away and write something.

"The first thing I did was to go back and read the books but this time thinking about how we might stage the story of Dorothy. What was really important was steering clear of the films and actually that's easily done because the characters are so well known.

"I was very lucky because I had Tammie and Stuart go before me so I was watching all the time what was working and what wasn't."

James also knew just what made a Chameleon's Web summer show as he has been appearing in them ever since the first one.

"I started acting ten years ago," James says. "My first production was A Chip in the Sugar with the Colchester Theatre Group. It's one of Alan Bennett's monologues which meant being on stage, non-stop, for 45 minutes. I did it because I liked the challenge of it all. When you pull something like that off, it's the best feeling in the world.

"I've been acting with Chameleon's Web right from their very first summer show when I played Mole in Wind in the Willows. Then I was a musketeer in The Three Musketeers and I also appeared in Alice and Wyrd Sisters."

And despite attempting to stay on the sidelines for his own show, James will also be appearing in this one.

"I didn't expect to be appearing in Oz," he smiles. "I was just going to do the sound but we had a few people drop out so I'm stepping in as a flying monkey and a sergeant major dressed as a woman."

Which gives you a little idea of what James' Wonderful Wizard of Oz will be.

But don't panic Oz fans because James hasn't played around too much with the main story. Dorothy Gale still wants to get out of Kansas and a tornado still hits the Gale farmstead, which sends her further than she ever thought possible.

Stuck in a strange land with only a Scarecrow, A Tin Woodsman and a Lion for company, she sets off on a quest to return home, a quest that will require brains, heart and bravery.

"It's been a very exciting process," James adds. "Watching people say your lines is always a pretty surreal experience. Before this one of my other scriptwriting adventures was with Colchester's Frequency Theatre, who produce radio plays on-line, and one of my plays had the Mercury's Ignatius Antony in it. That was pretty special.

"But with Oz it's been great to have some new actors come in to the group and start performing my lines. Along with Suzanne's direction, they're doing things with the script I never thought possible and that's been brilliant for me as a writer.

"Thanks to the books I had the story structure there and of course these great colourful characters, who all go on a journey, literally and metaphorically. I just needed to give them something interesting to say and now with our amazing cast performing them, I can't wait for the tour to start."

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Tour Dates

July 29 - The Whalebone, Chapel Road, Fingringhoe, 5pm.

July 30 - Beth Chatto Gardens, Clacton Road, Elmstead, 6pm.

August 5 - Dedham Vale Vineyard, Green Lane, Boxted, 6pm.

August 6 - The Minories Garden, High Street, Colchester, 2.30pm and 6.30pm.

August 12 - Tollesbury Community Centre, East Street, Tollesbury, doors 6.45pm, show 7pm. (Indoor show)

August 13 - St Mary’s Churchyard, High Street, Wivenhoe, 2pm.

Gates open one hour before each performance.

Tickets for all venues, £11 adults, £9 concessions, £34 Family (two adults, two children).

Box Office - 0333 666 33 66 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/chameleonsweb