KEVIN Topple has more than just a passing interest in the new season at the Headgate Theatre in Colchester.

Firstly he's in it, and secondly, he designed their swanky new brochure.

A graphic designer by trade, for more than 15 years Kevin worked for the Gazette and its sister paper, the Essex County Standard in the art studio, and that's where his passion for local theatre started too.

"It's where I met my partner Irene," he smiles. "She sat opposite me in the office and we got talking about theatre. At the time she was with the Bocking Theatre Club and during one rehearsal for that year's pantomime, I went down to watch.

"The guy who was supposed to be playing Little John hadn't turned up so they asked me to read for him. The following week, the same thing happened and then on third week, they said 'right Kevin, he's not coming any more, you'll have to do it'.

"I had never acted before in my life. Even at school it wasn't something I was really interested in."

But that soon changed when he finally got on to the stage.

"I properly got the bug," he adds, "and I've not looked back since. Funnily enough Irene doesn't do it anymore so she has to come along and watch me."

When the Headgate Theatre was being suggested more than 20 years ago, Kevin was heavily involved with the fundraising team, and since its opening he's rarely been off the stage there, except most recently.

"I wanted to give myself a bit of a break," he tells me. "I did so much in 2016, I just wanted to ease off a bit and despite three or four people asking me to be in shows, I'm proud of myself for saying no."

Fortunately that doesn't include this year's pantomime, Puss in Boots, which runs at the Chapel Street venue from December 6 to 10, and he's already agreed to appear in Priory Players' 2018 production of Macbeth, which runs at the Castle in January and in the park later on in the summer.

He's also once again involved with the Headgate's annual Old Time Music Hall show, which runs on October 31 and Kevin will compere.

"I've had some wonderful moments on that stage," he says. "Probably far too many to mention but meeting Terry Waite when did Someone To Watch Over Me was definitely one of them as was performing in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, which is my all time favourite film."

For more information on the current Headgate season go to www.headgatetheatre.co.uk