A network consultant is forging a new career as a stage actor and producer after learning his trade in grassroots theatre.
Alan Moorhouse, 45, from Hook, will star in Heroes, an Olivier Award-nominated play adapted by Tom Stoppard.
Alan will play Henri at the 100-seater Phoenix Theatre in Bordon later this month.
Speaking to the Basingstoke Observer, the father-of-four said his role as the show’s star, and the boss of the production company behind it, is a far cry from his beginnings with amateur drama group, The Silchester Players.
“The normal way to push yourself forwards as an actor is to get yourself an agent, and hope something will fall through the door,” he said.
“But as nobody knows me from Adam, I realised that it was going to be a long wait, so the only way I could do this was to do the production and make sure I am in it. It was all rather selfish, really.”
Alan took the jump in 2010 by writing, producing, self-funding, and acting in the critically acclaimed show Uplifting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 10 years after making his stage debut with The Silchester Players.
Alongside pal Simon Downing, a professional actor and director with 30 years experience, he set up The Atre Company.
The latest production follows Henri, Gustave, and Philippe, three OAP World War One veterans reliving their past, and planning their future.
“These guys are carrying old wounds and aren’t as young as they were,” said Alan. “They are stuck in a retirement home, but are still young soldiers at heart chatting about women, and have a plan to trot around the globe.”
Starring alongside Alan is West End star Giles Shenton, and Guildford School of Acting-trained Gately Freeman.
While Alan said he was not ready to resign from his day job, he admitted he loved his new career direction.
“It’s great to be able to do a lot of things,” he said. “As an actor you do rehearsals, learn your lines, all that sort of stuff. But I can do all of it, I can design the program and talk to the theatres.
“There are a lot of frustrations and extra work, but it is quite nice to have the novelty of doing one thing, then switching role to work in a different way for the same aim.”
The show runs from February 14 to 18.
