A FORMER Gladiator is one of the TV celebrities appearing in a North-East theatre's repertory season.

James Crossley took the name Hunter in the hit 1990's TV series in which muscle-men and women were given aliases and took part in competitions.

Mr Crossley stars with Natasha Symms from Holly-oaks in I'll Be Back Before Midnight, at Middlesbrough Theatre, from September 7 to 11.

No stranger to acting, he has just finished appearing in Up 'n' Under at the Hull Truck Theatre and will take part in a six-month tour of the UK and the US in As You Like It, directed by Sir Peter Hall.

Andrew Lynford -Simon Raymond from EastEnders -will head the cast of the farce Bedside Manners, which plays from August 24 to 28 at the theatre.

Appearing alongside him will be Damian Williams, who proved a hit with audiences in last year's season.

Mr Williams will also star in John Godber's April in Paris, teaming up again with Debra Karen, with whom he starred last year in Godber's Lucky Sods.

The season also features Oscar Wilde's comedy The Importance of Being Earnest.

Performances are from Tuesday to Saturday, at 7.30pm, with matinees on Wednesdays at 2.30pm. People who book for all four plays will only pay for three.

To book, call (01642) 815181.

Published: 17/08/2004