A TOURING actor has returned to perform in his home city for the first time since his teenage amateur dramatics days.

Richard Stacey became an actor after a career change in the late 1990s, after achieving law and teaching degrees.

As a 29-year-old he attended Rada and has been working all over the country, and also in Russia and Romania.

But the former Durham Johnston schoolboy had never returned to perform in Durham City until he won one of lead male roles of Captain Jack Absolute in Compass Theatre Company's touring comedy, The Rivals.

The 18-week run of Sheridan's fast-moving 18th Century romp has taken Richard and his fellow cast members to theatres of all sizes across the country.

But the penultimate stop is at Durham's two-year-old Gala Theatre, giving Richard's parents and family friends a first chance to see him perform on home soil.

Before the six-show run, Richard visited parents Mike and Barbara, who still live in the Crossgate Moor area, and had worse than usual first-night nerves.

"I have seen the Gala Theatre, but never put my head round the door, and I'm really looking forward to it, he said.

"I've come back regularly to Durham but I've never performed here, but it looks a fantastic theatre and the facilities are excellent back-stage.

"But with my parents and some of their friends and neighbours coming I'm really nervous.

* The Rivals runs until Saturday, curtain up at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Saturday, at 2pm.

Further details are available from the theatre box office, on 0191-332 4045.

Published: 20/05/2004