A TEENAGE actor who has spent seven years being seen and not heard has landed his first speaking role.

Next month, 18-year-old Ed Cole will take to the stage in The Castle Players' production of Twelfth Night, being held in the grounds of the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Performing for the Castle Players is nothing new to Ed, but after seven years of appearing in productions by the amateur dramatics group, he will finally get to speak his first meaningful lines on stage.

The Teesdale School sixth form student, from Barnard Castle, was only 11 when he made his Castle Players debut, and every year since then he has had to make do with minor roles. Only now does he have his first major speaking part, with 88 lines to deliver. He plays the comedic role of Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night.

In the past he has been a fairy, a guard and a member of "the crowd'" on many occasions.

Ed, who hopes to begin studying drama at Hull University in September, said: "I'm really happy to get a big part. For the past three or four years I've been part of the crowd, or merchant one or servant two.

"In those parts I've only had two or three lines, so its great to get something like this."

Ed, who will sit his A-levels before appearing in the play, believed a big reason behind being chosen for an important role in this year's production was the young age of the cast.

He said: "Three of the main parts are all played by people my age, and the cast as a whole is pretty young.

"Normally, you can't have someone whose character in the play is meant to be the same age as yours, being 20-plus years older than you in real life."

Simon Pell, who has directed the Castle Players since 1987, said: "In many ways, Ed has done his apprenticeship with previous productions. But he's got the part on merit, because he auditioned very well and he is a very good actor."

Ed said that despite still getting nervous before productions, he is becoming accustomed to performing in front of more than 500 people.

His big part in the play could not have come at a better time, because when he moves away from home to go to university, he will be unable to take part in any more productions.

So this may be his first, and last, major role for the amateur dramatics group.

The Castle Players will perform Twelfth Night in the Bowes Museum gardens from July 5 to July 8. To book tickets, call 0800 0747080.