A STAR in the Octagon Theatre's production of The Family Way has spoken about his experience being stereotyped as a "disabled actor".

Max Runham plays the cheerfully cheeky younger brother Geoffrey Fitton in the Bill Naughton play set in Bolton in the 1960s.

Mr Runham, whose left arm ends just after his elbow, is not only a rising star in the acting world but he also plays a number of instruments including piano, drums and guitar – proving that people with impairments can work in a mainstream environment without being typecast.

Before his role at the Octagon, the musician-actor enjoyed success in productions at the Funfair, HOME in Manchester, Threepenny Opera and Graeae theatre company which places disabled artists in centre stage.

The 24-year-old said: "As much as I'd love it not to come up, it does. I was born this way so this is me. People always say it must have been really hard to do music and work as an actor, and I agree there have been obstacles but if anything that motivated me to carry on.

"Regarding being stereotyped, it's about how a part is presented. If it's done in a positive light and it's not just a case of, 'look at that one-armed guy' then that's okay.

"For example, in Nicobobinus I played the part of a man who had an arm of gold, something that by the end he no longer wanted.

"At Graeae, disabilities don't come into it – that's the great part about the theatre. They push the boundaries so that people don't think it's abnormal."

Mr Runham, who lives in Kent, trained at Rose Bruford College and has moved to Bolton for the duration of the production.

He said: "The Family Way such a lovely play. I knew it when I read it that I'd enjoy the part, but I didn't realise just how much. I play Geoffrey who is the brother of the groom.

"We've been going through the script a lot but we get side tracked in a brilliant way, churning out all our experiences of family which come up in the story, so everyone is drawing on their own experience.

"Elizabeth Newman (artistic director) is great to work with. I have never hit it off with someone and understood the way they work so quickly.

"It definitely makes it more special that I am living and working Bolton while I am performing in a play set here. I'm really looking forward to us all researching Bolton families in the 1960s when everything is right here at our fingertips."

The Family Way runs from September 4 to October 3. Call 01204 520661 to book.