IT'S early September 1995. I finished my training at Welsh College of Music and Drama three years previously and have just completed my first repertory theatre job at Birmingham Rep.

I receive a call from my agent to tell me I have been offered another job at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, performing in Kes - The Musical directed by Lawrence Till, followed by A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Ian Forrest.

During my years at college I heard the names of many of the top repertory theatres mentioned, and always spoken of in high regard was Bolton Octagon. To be given the chance to work at such a well respected theatre at that early point of my career was a massive opportunity and one I intended to grasp with both hands.

Christmas 1998 and I'm back at the Octagon in The Wizard of Oz, this time under the directorship of Joanna Reid. The news breaks that the Octagon's artistic director Lawrence Till is to leave and the theatre is to stop producing its own work. I, along with my wife Helen Kay and many other local actors, spend numerous evenings outside the theatre leafleting for support to save the Octagon. At the time none of us thought we would ever get to perform there again.

Nine years on and I'm delighted to be performing in A Christmas Carol, my seventh production at the theatre. Having performed at many repertory theatres around England, I still believe that the Octagon is one of the finest producers of top quality theatre.

I have had the opportunity to work on productions including Two, Eight Miles High and Accidental Death of an Anarchist, and work with top directors like Paul Hunter, Conrad Nelson and current artistic director Mark Babych.

In 2003 Helen and I set up Urban Stage Theatre School, a youth theatre in Swinton. The aim of the school was to give youngsters the opportunity to learn performance skills from professional actors, musicians and dancers and then take these skills into their own productions.

What has been exciting about the current production of A Christmas Carol is that five of our students from Urban Stage were selected as part of the two teams of children in the show.

This has given them the opportunity to work alongside a very strong cast of professional actors in an exciting and dynamic environment. I hope they have not only enjoyed the experience, but learnt a little of what it takes to work in the theatre.

It has been a privilege to work at the Octagon over the years and especially during its 40th season. I hope it continues to enjoy success for another 40 years and beyond and that I am still performing here when the next major celebration takes place.