A HORWICH actor is happy to be closer to Home for his latest production.

Simon Trinder plays Orestes in Blanche McIntyre's take on The Oresteia, Ted Hughes' translation of Aeschylus' epic drama about war, bloodshed, revenge, and justice.

The 37-year-old, who recently starred in ITV's three-part blockbuster drama Midwinter of the Spirit, plays alongside Lyndsey Marshalwho heads the cast as Clytemnestra.

But unlike the majority of his work, which is based in London, Simon will perform at the newly opened Home venue in Manchester, a centre for international contemporary art, theatre and film.

The play, which was first performed in 458BC, runs from Friday, October 23 to Saturday, November 14.

Father-of-two Simon, who lives in Blackrod, said: "It's great to be based hear home for a change and not have to travel far and wide.

"The venue is a brilliant, brand spanking new building with cinemas, theatres and art galleries. The Oresteia is a fantastic show. When my agent got me the audition I was really pleased. Blanche McIntyre is a big fish who is causing quite a stir, so to be chosen to work with her is an honour."

Simon is a veteran actor with more than 50 plays for BBC Radio 4 under his belt, as well as credits at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court Theatre, the Hampstead Theatre, and the Young Vic.

His love of performance stemmed from a dislike of maths in school.

He said: "I was terrible at maths — anything to do with numbers. It struck me quite quickly that performing arts was something I was more attuned to. Plus, the drama department at Rivington and Blackrod school, which I attended, was really good — and still is."

Throughout his youth Simon performed at the Octagon Theatre and Bolton Little Theatre before getting a 'big break' with the BBC.

Simon said: "I did quite a bit with the Little Theatre. They were superb to be a part of and still are a fantastic company. I also did a musical version of Kes at the Octagon which was really good.

"When I finished drama school I won an award with the BBC called the Carlton Hobbs award where three men and three women are picked to be radio actors for six months. I got to work with some fantastic actors and it was great fun."

As well as acting, Simon runs a drama school call ICAT (Independent Centre for Actor Training).

The six-strong cast in The Oresteia, features actors playing multiple roles crossing age and gender, who will be accompanied by a chorus of more than 50 Greater Manchester residents at each performance.

Director Blanche McIntyre said: "The Oresteia is epic in its themes, experimental in style and contemporary in its impact, and in the current situation of increased political engagement and in the context of the Northern Powerhouse proposals, it feels right to work on a play in which the right to administer justice is transferred from a small family to the people.

"It seems even more appropriate to be doing this in Manchester in 2015, a great city with a long, noble, and continuing history of agitation for the greater good."

More information is available at homemcr.org/production/oresteia.