JORDAN Pearson admits that he is having to pinch himself as he takes to the stage of Bolton’s Octagon Theatre every night

In his first stage role, Jordan is taking on the lead in the award-winning comedy One Man, Two Guvnors. For an experienced performer the fast pace and highly physical nature of the role would be a challenge but Jordan is relishing every moment of it.

“I feel blessed, I really do,” he said. “I really have struck gold.”

Jordan Pearson in One Man, Two Guvnors at the Octagon

Jordan Pearson in One Man, Two Guvnors at the Octagon

Jordan went straight from drama school to a lead role in the BBC Three comedy drama Ladhood in which he starred for three series.

“I’ve always wanted to do theatre but I found myself working in TV from the outset,” he said. “Now I’ve got the chance to play in front of live audiences and I couldn’t have a better production than this.”

One Man, Two Guvnors is the story of an out of work skiffle player who in the Sixties starts work for a minor gangster and an upper class twit. He is desperate that neither of his ‘guvnors’ should find out about the other and total mayhem ensues.

“The plot is absolutely crazy when you just read it and it probably doesn’t make much sense at that point,” said Jordan. “But it is such a physical comedy that when you get it on to the stage it suddenly takes on a life of its own.”

At times the pace is frenetic and the production often lapses into pure farce.

“I love anything like this which has a lot of slapstick involved,” said Jordan. “I grew up watching Laurel and Hardy videos with my family so it’s always something I have enjoyed. But to be a part of it is just incredible.”

Jordan Pearson in Bolton for One Man, Two Guvnors at the Octagon

“I had seen the production when it was first done at the National Theatre and I loved it (that production made a star of James Corden who played Francis Henshall, the role being taken on at the Octagon by Jordan) but it’s not until you are in it that you fully realise how complex, how fast moving and just how clever the whole thing is.

“From the first day of rehearsal every day has been a major learning process for me. When a production is so fast paced and the comedy is so outrageous at times the secret is for it all to look natural; the audience will tell if you are faking it. The only way to make all that effort look natural is through repetition so that everything becomes second nature.

“We have been working with some great physical comedy coaches and I have learned so much in a relatively short space of time.”

Not only is Jordan getting the chance to make his stage debut at the Octagon, he will also get the opportunity to take One Man, Two Guvnors on tour. The production is a joint one with the Theatre by the Lake and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and after the show ends its run in Bolton on June 25 it will then head to Liverpool and then Keswick keeping Jordan on the road until September.

Jordan Pearson in Bolton for One Man, Two Guvnors at the Octagon

Jordan Pearson in Bolton for One Man, Two Guvnors at the Octagon

“Going on an extended run makes it all the more exciting for me,” he said. “You can’t anticipate how different audiences will react so that will be very interesting when we go from one theatre to another.

“Putting a show in front of an audience is one of the most exciting things for me. It’s not something I’m used to.”

Jason has settled in straight away at the Octagon.

“Just to be here in Bolton, to see the culture and the love there is for the Octagon is brilliant,” he said. “There is such a lovely feel about this theatre.”

In Ladhood, the ensemble cast clearly bonded over the three series together and Jason believes that there’s already a similar connection between the cast of One Man, Two Guvnors.

“You might not think so but there are some similarities with TV,” he said. “It’s that feeling you get of being part of a company. Ladhood was my first proper job so to be doing it for three series was amazing and some really special relationships developed among the cast.

“And I think with this we’re replicating that lovely feel within the group at the Octagon. I really am so blessed to be involved.”

One Man Two Guvnors runs at the Octagon, Bolton until Saturday, June 25. Details from www.octagonbolton.co.uk