Return of Queen's 'Peter Pan'

ONE OF the stalwarts of the Queen's Theatre returns after a two-year absence next month.

Steve Edwin, perhaps the most recognisable actor at the Hornchurch theatre, returns in November as Lord Canterville in the next production, Curses, by Julian Ronnie and Paul Miller.

"Makes me laugh," he said. "It's very loosely based on Oscar Wilde's Canterville Ghost, and that was quite a hoot as well.

"I play the lord of the manor, and we get a visit from some descendents of the Black Knight, claiming they own the hall.

"To fight them off, we call up the ancestors from the here after, so you can imagine what's going to happen."

Steve has a long pedigree in playing the mystical and frightening, having taken the title role in Dracula and Phantom of the Opera at both successful Queen's productions of some years ago.

Steve looks and acts like the proverbial Peter Pan, never admitting to his age or seemingly slowing down.

"Age is immaterial," he said, "but I do have the distinction of appearing in more productions than any other actor who has been through the Queen's. How about that then?"

Known as perhaps one of the most versatile actors to grace the local stage, Steve has played just about everything from victim of a vampire, to Dracula himself, all-be-it Ken Hill's comical version.

"It does seem as if the Queen's is my second home, but actually my acting career has been quite varied," he said.

Steve first came to prominence at the theatre for being accidentally stabbed on stage in Dracula. John Halstead was playing Van Helsing in the production and recalled seeing Steve give a 'wonderfully realistic performance' as one of the vampire's victims.

"Then I saw all this red stuff spreading all over the stage and realised he was actually bleeding to death. What a performance!" said John.

Steve was also in at the early stages of Bob Thomson's hit of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers in the West End.

Speaking from the set of Inspector Lynley this weekend, Steve is fitting in the television appearance and the rehearsals for Curses.

"It's really nice to be back," said Steve. "Apart from Curses, I will be playing one of the ugly sisters in Cinderella with my old mate, Chris MacDonnell, in the December panto, which is going to be a scream."

Though the work is still pouring in, Steve and his actress partner, Rebecca Reaney, have just started a stage school in Kent.

"It's been an ambition of mine for some time, and with Rebecca, even if I do say it myself, we do make quite a team."

The couple founded Stage Antics based in Faversham, which was successfully launched earlier this year.

Curses also features Cut to the Chase favourites, Phil Reed, Nick Lashbrook Chris MacDonnell and Carol Sloman as well as Allison Harding, Catherine Hamilton and Stuart Organ after their success in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

Tickets are from £9 to £17 and available from the box office on 01708 443333 for the show's run from Friday, November 4 to Saturday, November 26.