Curtain Call speaks to Scott Roche, leading man in The Winter's Tale put on by the Southend Shakespeare Company

It is on at the Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, from April 19 until April 23.

Tickets are £13 adults and £11.50 concessions.

When and under what circumstances did you start taking part in dramatics?

My mum and dad were always involved in choirs and singing groups so I first started singing at the age of five and I have been performing in some shape or form ever since!

Are or were any members of your immediate family involved in drama?

Oh yes, my wife, Sharon is a dancer and choreographer with local amateur groups and our household includes dancers, singers and even a theatrical make up artist!

Have you done any formal theatre or musical training?

None, but I've had a lot of help and guidance from people along the way!

Do you have any special skills, from juggling to speaking German, that have proved useful on stage?

Not really but I can whistle through my teeth without moving my mouth which has been useful to cover people in the past who can't whistle themselves!

Do you do any accents or impressions?

Over the years I have had to cover quite a range of accents from American, Spanish, Italian to Transylvanian! I also do a mean Yoda impression from Star Wars and My dance moves have been likened to that of David Brent from The Office.

Which experience/role do you regard as the highlight of your time in the theatre?

I have been extremely privileged to play some great roles including Sweeney Todd, Dracula and Othello but my personal highlight was playing Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.

What was your most gratifying moment in terms of response from an audience?

That would have to be Dracula for LTC. It was an honour to be part of such a fantastic production which audiences and critics alike seemed to love.

Who is the most inspirational person you have worked with/been taught by, in your stage career?

Aside of my mum and dad and the great people I've been lucky enough to play alongside, that would have to be Jim Cater, who is sadly no longer with us but he ran a local musical theatre group called Rainbow 2000. He gave me the chance to get back into musical theatre 16 years ago and taught me so much in his no nonsense, straight forward way! I owe him a lot for still doing the hobby I love today!

When was your most embarrassing theatrical moment on or off stage?

Forgetting to take on the dagger for my big death scene in Othello. Luckily one of my fellow actors found it in the dressing room and during a tussle where he had to restrain me, slipped it back into my hand. Disaster averted!

Ever corpsed on stage? What happened?

Thankfully not yet, but I don't want to tempt fate!

What do you do for a living, when not acting?

I'm an Assistant Headteacher at a local primary school.

Has your theatre career ever been useful in your day job, and/or have you ever drawn on your day job for any of your stage roles?

All of the time, especially during lesson observations!

Ever thought of going professional?

At the age of 18, I was offered the chance to sing professionally but although I love doing it as a hobby, I never wanted to do it as a career.

Tell us about your current production, the Winters Tale, and how you have approached your role.

Our take on The Winters tale is certainly a play of two halves, serious and dramatic in the first half, light, fun and very musical in the second. So there is something for everyone! I play the Sicilian king, Leontes, who quickly spirals out of control in his jealous and totally unfounded accusations of his wife and best friend. The role has drawn many similarities to that of Othello, which I played a few years ago but luckily I have a great director James Carter who is very clear about how he wants the character to be portrayed. Hopefully I do it justice!

Which actor (s) do you most admire and why?

Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks and Morgan Freeman for just being brilliant in such a wide variety of different and diverse roles!

What role would you most like to play and why?

I have two dream roles that I'd love to play, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.

What future roles have you got lined up?

Nothing at all at the moment, my wife and I are planning to have a 'show free' summer!

Any tips to pass on for learning your lines?

Personally, I record them and go over them in the car on the journey to work, I then rely on my very patient and supportive wife and friends to go through them with me and read in all the other parts.

Any other tricks of the trade to pass on?

Performing is a part of you so enjoy what you do and if you stop enjoying it, take a break until you miss it again!

Your age (optional – you may prefer to go for the nearest decade!): a very young looking 44, although my wife says if I lost weight I'd look a lot older!

Where do you live? (ie the town): Ashingdon, Rochford.