BRIDGWATER actor, James Darch is part of a ‘West Country Gang’.

There are not a huge amount of actors, directors or producers from the South West in showbusiness but when they do find themselves together in a play then they are all part of this ‘West Country Gang’.

James who used to attend Trinity School in Bridgwater, never thought he would be an actor. He had plans to go off to Portsmouth and try and gain his degree in Geography. But a chance encounter led him to follow the lure of greasepaint.

He never took music or drama at school but was asked by the drama teacher, Alan Caliminus if he wanted to play the part of Perchik in Bridgwater Operatic Society’s production of Fiddler on the Roof. When he was 20 he went to Arts Educational Schools, London, commonly known as ArtsEd which is an independent performing arts school based in Chiswick.

He took a full time three years degree and then started on his acting road. This has seen him appear on the stage in: Wicked (Apollo Victoria, West End), Mamma Mia! (Novello Theatre, West End), White Christmas (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Kiss Me Kate (BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall), Cool Rider (Duchess Theatre, West End), Cats (No 1 UK Tour), Cinderella (King’s Theatre, Edinburgh) and Guys and Dolls (Cadogan Hall)

He is set to appear as Troy in An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical which opens at the Hippodrome in Bristol on July 30 and runs until August 4.

Speaking about his career so far, James said: “I am very lucky I can make a healthy career doing something I genuinely love to do. I have done television and film but I do enjoy live theatre because it is live and there is a fear element of anticipation. My family are farmers in Bridgwater and my brother runs the farm. I know my mum was in the hairdressers once and a few of the ladies were saying how they were going to see Wicked. My mum said oh that is nice and smiled. Then said oh I have seen it as my son is playing the lead. And I think she likes dropping that little bomb. This part of Troy is small but I do have lots of other small roles playing candidates and being in the Navy. I have 15/16 costume changes. This show is calm on stage but behind the scenes it is hectic.”