After a stint in the West End, up-and-coming Notts director James Pacey will be back on home territory for his next production. He talks to LYNETTE PINCHESS about making the switch from train-spotting to Shakespeare...

JAMES Pacey fulfilled a lifetime's ambition early on in his career by making his professional debut in commercial theatre in the West End..

The up-and-coming director ploughed thousands of pounds of his own money into the comedy Anorak Of Fire at the London Arts Theatre last year.

The 24-year-old, who graduated from Nottingham Trent University only months before, believes it was a good investment.

The one-man show, featuring Stephen Glover as the trainspotter whose nerdy obsession starts to conflict with real life, also toured the UK, including stop-offs at the Bonington Theatre, Arnold, and venues in Leeds, Grantham and Derby.

James, from Newark, said: "The experience of working with professionals in professional venues was tremendous."

James, who is working as a performing arts teacher at Boston College, is now back on home-ground for his next production, Shakespeare's King Lear.

And who better than to give him top tips than Richard Briers, the actor who played the title role in productions in Los Angeles and the Dominion Theatre, London, in 1990.

James said: "I was writing to a lot of celebrities with experience in Shakespeare and he invited me to a meeting at his home where he offered me moral support and advice.

"It was really interesting."

Briers isn't the only actor to lend James support. Dame Judi Dench has given the production "sizeable" financial support. Giles Croft, from Nottingham Playhouse, is acting as James' mentor.

James, founder of 2 B Theatre, will be staging King Lear for a week-long run at the Sandfield Centre in Nottingham from February 23.

There will be parts for both professional and amateur actors.

James, who wants to recruit form the East Midlands, directed a condensed version of Lear at university.

"Although the language and accents remained unchanged, the setting was somewhat contemporary. This resulted in greater audience understanding and enjoyment of the piece.

"I want to combine professionals and non-professionals alike to produce a piece that can rival mainstream theatre. My vision of Lear contains some surprises. But I hope audiences will go away recognising the tragedy of this doomed Lear as one for all times".

Auditions will take place next month at a venue in Nottingham. Among the eight parts to cast are Lear (someone aged at least 60), Goneril (30s-plus) and Regan (late 20s/30s). If you are interested contact James on 0115 9525025.

lynette.pinchess@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk