BY MARK McKELVEY
Budding Omagh actor, Paul Gordon will have one of the lead roles when Stage Beyond returns to Strule Arts Centre in Omagh on Tuesday, June 16 at 11am with their new production, 'The Emperor's New Clothes'.
Although this is Paul's debut performance with the North West theatre company, he manifests the confidence and coolness of a seasoned veteran.
However, he did admit to getting nervous before the opening night last week in the Millennium Forum in Derry, but disclosed he has a technique to forget about the butterflies.
"I would get nervous about getting on stage in front of large crowds so I pretend there is no-one there and I try just to focus on what I am doing," said Paul, joking just like a professional actor.
"I just love acting", continued Paul who has appeared on stage before in a production of Joseph while a seven-year-old at Gibson Special School. Since then he said he enjoys acting out scenes at home when watching classic movies like Oliver or Annie, and even attended Hazel Wand Drama School for a while.
Based in the Millennium Forum, Stage Beyond was primarily formed to address the very serious lack of arts provision to those with learning disabilities. Paul joined the group a year ago after they visited Omagh to carry out acting workshops with the members of the STEP Centre, based at Omagh College.
Getting a taste of the theatre and displaying a natural talent to perform, Stage Beyond were keen for Paul to join them on a more regular basis, and he now travels to Derry twice a week for acting workshops and to prepare for his lead role as the swindler.
Paul joked that he hasn't had too much trouble adapting into character as the drama co-ordinator told him he would be the perfect Artful Dodger, having taken to the role with ease.
Paul described his first performance in the Millennium Forum last week as "awesome". However, he hopes the large turnout in Derry is surpassed by those in his home town next Tuesday so it is even better.
"I hope we get a full house in Omagh and will be telling everyone to come along" said Paul.
The Emperor's New Clothes is a lively, energetic, wild and playful adaptation of the classic story of the gullibility of the greedy, the stupidity of the easily led...and the wisdom in honest simplicity. A show about freedom of thought, with whispers, cries, grotesque characters, dancing and lots of laughs.
Tickets costing £3 each or £2 for group bookings of ten and over are available from Strule Arts Centre box office on 028 8224 7831 or book online at www.struleartscentre.co.uk
