FOR an actor to give a good performance, it is important that he gets to really know his character.

For Southampton Musical Society member Patrick Stewart, he's really familiar with his stage persona because for the fourth time, Patrick will take the lead role of brutish Billy Bigalow in the much-loved musical Carousel.

Although he has played the part before, Patrick, 32, from Swaythling, who has more than seventeen years experience in musical theatre, is finding this production much more of a challenge as he is also making his debut as director of the show.

"When we came to audition for the show, we were really short of male performers so it seemed to make sense for me to play the part of Billy, having already done it three times before.

"At least it meant I didn't have too much line-learning to do as well as having to cope with directing a show for the first time," explains Patrick.

The musical tells the story of mill worker Julie Jordan who falls for the brutish fairground barker Billy Bigalow.

When out-of-work Billy discovers Julie is pregnant he decides to make some money to support his wife but gets involved in an ill-fated robbery in which he is stabbed and dies.

Billy is given 24 hours to return to earth to put everything right during which time he discovers he has a daughter.

The show contains many great songs including If I Loved You, June Is Bustin' Out All Over, and the classic You'll Never Walk Alone.

Theatre Royal Winchester from Tuesday to Saturday, February 5, at 7.30pm nightly with a matinee at 2.30pm on the Saturday. Tickets: £10-£13. Box office: 01962 840440.