FOREST Forge theatre Company certainly believes in putting actors through their paces.

In the Ringwood based theatre company's new production, GI Blues, Valentine Hanson stars as an amateur boxer.

To make sure that he looks the part he was sent to Southampton Amateur Boxing Club in Pax Hall, Sholing, Southampton, to practise his moves under the watchful eye of boxing coach Terry Tew.

Forest Forge will be taking GI Blues on tour from September 16 to October 23, during which time it will visit numerous village halls, community centres, schools and theatres throughout the south as part of its mission to take theatre into communities.

Among the areas that the play will visit are Wallington, Romsey, Fawley, Fareham, Ringwood, Cadnam and Winchester.

The play, which is set in 1959, tells the story of what happens when US airman Lonnie Burns turns up for an exhibition boxing match in a New Forest fairground and runs into the woman he jilted at the altar back in New Orleans, blues singer Ida Littlefield.

The two Americans find themselves becoming part of a showman's "Fairground of Dreams" in which the weird and wonderful are served up to the public as an antidote to the pain of reality.

Sean Atia, director of GI Blues, said it wasn't unusual for actors to be sent out to pick up skills for their part.

"I've sent actors out to all sorts of places, like farms or wherever," he said.

"There's nothing worse than people who know about something coming to a play and seeing the people on stage doing it all wrong."

Valentine said the trip to the boxing club was a useful experience.

He added: " It was great. I was taught by a really passionate guy, Terry.

"He showed me the way a boxer of my look and size would stand and move. It helped me get into my character and see things from his perspective."

For more information about Forest Forge Theatre Company or GI Blues, call Karen Jeffries on 01425 470188,e-mail theatre>forestforge.demon.co.uk or alternatively visit www.forestforge.demon.co.uk