Our am dram star of the week is Mark Jones who's in Wordsley Amateur Dramatic Society’s production of Flare Path

Based on the author’s own wartime experiences, Flare Path is set in a hotel near an RAF Bomber Command airbase during the Second World War. The plot involves a love triangle between a pilot, his actress wife and a famous film star.

I spoke to Mark about the play and why he was attracted to this role in particular.

“There were many aspects of this production of Flare Path that attracted me to the role of Flight-Lieutenant Teddy Graham,” says Mark. “Firstly, the play is fantastically written by Terence Rattigan. Every character has a detailed back story and each has a character arc throughout the play.

“Another reason was the brilliant director who has taken the project on, Andrew Rock. I’ve been directed by Andrew for many plays and I know his vision of both the play and my character will do the play justice.”

Mark tells me more about his role.

“Teddy is very complex,” he says. “At first glance, he appears to possess not a care in the world, joking with his crew and the Squadron Leader. However, deep down, he’s feeling the weight of the country on his shoulders as, at the age of only 24, he fights for the allies in the Second World War by completing bombing raids for the RAF. Not only that, he is responsible for the lives of six people in his crew, who each have wives, daughters and family at home.

“I felt that this role conveyed an important message about how we don’t know how people feel beneath the façade we put on in everyday life, but also highlight how much we owe the brave men and women who fight for our country.

“Our director, Andrew, says every move and line needs to have thought behind it and we have worked very hard to ensure that myself and the other cast all feel comfortable with our characters in Flare Path.”

The subject matter of this play is highly sensitive and Mark told me that on the first reading of the script, he instantly realised the importance of the piece. And while the role is a special one, Mark does have two dream roles. “I’d like to play Alan Turning in Breaking the Code and the other is Hamlet, he says. Both iconic roles, so Mark is aiming high.

l Flare Path is at the Crestwood Theatre, Crestwood School, Kingswinford, from October 10-13.Call 01384 353662 or 07775753088 for tickets.